| Background: | group_or_band |
| Origin: | Brooklyn, New York |
| Genre: | Rock & roll |
| Years Active: | – |
| Label: | Boulevard, RCA Victor |
| Past Members: |
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The Three Chuckles were an early American rock & roll group from Brooklyn, New York, United States.[1]
Although designated rock & roll by contemporary observers, the sound of The Three Chuckles is closer to vocal pop, in hindsight.[2] They formed in 1949, naming themselves after a popular candy of the day, and played East Coast establishments. Original accordionist/keyboardist Phil Benti left the group in the mid-1950s and was replaced with Teddy Randazzo, then a teenager. In 1954, they recorded a song called "Runaround", written by a truck driver named Cirino Colacrai, and released it on Boulevard Records as the B-side to "At Last You Understand".[2] The single was picked up for national distribution by RCA Victor, and "Runaround" became a hit, peaking at No. 20 on the US national chart.[2]
With their newfound fame, Randazzo became the lead singer and songwriter. They scored two further hits on the new Billboard charts: "Times Two, I Love You" (No. 67, 1955) and "And the Angels Sing" (No. 70, 1956).[3] In 1956 the Three Chuckles performed the song "Cinnamon Sinner" in the movie, The Girl Can't Help It.[1] Also in 1956, Alan Freed offered them a spot in his movie Rock, Rock, Rock;[1] following this Randazzo left the group for a solo career. Jackie Farrell joined after Randazzo left, but the group did not return to record, and broke up by 1958.[2] Randazzo recorded solo.
In 1997, Collectables Records issued a collection of Three Chuckles songs on CD.
Russ Gilberto (real name Thomas J. Gilberto) died on February 28, 1981, at the age of 60.[4] Phil Benti (real name Philip Bentivegna) died in Nassau, New York, on January 10, 1983, at the age of 52.[5] Teddy Randazzo died in Orlando, Florida on November 21, 2003, at the age of 68.[6] Tommy Romano continued in the music industry, performing into the 1970s. He died on February 13, 2013, at the age of 84.[7]