The Elegants

The Elegants, an American doo-wop vocal group, were formed in 1958 on South Beach, Staten Island, New York. The original lineup consisted of Vito Picone, Arthur Venosa, Frank Tardogno, Carman Romano, and James Moschello. Before achieving fame, the band performed informally under the boardwalk near their homes. Their breakthrough came with "Little Star", a nursery rhyme-inspired song written by Arthur Venosa and Vito Picone, which became a number-one hit in 1958. The single spent 19 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned gold disc status. Following this success, the band toured with notable artists such as Buddy Holly, Dion and the Belmonts, Chuck Berry, and Jerry Lee Lewis. However, none of their subsequent singles broke into the charts, making them a one-hit wonder. In the early 1970s, lead singer Vito Picone rejoined the group, replacing Frank Tardogno. The Elegants continued performing at various events, including the annual San Gennaro Festival in Little Italy, Manhattan. Notable members who passed away include Freddie Redmond in 2006, Carman Romano on 2 August 2016, Artie Venosa April 20, 2018, and James Moschello on February 2, 2026.

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