Advanced search
- TITLES
- NAMES
- COLLABORATIONS
Search filters
Enter full date
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
Only includes names with the selected topics
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
1-12 of 12
- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Attended Zion Lutheran School in Anaheim, California. While in fifth grade, he portrayed 8th-grader Samuel "Screech" Powers in the television series Good Morning, Miss Bliss (1987), which evolved into Saved by the Bell (1989) and its various television movies and spin-offs. Also appeared in the television series The Wonder Years (1988).- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Manhattan (Lower East Side) native Johnny Maestro (born John Mastrangelo) has the distinction of being in three top-selling vocal groups dating back to the early days of rock-and-roll: The Del-Satins and The Crests in the 1950s and The Brooklyn Bridge in the 1960s and 1970s.
He was the lead singer in The Crests, formed in 1956. That group, renowned for its smooth harmonies that typified the "doo-wop" sound of the 1950s, had several big hits, among them the classic "Sixteen Candles" in 1958, but they also charted with "Step By Step," "The Angels Listened In" and "Trouble in Paradise." Maestro left The Crests in 1960 and recorded on his own (although The Crests backed him up on several of his records). He managed to place some of his songs in the top 20, but his solo career didn't go much beyond that. In 1968 he combined two groups, The Del-Satins--for whom he sang in the 1960s and who had provided back-up on several of Dion DiMucci's hit records in the 1960s--and a Long Island group called Rhythm Method into an 11-piece band and renamed them The Brooklyn Bridge. Their first record was also their biggest, "The Worst That Could Happen." They had some minor hits after that. Maestro continues to appear in oldies shows, both solo and with different versions of The Brooklyn Bridge.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Nightclub singer; leading man in a few Hollywood musicals of the 1940's. Mr. Johnston began his career in small nightclubs and soon became a singer with Art Kassel and his band, "Kassels in the Air". He also appeared on many radio shows in the late 1930's. In 1942, he signed with Capitol Records - becoming one of the first four artists signed by the label - and recorded "That Old Black Magic", "I Don't Want to Walk Without You" and other songs. His recording of "Laura" sold more than a million copies.- Alfred Wilde was an actor, known for Jaws 2 (1978). He was married to Evelyn May Waddington. He died on 12 April 1998 in Cape Coral, Florida, USA.
- Steve Sanders was born on 17 September 1952 in Richland, Georgia, USA. He was an actor, known for ABC Stage 67 (1966), Hurry Sundown (1967) and Gunsmoke (1955). He was married to Janet Sanders and Mary Milbourn. He died on 10 June 1998 in Cape Coral, Florida, USA.
- Sam Capuano was born on 28 March 1917 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. He was an actor, known for The Cross and the Switchblade (1970), Wagon Train (1957) and Playhouse 90 (1956). He was married to Lucia "Lou" Liebl. He died on 14 June 2006 in Cape Coral, Florida, USA.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Xiomara Alfaro was a highly successful vocalist who appeared as herself in a few films. Noted for her unique high pitched coloratura soprano voice, she started singing as a child in family reunions and community events in her Marianao neighborhood. As customary at the time, young singers wishing to launch professional careers would join talent contests held at various radio stations in Havana. Young Xiomara was the winner of one such contest at Radio Suaritos becoming a regular of its broadcasts. Composer and pianist Obdulio Morales heard her singing on the radio and was so impressed that he invited her to join the cast of his musical revue "Batamú" which debuted at the Martí Theater in 1951.
After her success in that show, Miss Alfaro was in great demand by entertainment directors and producers in the many cabarets, night clubs and theaters thriving in Havana at the time. Performing at the famous Tropicana, she caught the eyes and ears of the American dancer and choreographer Katherine Dunham who offered Xiomara a contract with her company. With the Dunham troupe, the Cuban vocalist had the opportunity to travel extensively through Germany, Switzerland, Greece, and Italy. During their Rome residency, Dunham's group including Xiomara, were featured in the film "Mambo" (1954) directed by Robert Rossen.
After this, the singer accepted solo contracts that took her to several South American countries. On her return to Cuba , she was hailed by the media as a true superstar and was soon signed by the RCA Victor record label. Her album "Siboney" was an instant success both in Cuba and abroad. The song "Siboney" by composer Ernesto Lecuona became her signature song while other tunes such as "Luna Rossa" and "Anema e Core" made the radio hit parades for weeks. As a successful recording artist, Miss Alfaro continued mesmerizing audiences wherever she sang, especially on television where she had a constant presence in all the top variety shows. Xiomara Alfaro had become a household name not only in her country but throughout the Americas.
With the arrival of the Cuban revolution in 1959, came a ruthless communist dictatorship that aimed to control all aspects of Cuban life including the performing arts. Miss Alfaro was not pleased by these events and, like many other Cuban artists of her stature, fled the country in 1960 never to return. Since she was well known internationally, she continued her career without a hitch.
Xiomara toured Europe once more and had a long residency in Paris. In London she was asked to sing at the bridal shower of Princess Margaret and was a guest of the Royal Family. Next she toured South and Central America where she was an idol, and continued recording. Even though she had an extraordinary voice and could have sung opera, she preferred popular music, especially romantic boleros. Her repertoire always included the best of the Latin America songbook as well as French and Italian standards. Reviewers always noted that Miss Alfaro had created a new and original singing style in popular music that could never be matched by other singers.
During concerts in Panama she met and married musician Rafael Benítez, who became her musical director both in concerts and records. The couple settled first in New York and later in Florida, their union lasting over half a century. Xiomara's exile years were very fruitful, performing constantly in the most prestigious venues of the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, with occasional tours in Europe and the Middle East.
However she always missed her homeland and was saddened to the end of her life by the fact that she would never see the dawn of freedom rise on the unfortunate island. At age 80, the gifted and hard working Xiomara Alfaro retired due to health issues but never lost her spunk and sense of humor. The end came on June 24th, 2018 when she became seriously ill. That day, at approximately 11:00 PM, the great Cuban singer died quietly of cardio-respiratory arrest surrounded by family and friends in her home of Cape Coral, Florida.- Joseph A. Howard was born on 23 January 1928 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Joseph A. was a composer, known for The Littlest Angel (1969). Joseph A. died on 28 August 2010 in Cape Coral, Florida, USA.
- Additional Crew
Otto Benesh was born on 25 January 1914 in New York City, New York, USA. Otto was married to Helen Catherine Rosenberger. Otto died on 30 June 1987 in Cape Coral, Florida, USA.- Transportation Department
John Falzarano was born on 30 July 1953 in New York, USA. John is known for The Code (2009), 30 Rock (2006) and Los Tigres del Norte at Folsom Prison (2019). John died on 10 June 2021 in Cape Coral, Florida, USA.- Ofelia González was born in 1919 in Cuba. She was an actress, known for Memories of Underdevelopment (1968) and Tránsito (1964). She died on 25 September 2022 in Cape Coral, Florida, USA.
- Tom Mitchell was born on 22 August 1944 in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. He died on 16 July 2017 in Cape Coral, Florida, USA.