As a teenager from N. E. Philly to Center City coffee houses & onto the silver screen, read about George's Lincoln High & musical buddy, Frank Stallone

Geo: In what year did you move to N.E. Philadelphia?

Frank: About 1961 from Center City. I went to Notre Dame. We lived right
across the street from Rittenhouse Square. I had moved to Philly from
my home town of Silver Springs MD in 1959. Philly was really cool then.

Geo: Who was a big influence for you to write & play your own songs?

Frank: I would say The Lovin' Spoonful, Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds &
The Kinks. In about '65' was when I started to really think about
writing. But I always lived and breathed music.


Geo: I remember when I first met you at Lincoln High school in N.E. Philly,
I thought, who is this cat with the buckskin jacket? We struck up a
conversation about music & we would sing Buffalo Springfield songs in
the hallway between class & listen to the latest records in the break
room. Do you remember in Lincoln that you & I were a minority (i.e. being a
musician you were looked down upon) at that time?


Frank: Do I remember! We were a total minority, but no one really bothered
us. You dressed very Mod, very English.... me I was more as you say into
the fringe coat thing. That was my brother Sylvester's coat. I
remember I wore cowboy boots all the time & people thought that was
strange. But what a cool time.


Geo: How did  the band Wind come together & who was in the band with you?
 
Frank: Before Wind I was in a group called the American Tragedy , that's when
you met me. We were together for about 4 years- what a great band! We beat
all the local bands in the Rock and Roll contest in town..... my favorite
band. We came in 2nd in the City Battle of the Bands. We beat out Changing
Times - Nicky Indelicato's band, (later of American Dream ).  They had Jim Mahoney on guitar
who was great. When American Tragedy broke up, I met Allan Rosenblum who was the lead guitarist in this group Wind. He heard me sing and play and he wanted me in the band.
They had a girl singer at the time. Things happened and I became the
lead singer. You know how it goes.......


Geo: Who did you form Valentine with?

Frank: Valentine was an off shoot of Wind. It was Allan Rosenblum and I that
were left. So the first Valentine was Allan Rosenblum on lead guitar,
Carl Wilkenfeld on 2nd Lead guitar, John the Baptist on Bass, Andrew
Marks on Drums and me on Vocals and Guitar.

Geo: Later John Oates was a member of Valentine, how long did that version last?

Frank: The group tossed me out in 1969 and tried to replace me but I got all
the guys that they wanted to replace me with in my band.
Jody Giambelluca on Bass & Vocal  from Sweet Nothin, Mike Burke
on Lead guitar from the Side Kicks and Steve Mosley on drums. That
band was called Bananas. About a year later John The Baptist and I put together another
Valentine w/ John Oates on Guitar, the Late Jack Daley on Drums, Gary Goff
from the group Warmth on Piano and myself. We played the Electric Factory a
few times. It was a good band but we moved on. Later John hooked up with Daryl
Hall & as you know, they are called Hall & Oates......

Geo: What was it like back in the early days playing, hanging out in Center City
Philly & Sansom Street for a young teenager like yourself?

Frank: It was so great to be apart of that scene, but I lived in the
Northeast & would come in town whenever I could. I was younger than
the other big groups: Woddy's Truck Stop, Elizibeth, etc. But I used to
walk around with my '58' Gibson Explorer in my hands (that guitar is worth
about $120.000.00 now. I paid $150.00 at Music City).  I
traded Hank Ransom (Elizabeth drummer) for a Rickenbacker 12 string & they
cut the points off and ruined it, what an idiot I was. But who knew......vintage!

Geo: At one point you had enlisted Mickey Brook (formally of American
Dream) to play drums with Valentine. Any fond memories of playing with Mickey?