all those years go by and ......

Tommy and Glen 2008

Tommy and Glen by Tommy's star.

From 1995-2007,I still didn't know how to contact Tommy.It was one of the roads you encounter that somewhere had an end to finding what you wanted.I would email Joey dee and he still didn't know where Tommy was or how to reach him,so it became a waiting game.

Then I spotted Glen Glenn,I had heard his music before and saw he was good friends with Tommy.I wrote him a note and asked how to get in contact with Tommy,I told him who i was and told him somewhat of my bond with Tommy,he said"he'd tell Tommy".Well it wasn't long after I got an email with a way to write Tommy.God bless Glen,if I hadn't of asked,I would of never been able to write Tommy again.

Then I met Carol, a very nice lady.she said"i'll tell tommy and see if he'll sign a picture for you".I was in my glory.I sat and wrote Tommy a 5 or 6 page letter, getting caught up on somethings like who past on,mentioning names of people we knew,he remembered me fondly.carol had him sign a picture and sent it to me,it was an old one but I finally had a picture signed by him although I no longer had my wall of fame but still something close to my heart.

Tommy's Birthday was coming up,I gathered pictures from Palm Springs thanks to Carol and Alan,old pictures,pictures from a boxing event I bought off ebay, pictures from an old houston tx dj who interveiwed Tommy in 1958, placed them in a scrapbook,all gathered just for him,the dj was kind enough to send a note as well.I wanted to always do this for Tommy and now I could,I worked on it till late at night and sent it along with a couple of cards, stamps and paper so he could write me and my number so he can call me anytime.

I write tommy now every couple of weeks,I sat one night and did a tape so he could at least hear my voice,our bond has always been there,it'll never go away.

I never heard from Tommy to know if he got the scrapbook I made for him, Thank Goodness for Carol,she asked this past May{2008} and Tommy thought it was beautiful.She sent me new pictures which are now in a new scrapbook for Tommy and some older pictures I found.

Glen went out of his way for me, one day i hope to thank" Mr.everybodies movin",he and Mary his wife have been very kind to me and so has carol,I can't thank them enough

Tommy now gets every letter I write him,I am sure they make him smile and I am sure they hold very dear to him.I still have my memories and I still have a special spot for Tommy,I always will and I still Love him very much.

My cousin came to my rescue in 1995

Alan Clark and Tommy 1993

My cousin was in a group called "riskey buisness" a small group that wasn't so bad.

We talked about old music and doowop ,he'd get a chuckle out of me, someone my age in my 20's who was a walking index when it came to hearing a song and knowing the words.

His group played on weekends in Port Jeff and now and then I'd stump the guys and sometimes they'd get it and sometimes not get it.My cousin had a whining girlfriend who was the most annoying person I had ever met.She would talk with me and because I'm a nice person I'd listen and then later have a headach.

My cousin later joined Cathy Jean and the Roommates, I knew Cathy from the local radio station she dj'ed at,I'd call and request a song and she'd put me on hold and we'd chit chat, she became friends with me.Once it was my mothers birthday and one of her favorite songs was"please love me forever"Cathy was so sweet,I called and explained about my mother and could she pop over for tea and meet her, she'd be surprised.Cathy came by, picture for my mother and when she came in i gave her a hug,my mother had been cleaning,she looked and I said"mom this is cathy"she almost fell to the floor.Cathy sat and had tea, my father was being cute,cathy laught and had a good time she told my mother"joanne calls me ever weekend and requests songs,I see her favorite is always Tommy Sands"my mother told her"she had a friendship and bond with him,he's very special to her".Cathy was impressed,I should of shown her my room and my wall of fame.

Anyway,My cousin ray was in the group and they were going to do the show in uniondale at the coliseum.Ray knew about my bond with Tommy Sands, he knew more then most.I sat one night and told him"Ray ,I miss Tommy,it's hard on me I have no idea where he is,is he alright,nobody knows where he is".Ray said"you sure must love him jo or you wouldn't go the lengths you have to try and find him,He's very lucky to have someone like you in his life because you are so very special".

