The original Vito and the Salutations were formed in Brooklyn, New York by 14-year-old Vito Balsamo, Bob DiPaolo, Barry Solomon, and Bobby Mitchell, who were signed by producer-manager Dave Rick and debuted with their rendition of the Cadillacs’ standard ballad, “Gloria” in 1962. The group broke up after this record, and Vito created a new Salutations group with Shelly Buchansky, Randy Silverman, Lenny Citrin, and Frankie Fox. Rick placed them with another small label to record a version of the Heartbeats’ “Your Way”.
In the summer of 1963, the group’s doo-wop treatment of the standard “Unchained Melody” became a national hit on Herald Records, assuring them several years of steady work. The Salutations disbanded in 1966 but reorganized for revival shows in 1971. Balsamo was in and out of the revival lineup and eventually departed in 1974.
By the time of this performance, the Vito and the Salutations act consisted of second tenor Shelly Buchansky, who had been a part of the group in 1962, Eddie Pardocchi, lead of the Five Discs, baritone and second lead Jimmy Spinelli, formerly of the Impalas, both of whom had joined in 1978, and first tenor Frankie Graziano, who had briefly performed with the Salutations in the 1960s. Al Brum, who had sung with former Salutations member Randy Silverman in the Attitudes, was added as bass.
In January of 1980, producer-manager Dave Rick registered the Vito and the Salutations trademark and entered into an agreement where he would serve as their exclusive agent and manager. In late February of 1980, this five-man lineup performed for a United in Group Harmony Association audience at St. Joseph’s Church Auditorium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Host/producer Ronnie Italiano introduced them as Vito and the Salutations and Pardocchi himself was welcomed as “Vito”! Their 22-minute acapella set consisted of the Continentals’ “Dear Lord”, the Cadillacs’’ “Zoom”, the group’s first two releases, “Gloria” and “Your Way”, followed by the Blue Notes’ “My Hero”, the Spaniels’ “You Gave Me Peace of Mind”, and “Unchained Melody”, the Salutations’ signature hit. Lead vocals were sung by Pardocchi and Spinelli.
Soon after this performance, a dispute arose between Rick and the group over a new album project, causing a parting of ways. The group ultimately secured a new manager, recorded the album, and Balsamo himself returned to the lineup. Dave Rick established a competing lineup – with original members Solomon and DiPaolo- and initiated a lawsuit against his former group over use of the Vito and the Salutations name and trademark. Rick prevailed in U. S. District Court in 1985. In later years, Balsamo would perform under his own name or as “formerly of the Salutations”. Jimmy Spinelli joined the Duprees in 1991. In the early 2000s, Balsamo and Randy Silverman teamed up with four other vocal group veterans in The Golden Group Memories. Buchansky, who also sang with the Five Discs, Kid Kyle, and others, died in 2019.