Danny and the Juniors, Viki Wallace play North Wildwood

The fourth and fifth concerts in the free “Concerts under the Stars” series in North Wildwoodwill feature Rock and Roll legends Danny and the Juniors on Thursday, July 23, and Viki Wallace, formerly of The Three Degrees on Saturday, July 25.
Both concerts are at 8 p.m. at Lou Booth Theater, Second and Ocean avenues, North Wildwood.
Danny and the Juniors’ were there in the early 1950s when it all started in Philadelphia. Frank Maffei, Danny Rapp, Joe Terranova, and Dave White were only 13 and 14 years old. They called themselves The Juvenaires, and performed at school dances, local clubs, and restaurants.
They changed their name to Danny and the Juniors as their original, international hit, “At the Hop,” climbed to number one on the pop, country, and rhythm and blues charts. Today, Billboard Magazine rates it as number 23 on the list of all-time hits.
They’ll bring their stage show—an entertaining mix of classic Rock and Roll, comedy, and impressions—to North Wildwood, as one of the 17 free concerts this summer.
“Most of our visitors and residents have to stretch their vacation budgets, so we’re happy to offer excellent family-friendly shows like this one, all summer long in our comfortable, open-air theater,” said North Wildwood Mayor Bill Henfey.
Wallace grew up in West Virginia, and her first musical performances were as choir director at her local church.
Quickly becoming one of Philadelphia’s premier vocalists Wallace was the lead singer with the group ION. She enjoyed a long-standing friendship with Richard Barrett, manager and producer of the female trio The Three Degrees.
Then, when The Three Degrees’ Sheila Ferguson decided to explore a solo career, Wallace accepted the offer from the two remaining members Valerie Holiday and Helen Scott to take Ferguson’s place on the album “The Three Degrees…And Holding.”
Later, after recommending Cynthia Garrison as her replacement with The Holiday/Scott Three Degrees, she continued as part of the authentic and original Three Degrees.
The Three Degrees have recorded “When Will I See You Again” (winning the #1 slot at the Tokyo Music Festival in 1974), “Maybe,” and “TSOP” (known as the Soul Train Theme) during their 40-plus-year career.
For the classic Philly soul lovers, Wallace’s solo debut CD, “The Country Diva” adds just the right amount of nostalgia with a slick re-make of The Three Degrees’ hit “When Will I See You,” which is dedicated to the soldiers in Iraq.