Well,when the show imformation came out,I read Tommy was going to be on the show,Ray got a call"I need tickets,there sold out,what do i do,Tommy's on the show,I gotta go see him,what can i do"I was frantic.Ray said"jo, calm down before you pass out,maybe the radio stations have some, try and win one"I said"I have tried and can't get through"He just didn't know what to do.

A couple of weeks before the show, my father came home and saw I was crying, he said"what is the matter"?I said"dad Tommy's going to be here soon and I can't get a Ticket,I want to go see for myself he's alright".My father knew some people like tom swift of the valentinos but he didn't know everyone,he felt really bad.That night I cried myself to sleep,My mother asked him"joe whats the matter"? He said"marg I have never stopped joanne from writting Tommy Sands have I"she said "no".My father actual had a tear in his eye,he said"marg ,this is her first love,he will be here soon and Joanne wants so badly to see him, I don't know how to help her".My mother said"ask around the airport or your connections and see what we can do".

My father asked some of his friends and explained the situation, now everyone knew I loved Tommy,My father blabbed,he spoke to Tom swift and told him"hey tom,do you know anyone with tickets to the oldies show that's coming up"?Tom who knew me,said"i bet this is for jo,I saw Tommy Sands was going to be there".My father said"yes and shes so upset,I promised her I'd do what I could".Tom suggested to call CBS Fm and ask Don K Reed,my father didn't know him.then Tom said"why not the contests, jo's good at them"my father said"shes been doing that and can't get through".Tom swift was beside himself to,he said"joey I wish I could help her, I know shes been friends along time with Tommy and has always loved him in a special way,heck I kidded her and asked her out on a date, she told me no"my father laught,tom said"she said no,i am saving that for Tommy",my father laught.

Then my father thought of cathy jean but instead somehow my cousin was talked to and ray said"let me see what i can do joe" my father said"ray shes a mess,she'd probley go without a ticket just to see Tommy and probley get caught"Ray laught and said"yup,she'd crash the show",so my father left it to Ray.

Ray sat with a friend who was also the producer of the show one night and they talked.Ray said"have you ever been in love with someone for many years,you could never tell them,you have a special spot in your heart for them since you were a kid ,you have a bond nobody can break"?His friend said"no,i can't say I have".Well my cousin Ray said"my cousin joanne dose"the guy said"oh, who is it"? ray said"she may hurt me but it's Tommy Sands" the guy looked at him with a weird look and said"your kidding me right, shes gotta be what in her 20's".My cousin said"every since she was a small child Tommy filled a void in her heart, jo's adopted and dosen't know family or siblings,Tommy's music had always been an outlet for her and then through people like joey dee and arlene she formed a bond with him and a freidnship"The guy was impressed.Ray went on to say"joanne dosen't like him because he's a singer or actor, she has always connected with him because he is a human beinging,has a kind heart"the guy said"thats nice",this guy still wasn't getting the hint.

My cousin said"listen steve,joanne lost contact with him a few years ago, he had went to Ca and arlene told her she couldn't write him no more and she dosen't know where he is or if he's alright".The guy said"write him, you mean joanne use to write him"?My cousin said"yeah, every week without fail when he lived in Ny for awhile, joanne would sit and write him a letter,send a picture now and then,her letters made him smile and as long as they made him smile, she wrote".The guy said "ok what do you want"? My cousin with his grin said"steve,I need a comp ticket for joanne, so she can come to the show and see Tommy's alright,it will put her mind and heart at ease"?The man looked at my cousin and said afterwards"she must love him an awful lot to want to sit through a 6 hour show just to see Tommy",my cousin ray said"she knows half the people on the show,so she dosen't mind but yes she would sit there till Tommy comes out and probley not go to the ladies room until after the show"they both laught.My cousin said"steve,joanne's been crying,she has tried every avenue she can think of to get a ticket,knowing her she'd probley sneak into the show just to see Tommy,please can we do something"?The man said"ok, let me send her the ticket,i'm so touched,I can't believe joanne's been friends with Tommy Sands this long".My cousin said"one other thing, we need to get her backstage to see him"?The man said"Ray,I can try,I can't promise because the place will be packed,but i will try".

