Vito and the Salutations

1 song

V. Smith, Houston, TX (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons

Vito & the Salutations was a New York City doo-wop group active from 1961 to 1965, comprised of members from Italian, Irish, and Jewish-American backgrounds. The ensemble began rehearsing in subways and train stations while still in high school before securing a recording contract. Their 1963 rendition of "Unchained Melody," transformed from a 1955 ballad into an uptempo doo-wop arrangement, became their signature hit, selling over one million copies and reaching number three on New York's WABC radio. The group, which featured lead singer Vito Balsamo—a Brooklyn native raised on opera who chose rock and roll—underwent lineup changes throughout their career, with Balsamo remaining the consistent member.