Take a trip down memory lane with Maspeth-based cover band Nostalgia, which for decades has paid tribute to classic number one hits from the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s. Though they’ve been entertaining for decades, the main goal of lead singer Pete Daniels and bandmate Vinny Polito has remained the same: to have fun performing for a crowd.
Inspired by The Belmonts to begin performing, Daniels has a strong connection to the smooth sounds of the fifties. “I used to go see them all the time,” he said. “I was there when they recorded their first song.”
After mentioning to a good friend, Frank Linden, that he would love to be a part of a band, Daniels founded Bruno and the Volkswagens. They played gigs at clubs like The Fountain Blue and traveled locally for their concerts.
Vinny Polito was inspired by the sounds of 1940s big band music, his older brother’s love of Doo-Wop and the talents of his musical hero, Louis Armstrong. He was a member of the high school orchestra and a bugle player with the Drum and Bugle Corps, but today he plays anything from the trumpet to the drums. He admitted he never sang before joining Nostalgia, but now he’s using his vocal cords as an instrument too.
“I never was a good lead singer,” said Polito, “but I have that low voice, and for the songs that we do it works out. We always clicked as far as the sound was concerned.”
The members of Nostalgia are in the band for fun; most of them are retired and just want to continue playing the music they love. “If the music’s good and if you don’t get along, it’s not fun,” said Polito.
The guys are excited for the opportunity to play in their hometown and share their love of tunes gone by with their neighbors. Nostalgia will be headlining this year’s annual Maspeth Street Fair on September 26.