Ray told my father who was in his glory and a few days later the ticket came in the mail ,I had know idea till later how it all happened,I was just so happy.Ray called and said"hey hows your day going"?I said"ray someone sent me a ticket for the show, now I can see Tommy".I was just to happy,I mowed the lawn for my father and went out to buy a new outfit.

The night before the show,I took my new outfit out, black slacks, a white top and my shoes,I laid everything out neatly and was so nervous I couldn't sleep.My mother came up and said'joanne, what are you doing"?I said"oh, just getting ready for tomarrow,I'm so nervous,what if I get to see Tommy and I don't open my mouth"?My mother laught and said"you'll be fine, listen to what nana always told you, one day when you see him tell him whats in your heart,you'll be fine,Tommy will be impressed you went to this great length to see him,I personally would give you a hug and big kiss if I was him".I laught.

my sister and cousin Lorriane were going out,they wanted me to come,I said"I can't I got my nails to do,i gotta get up early to be at the place by 10am so i won't miss Tommy when he walks in,the just in case stuff".My cousin was at her old tricks again,she said"joanne,you'll never see him face to face, you'll never be able to even talk to him so get over it"I said"well thats pretty funny for someone who thought she saw Elvis in the mall the other day and when she got close it was some guy dressed up and she made a fool of herself no less",that ended her remarks.

That night,I went to bed and had a nice dream,I was aksing myself"will he sing my song Teenage crush,will he be ok on stage since I knew he got nervous on stage at times, what would he be wearing"?All those questions ,so little time for answears{hehehe}.I got up at 5am{tommy dosen't know this},had my coffee,listened to my albums which i collected,from stores,yard sales and flea markets,they were great for the old stuff since my aunt and my friends father would fork over there albums to me.I got into the shower and did my hair,which was longer then,my father woke up"oh today's the day"I said "yes and I'm nervous" My father said"joanne,just be yourself, caring, loving and funny and Tommy will enjoy seeing you,to bad nana's not here to see this, it's like watching you get ready for your first date"I said"i feel like that to dad"My father laught"nana,she'd say now you tell your boyfriend to come for dinner"I cried alittle and said"yes she would".

by 7am,I had my hair done, my make up on, running around in a bathrobe.My aunt called and said"jojo,your going to finally see Tommy,remember what nana said tell him whats in your heart,I wish i could be there to see the reaction on your face"I said"aunt alice, this time my reaction will probley be tears".My mother spoke to her and I was to busy getting dressed, put on my new outfit,my favorite perfume imari and was out the door by 8;45am. A friend dropped me off,by 10am,The gates were open because of the tail gate party before the show,I saw the Encounters and a few people I knew, I saw cousin bruicie and Don K Reed,I saw my old friend Max Kinkle whom i met and talk to late at night on the radio,My cousin popped up a few hours later, the doors didn't open till alomost 3pm, I was all dressed up,he said"joanne, you look beautiful"I smiled and said"thanks,I feel nervous though"he said"ahhh don't worry it'll be ok",I asked him to get amessage I wrote for Tommy to him if he could and he said"he'd try".

Then upstairs,the daily news put a special edition paper out,the producer who knew my cousin came over and saw me,seems my cousin described me to him,he said"you must be joanne"I said"yes I am and you are" he said"i'm steve,Your cousin ray told me all about you"I said"did you send me the ticket"?He smiled and said"yes, after hearing his story and your special bond with Tommy and your love for him,I couldn't resist".I started to tear up and he said"oh, don't cry again,i don't have a mop and you'll ruine your make up",I asked"can I get back to see him after the show"?he said"sweetie I'll see what i can do, we'll be packed back there but i will try".

