They sang "Heartbeat' in the 70's, and were fronted by brother Tony. He was a hottie, as far as an 11 year old was concerned... ;D

I vaguely remember them, can't remember any of the songs. They were fairly big about the same time as the Osmonds or Jackson 5 weren't they ? :)

Yes, toward the end of the Osmond/Jackson era. They had songs out at the same time as The Sylvers (Boogie Fever).

When some festival took place in Santa Monica, CA( for kids) a couple years back, they found Tny and he sang his HEARTBEATS A LOVE BEAT song!

He's still around...how to find him is a good question, but someone knows... 8)

I still have 2 of his 45's

http://www.cox-internet.com/stuckinthe70s/images/0872DEFPINUP.JPG

www.defranco.com/

I loved "Heartbeat It's A Love Beat".  I thought Tony was super cute  :-[  There's a singer around now called Annie DiFranco - I wonder if she's part of the family?  ???

Yes.  yes I do

Meant absolutely nothing over here, which is a shame because 'Heartbeat' is actually a very good effort...a lot more adventurous than some of the bilge that passed for 'teenybop'...

I have "Heartbeat" on an album and I can't listen to it without thinking of the words that a friend of mine and I made up many, many moons ago. "Heartburn is a love yearn and when we yearn it is a good sensation" (or something like that). I also remember Abra-ca-dabra. I found their website and it seems that Tony has become...um...should I say, yummy.


http://www.defranco.com/




Cat

Who could forget that HELMET HAIR!?? :D

Those 2 twin (I'm guessing) gals were HOT! Last year, I saw 2 DiFranco albums in a yard sale, and was tempted to get them just for the gals on the covers, but stupidly didn't.  :\'(

Absolutely.  Just before they hit the big time, my family was on the way home to Youngstown, OH from Pittsburgh, PA when we passed this amusement park.  My dad stopped to let us stretch our legs.  The park was scheduled to open the next day, for the season.  Some workers were finishing testing the rides.  Nobody else was there. 

There was a band doing a rehersal on a large, out door stage.  We stopped to watch for a minute.  After the song, they took a break.  My sister and I walked a little farther into the park.  The youngest boy, who had been singing, came running up behind us.  He introduced himself.  His name was Tony DiFranco.  We were passing a ride and a worker spotted us and asked us if we wanted a free ride, 'cause he needed to test it anyway.  We spent the next couple hours goofing around and riding rides.

I didn't realize who Tony or the group was until sometime later, when they became popular.

Crazy, hunh?

Jean

Absolutely.  Just before they hit the big time, my family was on the way home to Youngstown, OH from Pittsburgh, PA when we passed this amusement park.  My dad stopped to let us stretch our legs.  The park was scheduled to open the next day, for the season.  Some workers were finishing testing the rides.  Nobody else was there. 

There was a band doing a rehersal on a large, out door stage.  We stopped to watch for a minute.  After the song, they took a break.  My sister and I walked a little farther into the park.  The youngest boy, who had been singing, came running up behind us.  He introduced himself.  His name was Tony DiFranco.  We were passing a ride and a worker spotted us and asked us if we wanted a free ride, 'cause he needed to test it anyway.  We spent the next couple hours goofing around and riding rides.

I didn't realize who Tony or the group was until sometime later, when they became popular.

Crazy, hunh?

Jean




Cool story. Why don't you join the board?




Cat

Ahhh, yes - the DiFranco Family - the pride of St. Catherines, Ontario!

They were absolutely HUGE in Canada - St. Catherine's is near my hometown of Niagara Falls - we thought they were pretty wanky, but a lot of younger kids liked them.

BYW - Ani DiFranco is a feminist singer/songwriter from Buffalo - no relation to the DiFrancos.

What is tony defranco doing these days? is he from toronto?

So funny that this thread came up because I have been thinking about the DiFranco family lately and have had "Heartbeat" playing in my head. The song was before my time but I have heard it a few times and can't help liking it  :D