George Darro & The Vi-Kings

about

The Vi-kings were formed in Greenville,Pa.Spring of 1961.All of the members were from W. PA.(Jim Prekop-Bass and Frontman -Leechburgh)(Gary Starr- Guitar-Ford City)(Gary Bowser-Guitar-Kittaning) (George Shuffert-Sax) and (Bob Wilson-Drums) were from Greenville ,PA..The Vi-Kings gathered a huge fan base locally immediately.They packed the Mohawk Tavern @ Conneaut Lake,Pa.(N.W. PA.resort area) six nights a week .They backed up the Edsels at Conneaut Lake Park Ballroom.They gained a large Pittsburgh following the fall of 1961,selling out to packed houses all over the city.In Dec.,1961,they played the World Twist Contest at Pittsburgh's Civic (Mellon) Arena with 2 other bands "Johnny Wilson &the Debonaires" and "The Knight Kaps".Guest Stars were:Jerry Lee Lewis,Gene Chandler,The Rays,Danny and The Juniors,The Skyliners,Frankie Sardo and many others.They played shows with Little Maxine,The Savoys,and the La-Rells...they were the House Band and main drawing card the winter of 1961 at Hidden Valley resort in Ambridge,PA.They met George Darro at this time and recorded Southern Twist with George and recorded the instrumental The Vi-King twist on one side of the record.That spring George Darro went to Geneva On The Lake Ohio and the Vi-kings went to Ft. Lauderdale,New Jersey and N.Y.C. where they played the Round Table,Copacabana,Peppermint Lounge,the Wagon Wheel and others.Their agent was Don Davis(Joey Dee&The Starliters agent)The group dissolved in N.Y.C. because a member did not w

top songs

albums

similar artists