I sat through four hours of the show, having to wait for Tommy, there were people beside me and we'd doowop with the greats, Dave somermville came on and sang"Little darlin" and made some jokes, the lady said" who is your favorite so far"?I said"I'm here to see one person",she said "who"I said "you'll see".Well Tommy came on, black slacks, white shirt,black short jacket{we must of been thinking the same thing}.short black hair and his guitar, he sang"teenage Crush and The Beat Goes on"I stood up out of a million people and gave him a standing ovation when he came to the stage,He sounded great and looked well,that was my main concern.After he finished,I stood up again and clapped loud,I also cried.The lady next to me offered me a tissue and asked if I was ok,I said"i am now".

I went down stairs to first use the ladies room,then ran into my cousin, he said"you can't get back, there crowded in there and I think tommy may of left already but i will try and get the message to him but at least you saw he was alright".I hugged my cousin and thanked him for giving me the best blessing there was that night, to see Tommy was alright.

Till this day my cousin will kid me and say"i owe him" and I'll say"i owe ya nothing",we laugh,he reminds me of how I dressed and Tommy dressed and asks did we have a conversation to get the clothing right so we'd match.I could never thank my cousin enough for giving me that night,as long as I knew Tommy was ok ,I was ok.I still missed him though and I still loved him,he was my first love,what can i say,"I got good taste".

I was at this show

Living Catalogue of Rock
It was a night of polyester passion, with 18,000 people cheering for singing men in suits of cobalt blue, fire-engine red and electric yellow. For six hours Long Islanders cheered the voices of their youth, and their own youth.
Last Sunday the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum became home to a doo-wop woodstock. Never have so many rock-and-roll groups from the 50's and 60's performed together. Never have so many 50-year-olds made up an audience.
"This is absolutely great," said Bill Levine, 56, of Hicksville, who although sitting in the sixth row was using binoculars to watch Bobby Lewis "Tossin and Turning."
Age was a factor on both sides of the footlights. One of the Five Disks dislocated his, and that group had to cancel. Other singers had been in rock-and-roll so long that they performed in several groups. Tom Ferrara sang with the Capris ("Moon Out Tonight") and raced back to change into another polyester suit to sing with the Del Satins. Then two Del Satins rushed off to change so they could sing with their other group, the Brooklyn Bridge, which starred Johnny Maestro, who was also with the Crests.
And Juan of Don and Juan? He got stuck in traffic. So it became Don and Frank, as Frank Pitt of the Jive Five substituted on "What's Your Name?"
The extravaganza was organized as a tribute to the Richard Nader family. Mr. Nader, of Plandome, started the rock-and-roll revivals decades ago. Last summer a fire at his house took the life of his wife, Barbara, and injured two sons. To help defray medical costs and as a tribute to Mrs. Nader, more than 50 groups and individual singers signed up for the benefit.

"They're singing their hearts out," Mr. Nader said at the show. "My wife's spirit created this night."


The Naders were married for 23 years. Their song was "In the Still of the Night." Freddy Paris and the Satins were there to perform it. So many singers were there to perform that the show had to be divided into segments.
"We've got the duet segment," an organizer, Bob Nemser, said. "We've got the boys from New York City segment, the diva segment."
The diva, La Vern Baker, arrived in a wheelchair to sing. Other female performers included Little Eva, Peggy March, the Angels and Rosie and the Originals. It was like a high school reunion, as groups met in the corridor going to the coliseum floor. "Music history is being made here tonight," Cousin Brucie Morrow said as he watched the men and women embrace.
Many stayed to hear others sing. "This is a once in a lifetime," Rocky Marsicano of Holtsville, and the Capris, said as he listened to Lenny Dell of Commack and the Demensions. "We never get a chance to work with all these groups. Listening to them is a professional courtesy."
And more.
Lenny Welch asked Willie Winfield of the Harptones to join him on stage and sing "Since I Fell for You."
In the middle of the song, Mr. Welch shouted to the audience: "This is such an honor! This man started me in my career!" As he left the stage Mr. Winfield, who recorded his first rock-and-roll hit, "Sunday Kind of Love," in 1953, said: "I was so nervous. Was it O.K.?" It was more than O.K.

