Gary: “A little group out of Huntington New York, that featured an accordion in their brand of 50s Rock n Roll. Actually not really a “One-Hit” group, because their song never made it as a Hit (i.e. into the Top 40), but it did get played by Dick Clark; a great dancing song, I loved it and bought it in 1958.
Bobby and his Orbits
- Bobby Groccia : Lead Vocal, Guitar
- Maryjane Groccia : Accordian, Vocals
- Joe Boccia : Drums
- Joe Di Bartolo : Bass
Video:
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Maryjane was Bobby Goccia’s sister. She sang back-up and female leads, also played the keyboards, not to mention, the accordion!
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1. Felicia/ Seeco 6005/ October 1958
The original Felicia recording was released in 1958 and later reissued by Seeco in 1960. Seeco (NYC) was actually a Latin flavored label, thus the accordian in the background. The lead singer was Bobby Groccia.
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2. Bandstand Dancing/ Seeco 6005 B side/
Bobby continued to play through the 1970s in Huntington, NY, as well as the eastern Long Island area.
From what we read, they are still playing.
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I LOVE the song “Felicia”!! I wonder if I heard it in 1958 on Boston radio?? The rhythm has a cajun feel to it. Buddy Holly could have made this a #1 hit. Someone in 2012 could do a VERY hip, retro version of this — or steal the feel and write a new song to it!
I think the accordion rhythm may be what contributes to the Cajun feel. Can you imagine trying to whistle that part? I don’t know about you, John, but my whistling sounds pretty lame these days. I think I must have lost my pucker. – Russ
Trying to say hello to Bobby Groccia: I use to see the group at the Cat & Fiddle. I use to come with my crazy frien Bob who got on stage and did some announcing of the next song the group was going to play and then he jumped off the stage and started dancing with himself At break timethe group sat outside and harmonized to Gloria, and all the old great classic JUST VOICES Bobby has/had so much soul and the group Frenchy the drummer fantastic,Mary Ann/Organ/vocals what a voice, ,and John the bass player. Cant say enough wish they made more records/recordings to buy. Maybe one day a surprise on you tube a surprise we all like to hear them again. Bless their souls ERIC Jan 25,2013
Thank you for such a wonderful comment about Bobby.
I would go to the “Cloud Nine” on rt. 110 in Farmingdale in the late 60s and dance the night away with Marilyn, my wife of 43 years, to a group called “Bobby and the Orbits”. Is this the same group? I would like to thank them for all the great times. I played colledge football with one of the bouncers…Tom Nikiunas and we are still good friends. I loved their covers of “I’m Your Puppet” and “Harlem Nocturn”. I wish I had a recording them! I hope someone gets back to me about where they are now and what they are doing! Matt Fauvell
Matt: This is Gary, the person who does the writing for the blog. I am a Canadian, living just North of Toronto, if the Farmingdale that you refer to is the one just East and South of Rochester, then I know it, my wife and I just spent two days there about a week ago. Now to Bobby Groccia, he is from Long Island and the band that recorded Felicia, really did not exist past 1962. It is a song and a record that I really loved, simple, great dancing song and Bandstand Dancing on the flip side was decent. Bobby played into the 70′s but mainly in the Long Island area. So, if the Farmingdale that you are talking about is around Huntington NY then it could have been them.
Gary