Joey Powers

about

Joseph S. "Joe" Ruggiero (December 7, 1934 – January 20, 2017), who performed as Joey Powers, was an American former pop singer and songwriter whose record "Midnight Mary" reached no.10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early January 1964. Powers had no further hits and is known as a "one hit wonder". He later became a booking agent, recording studio owner, record producer, and church leader. He was born in Washington, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Washington High School in 1953, and at one time played in a band with Bobby Vinton. He won a wrestling scholarship to Ohio State University, before returning to Pennsylvania where he recorded three singles for the Nu-Clear and ABC labels under the name Joey Rogers in 1958. However, none were successful. In 1959 he moved to New York City, and through an introduction by family friend Perry Como secured a job at NBC. His singing was heard by songwriter and record producer Paul Vance, who signed him to RCA Records and changed his name to Joey Powers so as to avoid confusion with the singer Jimmy Rodgers. He released several singles produced by Vance, but again without success, and he returned to Ohio State University to complete his degree and work as a wrestling coach. However, after ending his contract with Vance in 1963, one of his demo recordings, "Midnight Mary", was heard by Paul Simon (then known as Jerry Landis), who recommended it to record label owner Larry Uttal. The song was written by Artie Wayne and Ben Raleigh, originally

top songs

albums

Midnight Mary

Rare Oldies But Goodies

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Best Of The Early Years

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Magnet10

Rare Bacharach: The Early Years 1958-1965

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Billboard 1964

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Pop Memories of the ’60s： Vol. 1- Walk Right In [Disc 2]

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One More Time: Rarely Heard Hits

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Dick Bartley Presents: One Hit Wonders of the '60s, Vol. 1

Teenage Crush, Vol. 3

Supernova

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Hard To Find 45's On CD

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