Tommy was on this show along with greats like Dave Somerville,Johnny Maestro and the brooklyn bridge,don k reed, cousin brucie,all the CBS,FM guys,Cathy jean and the Roommates, the encounters,lou christie,and so many more I can't remember.I did stay for the entire show.

My heartbreak

jessica and Tommy,2007

I continued writting Tommy,without fail,every week he got a new letter to make him smile,my nana said"you must care an awful lot about him to make sure he smiles"I said"yup"she always interupted me when I wrote a letter.She would sneak over my shoulder to see what I was jotting down,My aunt once had been in Hawaii on her honeymoon,she brought me a picture from the Out Rigger Hotel because Tommy had been singing there,I had it tucked in a wallet for so long,It got torn and old but i carried it and lost it as well.

Anyway,I had called Arlene one day to see if Tommy got my letter and to see if he was ok,she said"jo,he is gone"My heart sunk,I said"what do you mean gone"? She said"he went to Cail"I said"well where can I write him there",she said"you can't write him no more".I was floored,now what do i do,for years I was lonely,I would only think of "where could Tommy be,is he alright",Arlene never gave much imfo on Tommy,so what was I going to do.I cried some that night,My aunt was there,My nana heard me crying in my sleep asking for Tommy,it was very hard on me.My aunt couldn't understand why,she said"whats the matter with jojo"?My nana said"remember when you liked all those doowop people like dion and the belmonts or the skyliners,remember when you'd watch american badnstand"she said"of course i do,I ran home everyday just to watch the show but whats that got to do with joanne"?My nana looked at her and said"she has a very special spot in her heart for Tommy Sands,she has watched every movie he's done more then once,listens to all his old songs,she has tapes she's recorded of him,she was writting him for awhile at her friends house and it suddenly stopped because he left and she dosen't know where he is now, she's worried because she cares and I think loves him,so leave it alone, let her be".

CMT reaired a nashville now with Tommy on it, this time, copper brown hair, white suite,yellow tank top, blue shirt over it, his guitar,singing worrin kind and later Teen age Crush,i taped that as well,I sat and cried, this was all I had now was tapes from talk shows and tv.i was beside myself,I just kept wondering.

I went to doowop shows,I did two benefits for two sick kids,I kept my self busy but I would ask friends like joey dee if they've seen him and got the same answear"i have no idea where he is".Arlene past away,she was so sick and I did get to tell her thank you,because of her I was able to form a bond and friendship with Tommy.

I talked about Tommy,My cousin who was into herself,was judgemental of me because I was in a circle of people who were not only entertainers but friends and she was no where.One of my friends from a group nick named me "little bits"I laught and said"how come little bits" and the answear was"because your so little and theres lots of little bits of you to love"I just wished Tommy knew that.

We'd be in the car coming back from a trip or something and I'd beg to keep CBS.101 on, I loved don k reeds show and cousin brucie,they were my favorites, any given time I'd be sitting on the stoop outside till all hours listening to Doowop shop or Don K Reed and always hoping I'd hear Tommy,one night sure enough they played Tommy on the radio,I'd call WGLI as I knew Dj's and request Tommy,soemthing to help me sleep.

