| Donald Riggio – Founder: | Return to Links Page |
Donald was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. His love of rock and roll music actually took root at the end of the DooWop era in the early sixties. As a fan of the British invasion groups he taught himself how to play guitar as he and some neighborhood friends formed a band called, The Have Knots.
-
“It would have been known as a garage band but since we all lived in a New York City Housing Project,
none of us had a garage.”
One of the other band members loved DooWop music and convinced Donald to incorporate some street corner harmonies into the band’s repertoire.
-“The more of the older, 1950’s records I listened to by those great R&B groups, the more I loved them
and I was hooked.”
In 2004, Donald retired from his job of thirty-seven years and he and his wife Carol (also an avid oldies fan)
moved to Las Vegas.
-“Besides our families and friends I knew the thing I’d miss the most would be seeing those oldies shows
that are presented back east almost every weekend.”- Carol Riggio
A chance encounter with Kenny Vance of Kenny Vance and the Planotones in 2006 proved to be the catalyst for Donald’s entry into the music business.
-“Kenny asked my help to find a venue for his group to do a show here in Las Vegas in September of
2006 and that sent me off and running.”
The show, which took place on September 15, 2006, before a small crowd in an intimate setting is ranked very highly as one of Kenny’s favorite shows. It also marked DooWop in the Desert’s first foray into the Las Vegas DooWop concert scene.
Donald is also the author of “Seven Inch Vinyl” an epic novel about the early days of Rock and Roll music circa 1953 thru 1969 that he hopes will be published sometime soon.
Stevie Dunham – Co-founder:
Not yet forty years old, Stevie is a multi-talented individual. A native New Yorker, his mentor in the music business was none other than Eugene Pitt of The Jive Five.
-“Gene taught me how to sing all harmony parts and blend them into a tight, cohesive mix.”
Stevie is a former member of the harmony group, The Five Boroughs and the founder and lead singer of The Emerald Dreams. Their song “Window of Time” has to date garnered over 15,000 BMI airplays on internet radio stations across the country. Stevie is the co-author of “Acappella Street Corner Vocal Groups” which is a history and discography of 1960’s singing groups. The book recently won an award for Best Pick of 2006 from “Soul City Magazine.”
Stevie operates his own company and record label “Street Corner Entertainment.”
Rich Rosen – Co-founder:
Rich has not one but two weekly two-hour radio shows on the air in Las Vegas. The Monday night version of his “Street Harmony Review” on AM radio and his Saturday night version which heralds a triumphant return of the oldies format to the FM dial. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Rich is also the owner of WaxTrax Records, a three floor treasure trove of records (vinyl 45’s, LP’s and 78’s). He also offers CD’s, eight tracks and cassettes and his own line of compilation CD’s “The Rarest of the Rare” as well as a unique array of 50’s and 60’s memorabilia.
-“My store is considered the best in the entire world because of what I have… the best in every genre
including the original acetate to perhaps the rarest record of all time ‘Stormy Weather’ by the Five
Sharps.”
Rich numbers many famous luminaries and performers among his close friends and has produced rock and roll shows of his own.
Marvin Kaminsky- Co-founder:
Though another native of Brooklyn New York, Marvin is no stranger to the west coast oldies scene. He was the Founder of the “DooWop Society of Southern California” and led that organization for many years. He moved to Las Vegas several years ago but his love of DooWop music never waned.
-“People think I’m crazy because my wife and I travel so far to see shows in California and other places
but this music is in my blood.
I hope my association with DooWop in the Desert will finally bring some
top name acts right to my own backyard.”
With Marvin’s extensive contacts in California, Arizona and southern Utah we feel certain we’ll turn his dream into a reality.
Freda Sinclair – Co-founder:
Freda also comes to us from the “DooWop Society” where she served on their Board of Directors. A California native, Freda was married to the late Kenny Sinclair who was an original member of The Elgins, The Bagdads and The Sixteens. He also sang with The Olympics until his death in 2003.
-“Being around Kenny there was always music either at our house, next door or across the street.”
Freda owns and operates Lacoriha Records and Sinclair Productions, which represents many of the top name pioneering R&B groups. She regularly books acts into shows all across the country including the legendary PBS specials seen on public television.
