THE VELTONES
THE VELTONES
(aka The Firesiders)
(aka The Impacts)
The Veltones was the original name of the popular Doo-Wop group from Niagara Falls New York consisting of Calvin ‘Cal’ Briggs, Neal Davis, Emilio Giondomenico and Ernie Vendetti. In the late 1950’s, they performed at many dances in the greater Niagara Falls area to include southern Ontario Canada, Michigan and eventually the Midwest and Las Vegas, Nevada.
They may not be well-remembered now, but they were able to have records released on two national labels and have a career that carried them through the glory days of early Rock & Roll. They were talented, entertaining and their interracial makeup reflected in their eclectic mix of R&R, R&B, Doo Wop and Rockabilly sounds.
In 1958 they recorded a two-sided record released on the Coy label with their original songs ‘Playboy’ and ‘Cal's Tune’. In 1959 the songs were sold to Kapp Records, and different versions were released. In 1961 they changed their name to The Firesiders and recorded on Swan Records with two genre-bending sides that widened their palette to include influences of country pop and even pre-soul; ‘(I'll Remember) One And All and ‘No One Cares For Me’.
In 1964, they changed their name and style again to The Impacts; recording one more record on PEH Records; ‘Take My Love’ and ‘Where Are You Going’ both with typical mid-sixties garage sound. They will never be in the Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame but if you were there at the right time in the right place, they may have been your Rock 'N' Roll.
The Veltones from Niagara Falls New York are still revered and can be heard on Doo-Wop podcasts and radio stations around the world. The original version of ‘Cal's Tune’ is highly-regarded by Rockabilly fans to the point that it has recently been reproduced on vinyl. We are pleased and honored to welcome The Veltones; Cal Briggs, Ernie Vendetti and the late Neal Davis and Emilio Giandomenico into the Niagara Falls Music Hall of Fame, Class of 2022.