For years,I drove people nuts,asking about Tommy.My friends{what little I had} knew I loved him.My best friends father had a collection of albums and every now and then he would play"steady Date" for me ,I tried many times to get that album from him and he'd laugh he said"jo,anytime your here you can listen to it but I'm not handing it over".He knew I had a special spot for Tommy, heck as a kid I drove him nuts trying to get that album,it was his on going joke till I was an adult"so want the album"?I said"oh yes"he say"well tuff,it's mine".He treated me like one of the family and I knew he was a joker.
My nana,before she got real sick,knew I loved tommy,she knew more then I knew.She said"joanne,I know you hurt,I know your heart is broken but you'll find him",I said"no nana because nobody I know,knows where he is".My nana relized she needed to enforce my aunt as well but that didn't work either.
My aunt had a way with words,she said"jojo,I know how you feel,I liked all the old singers to but i never got as far as you did, heck you have met wayne newton, who would of known you'd be pen pals with that man for so long and then formed a bond with Tommy Sands and become friends with him,nobody dose that and can have that special memeory instilled in their minds and hearts forever".I looked at her and said"aunt alice, this wasn't one of those teen things,this was the real deal,I wanted to go see him so many times in Ny but Arlene wouldn't allow me to come see Tommy for whatever reason,she just told me keep writting him and I did,Aunt alice,I miss him so much,I miss having a reason to write him,I keep writting a letter now and then just to write one but no where to send it too".
she understood somewhat, my nana took her aside and said"she loves him,it's not like a crush or anything, she has had her heart filled by him, her void she's had all her life was filled by him".My aunt was shocked,she said"love,well I gather no I didn't understand all of what was in her heart".
My other aunt who got chuckles out of things like that would say"have you heard from Tommy this week"and I'd walk away and cry or my cousin who liked to play games, asked everyone a question"who would you like to meet or marry"?I hated her games because they were away to trap me,When she got to me I said"tommy Sands"she laught and said"you will never meet nor know Tommy Sands so get off it already"I said"oh, well we'll see".then years later when my nana who stuck up for me sat her down and said"lorriane,I am asahmed of you, why do you put joanne down"?She looked and said"I didn't know I did that"my nana said"she has a special spot for Tommy and all you do is make her feel less then in frount of people,it needs to stop",it stopped.
For years,I kept thinking about Tommy,I saw him on little things but I missed him so much,then the "star"paper ran a where are they now thing and my aunt picked it up for me,she was so happy,she came over for the weekend,she couldn't wait for me to have it.She said"jojo,I have a surprise for you,here look inside",I sat and looked,I saw Fabian, tab hunter, Bobby Rydell,etc but then found My Tommy, graying hair,green sweat suite on and a short article on him,there was a question"Do you have a woman in your life"?something to that effect,his answear was"no, I haven't found one who'd want me",I wanted him.I gave my aunt a hug and cried, she said'jojo whats the matter"?I said"aunt alice read the question"she did and smiled and said"and,whats your answear to it",I said"me,I want him,I love him"she just smiled.
From that point on that paper was under my pillow so it wouldn't get lost,my aunt understood better and encouraged me as well,my grandmother got sick and her mind wasn't the same,I would go see her in the nursing home and hospital,i'd play her music to jog her memory anything i could do to bring her back.I played some of Tommy's songs and she'd open her eyes and listen,she would hold my hand,then in october she past way,I was beside myself,I missed her wisdom,her advice, her encouragement and most of all her friendship.
I believe in angels,When my grandmother was gone, she came to me one night,i could see her plain as day.I sat up in bed and she stroked my hair as she did time and time again,she said"joanne,I'm ok, I am going to be with grandpa and my sister soon"I said"nana,I need you don't leave me"she said"oh i'm not leaving you, i'll be around you all the time",I said"nana what do i do now"?She said"when you find Tommy,you share with him how you feel,you tell him of the times you wondered about him and how you cared,he'd appriciate that".I said goodbye,then next morning my father was saying"who were you talking to all night"?I said"nana,she came to me"he was dumb founded,I described a coat she had worn when i was a kid,she told me about gradnpa and i said something, my mother almost dropped to the floor.My nana was going to tell grandpa about me and how I have someone special in my life.

How it began

I went to alot of doowop shows on Long island,I became friends with people like "The Chaperones"Tony Amato,God Bless him, he had a voice and could belt out "Criuse To The Moon or Rock N Roll with a tune"that got you moving. On any given weekend,The guys would be playing"The Inn" in Commack and i'd go see them,I was friends with these people,they didn't care I was adopted,so for me,this was a good outlet.