A truly impressive lineup indeed backed by a strong and loyal corps of volunteer workers all dedicated to making DooWop in the Desert the premiere 50’s – 60’s outlet in the Las Vegas Valley.
-
“It would have been known as a garage band but since we all lived in a New York City Housing Project,
none of us had a garage.”
One of the other band members loved DooWop music and convinced Donald to incorporate some street corner harmonies into the band’s repertoire.
-
“The more of the older, 1950’s records I listened to by those great R&B groups, the more I loved them
and I was hooked.”
In 2004, Donald retired from his job of thirty-seven years and he and his wife Carol (also an avid oldies fan)
moved to Las Vegas.
-
“Besides our families and friends I knew the thing I’d miss the most would be seeing those oldies shows
that are presented back east almost every weekend.”- Carol Riggio
A chance encounter with Kenny Vance of Kenny Vance and the Planotones in 2006 proved to be the catalyst for Donald’s entry into the music business.
-
“Kenny asked my help to find a venue for his group to do a show here in Las Vegas in September of
2006 and that sent me off and running.”
The show, which took place on September 15, 2006, before a small crowd in an intimate setting is ranked very highly as one of Kenny’s favorite shows. It also marked DooWop in the Desert’s first foray into the Las Vegas DooWop concert scene.
Donald is also the author of “Seven Inch Vinyl” an epic novel about the early days of Rock and Roll music circa 1953 thru 1969 that he hopes will be published sometime soon.
Stevie Dunham – Co-founder:
Not yet forty years old, Stevie is a multi-talented individual. A native New Yorker, his mentor in the music business was none other than Eugene Pitt of The Jive Five.
-
“Gene taught me how to sing all harmony parts and blend them into a tight, cohesive mix.”
Stevie is a former member of the harmony group, The Five Boroughs and the founder and lead singer of The Emerald Dreams. Their song “Window of Time” has to date garnered over 15,000 BMI airplays on internet radio stations across the country. Stevie is the co-author of “Acappella Street Corner Vocal Groups” which is a history and discography of 1960’s singing groups. The book recently won an award for Best Pick of 2006 from “Soul City Magazine.”
Stevie operates his own company and record label “Street Corner Entertainment.”
Rich Rosen – Co-founder:
Rich has not one but two weekly two-hour radio shows on the air in Las Vegas. The Monday night version of his “Street Harmony Review” on AM radio and his Saturday night version which heralds a triumphant return of the oldies format to the FM dial. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Rich is also the owner of WaxTrax Records, a three floor treasure trove of records (vinyl 45’s, LP’s and 78’s). He also offers CD’s, eight tracks and cassettes and his own line of compilation CD’s “The Rarest of the Rare” as well as a unique array of 50’s and 60’s memorabilia.
-
“My store is considered the best in the entire world because of what I have… the best in every genre
including the original acetate to perhaps the rarest record of all time ‘Stormy Weather’ by the Five
Sharps.”
Rich numbers many famous luminaries and performers among his close friends and has produced rock and roll shows of his own.
Marvin Kaminsky- Co-founder:
Though another native of Brooklyn New York, Marvin is no stranger to the west coast oldies scene. He was the Founder of the “DooWop Society of Southern California” and led that organization for many years. He moved to Las Vegas several years ago but his love of DooWop music never waned.
-
“People think I’m crazy because my wife and I travel so far to see shows in California and other places
but this music is in my blood.
I hope my association with DooWop in the Desert will finally bring some
top name acts right to my own backyard.”
With Marvin’s extensive contacts in California, Arizona and southern Utah we feel certain we’ll turn his dream into a reality.
Freda Sinclair – Co-founder:
Freda also comes to us from the “DooWop Society” where she served on their Board of Directors. A California native, Freda was married to the late Kenny Sinclair who was an original member of The Elgins, The Bagdads and The Sixteens. He also sang with The Olympics until his death in 2003.
-
“Being around Kenny there was always music either at our house, next door or across the street.”
Freda owns and operates Lacoriha Records and Sinclair Productions, which represents many of the top name pioneering R&B groups. She regularly books acts into shows all across the country including the legendary PBS specials seen on public television.
A truly impressive lineup indeed backed by a strong and loyal corps of volunteer workers all dedicated to making DooWop in the Desert the premiere 50’s – 60’s outlet in the Las Vegas Valley.