Pittsburgh's Own

The

Holidays

The

Holidays

History of The Holidays - Past and Present

More than 50 years ago, five young men from Clairton, PA, had a dream. They wanted to be entertainers. The Holidays debuted in 1958. One of the young men left the group after a year and was replaced by a female singer. They then introduced a style of harmonies most comparable to Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners. The Holidays enjoyed regional and national notoriety in the early 1960’s, recording and performing hit songs such as "Then I’ll Be Tired of You", "Lonely Summer", "One Little Kiss", "A Love I Never Had", written by Joe Rock and Jimmy Beaumont, and "Miss You" which was their biggest and most requested song. In 1962, the group disbanded and all members went their separate ways-some to raise families and some to fulfill military obligations.

In 1995, the group reformed and mounted a comeback with a re-mastered CD of the songs they had done 40 years prior. The newly formed group had two original members, one old friend and a female singer. They needed a lead singer to complete the package. After auditioning several lead singers they selected Sam Ferrella as their new front man. One of the originals stated that Ferrella, who sings tenor and lead, was the missing piece of the puzzle. Not only did Ferrella sing lead for the group, but he also managed and promoted the group throughout the Pittsburgh area from 1999 through the present. The Holidays performed at various venues and were invited to PBS/WQED TV to film “The Sound of Pittsburgh". In 2001, one of the originals, along with the female singer, retired. At that time, Lou Ann Shields was introduced to The Holidays audience as the new female singer.

In 2002, the group recorded it’s first CD, For Your Love, at West Hills Productions, produced by Radioactive Gold disc jockey, Dave Justice. The Holidays, as Dave Justice said, sounded better than ever. Now, performing more than ever, The Holidays were selected to open up for acts such as Chubby Checker, Lou Christie, Bobby Rydell, Gary Puckett, The Vogues, The Marcels, and Jimmy Beaumont & The Skyliners, Kenny Vance & The Planotones, The Dubs, Frankie Ford, Freddie Paris & The Five Satins, The Tokens and Sonny Geraci (The Outsiders) to mention a few

In April of 2004, the last of the originals retired, but the unique sound continued under the banner, The "New" Holidays. The vocal members consisted of Sam Ferrella, Lou Ann Shields, Bryan McClain and Bill Richert, originally from Long Island, NY.

In 2009, the vocal group went back to being called The Holidays. The current vocal members of The Holidays consist of Sam Ferrella, in his 11th year with the group also manages and promotes the group. Bryan McClain who also plays guitar for the group, Mickey Carr who joined the group in 2007 and Marilyn Rush who joins us in 2010 with Lou Ann Shield's retirement after 10 years with The Holidays.

The Holidays, with their three guys and a girl as front line singers, are backed by a group of musicians who are second to none. They replicate the original sounds of the past with a freshness and vitality. Their repertoire of tunes will keep you not only entertained, but also tapping your feet to the beat of the music, which has an endless abundance of energy and charisma. The group’s vocal harmony is outstanding.

The original Holidays have earned the respect from all in the music industry for their accomplishments in recording five magnificent hit songs that helped formulate the “Sound of Pittsburgh” as a vital part of “group harmony” history. In essence, they started it all. The Holidays distinguished themselves by perpetuating the sound and music of The Holidays and – in a very positive way – were able to reincarnate The Holidays name and keep the sound alive for this and future generations to enjoy. The old and new complement each other and without each other the final chapter of their history would already have been written. In February of 2005, The Holidays released their second CD called “Keepin’ the Sound Alive”. Their latest CD entitled “Here and Now” was released in March 2007. Both albums have gotten considerable airplay and favorable audience response. Once again, the name “The Holidays” are back on the lips of the DJ’s and their fans. In 2008, "Collectable Records" took the best of The Holidays and released a CD called "Why Do Fools Fall In Love". In 2009, The Holidays went International with a "Crystal Ball Records" release of "Doo Woopin Around The World". These CD’s demonstrate the versatility of The Holidays and their music, past, present, and future.

The legacy continues.