I met Nicky by chance, he knew people I knew.I was working and wanted to go see an oldies show in Nassue but didn't have tickets.Well I had read about Joey dee's Foundation for the Love of Rock N Roll,which was to help old singers who had nothing, Joey made an effort to form a safety net for these icons and history makers,he was going to build a retirment community for them.Joey and Lois{I miss her} were going to do a radio thon at WGLI In babylon,Ny and I was hoping Tommy be there or lou christie so I could get my album signed.

I called the station and volenteered my time so I could meet these people,Thats how my friendship started with Joey,Lois, Dave and Eddie Brigatti,Nick Salvato and so many more.

I told my father"you have to drop me off at the station at 3pm,I'll get off early,then pick me up later",He was all for it.

I went down ,walked in, Lois set me up and thats how I also met Arlene ,she was a nice lady,I had seen her so many times at Westbury Music fair when I'd go see Fabian, Bobby Rydell and Frankie Avalon,so we talked some.Once I got comfy in the setting,I asked"is Tommy Sands here as well"?Lois said"no ,jo, he isn't this time",Then I went to meet Joey and all the guys,I had one picture taken of me, joey, hank ballard,Tony Amato and someone else,I was surrounded by the greats.

Joey would come in and ask"are you ok, is there anything you'd like"?I said"no,I'm fine".He was just as nice as could be,Dave and Eddie sat by me,Those two jokesters and asked"so whats this album"?I showed it to them and dave said"i remember this one, Lou had alot of hair" and I laught,I told them"i wanted him to sign it for me",Dave said"he isn't coming, he's got a cold".That was ok with me,I met so many wonderful people anyway.

Joey and lois along with the others had to leave,I was left answearing phones as promised.Joey said"i want to thank you for doing this".I said "I was proud to do it".I sat there till midnight answearing phones,the Dj's I already knew and Nick and the guys came down for an appearence and I took a picture of them,Nicky was eating chicken and we got into talking,he told me"why not come and see us at the INN,we're there almost every other weekend"I said"i'll do that".

The Dj's were so impressed,they asked"since you went out of your way for us and joey,is there something you'd like"?I said without a blink"two tickets to the doowop show",They handed them to me and I was in my glory.Now you gotta remember something, here I was now in this circle of forever friends, I met Gary Us Bonds there and saw him many times after that, we became friends very fast and I never ever treated these people like a screaming teenager would,I treated them as human beings because they were.There is a funny story about Gary I'll share, once I was at the skylounge and Gary came in, I had gone over to chat with him and give him a hug, my sisters friends mother didn't believe I knew Gary, she wasn't very nice anyway to me.I asked gary"please go over there and tell her you know me"He said"ok,for you i will"he went over and said"hello"she just turned white,he said"i'm gary us bonds friend of joanne's"thats all she needed to hear and almost passed out.

Ok, so back to my story,I had became friends with joey and lois,arlene as well.I went to Atlantic City with a friend and she wanted to see Joey dee,I said"well thats great because he's a friend of mine"I would write joey in FL and he'd send me a post card or picture from Little Darlins with Tommy on frount, he knew I liked Tommy and would pass a note to him for me.Joey did a show for a few weeks and we went to see him,lois almost broke my finger, she stepped on my hand slighly {hehehe} and almost dropped a music stand on my hand, good thing i move fast.It was great seeing my friends and we sat up frount,afterwards Joey came out and My friend called him"Mr. Dee" he said"any friend of joanne's is a friend of mine,call me joey",we talked some, I gave him a hug,I gather the Dj's whom i knew had also told him I stayed till midnight answearing phones.I kept in contact with joey, my only link to Tommy,he told me once"tommy's moved to Fl,we'll be on tv,watch us"I was sick anyway's so I taped the sally show, joey, Tommy,Gary, Cousin Brucie were all on it talking about their pasts and the foundation as well.Tommy looked so handsome to me,Dark hair, black shirt with James Dean on frount who was tommy's idol and a black jacket.Tommy talked about his past,what he was doing now and spoke of his daughter"jessica" who was the light of his life.I could tell he was happy somewhat,he played Little Darlin's in FL on Mondays, the worst night for any show because people go back to work,They ran an article in people on the foundation as well,Tommy did things in his past as an escape,he wasn't happy back then,he wanted to work so bad,He was living in a small apartment in FL,trying to get by.I wanted so badly to reach out to him in someway but Joey was keeping his eyes out for me.I could never judge because we all make mistakes in our life's and learn from them as well, Tommy learned from his.

Then,I called arelen one day, I liked her,I would talk with her, she wasn't well,I had said"i don't see you at westbury any more" she said"i've been sick".I sent her a tib bit I found on fabian in the mail,she'd keep me imformed on shows and I'd keep her imformed on tib bits, she didn't live far from me at all.Then one day our conversation switched to Tommy Sands,I had said something like"I wish Tommy play Long island"she said"tommy's here"I said"where ,performing"she said "no,here,with me, he is staying with me for awhile"I said"oh arlene could I write him a letter and send it to your address,please"she said"of course,I'd think Tommy would enjoy that".I sat and wrote him a 4 page letter,sent a picture and thus started my friendship with Tommy.

My nana ,as I said before was very encouranging when it came to Tommy,she always thought it was good to have someone in your life that made a diffrence,Tommy made many diffrences in my life and never knew it.He gave me a sense of being, after hearing his interview on sally,I understood more that we were alike in many ways.At any given time I'd call Arlene to see if Tommy got my letter,the first time she said"jo, he loved your letter, you made him smile"I asked to talk to him but she said"he was busy",I just kept writting him instead.

My Father would look in the mailbox and I'd get something from joey or wayne newton but never Tommy,My father said"I gather he's not one for writting"I said"no,he isn't but thats ok, my letters make him smile".

I would chat with arlene and she said once"tommy told me to tell you hello ",I said"can I please talk to him"?Arlene was a sweet lady don't get me wrong but she never let me talk with Tommy.She said"jo, keep writting him, your letters make him smile,you guys formed a bond,please write him",so I did,one of my famous long letters.

Every week I'd write and every week I'd check with arlene to see him got it,this went on for months.then heart break.

My Nana encouraged me

My Nana was from the old country, she was scottish and irish, she had an accent and was so cute sometimes.

She lived in the Bronx when I was little and then moved to yonkers,,then to Staten island,There was a time she also lived with us,helping my mother with us,baby robby ,lynn,she had her hands full.My parents were foster Parents at first,so before my adoption baby robby came to live with us.I remember that after Robby had been adopted by another couple, my parents were heartbroken,they wanted to adopt him as well but the agency thought"well your adopting the two girls etc" so they took him.

At any given time My nana got involved in my schemes{hehehe},I'd have a system with her"if you see tommy's picture in the paper mail it to me,same with the others like wayne newton or Paul anka,if Tommy's on tv, call me, If tommy's on the news call me",I had a good thing going, between my Nana and aunt not to mention my father,I had a pretty good deal going.

I would watch any talk show, rock n roll show that Tommy was on,I just loved him so much.I caught Nashville Now in CMT when Tommy was on it, one time with yellow hair ,yellow top,blue top over the yellow,his guitar belting out "Teenage Crush and The Beat Goes On",I watched the whole show with a repeat at midnight,My father came and caught me,I had taped the show as well,My father said"joanne,do you know what time it is"?I looked and laught and said"yeah,it's Tommy Sands Time".He got a chuckle and watched it with me.My father finally relized something,I was alot like my aunt in way's and that some how Tommy filled a void.My nana on the other hand she was wise,she told my father once"joe,shes had her heart stolen by this man and he dosen't know it yet,he must be awful special to her because she tries very hard to see every show he's on,collect a picture,anything and everytime you giggle about it,don't".My father said"I gather your right,my little girl is growing up,well if Tommy Sands gives her happiness,I'm not standing in the way".

My father worked at the airport in Ny , every now and then he meet big wigs"Prinecess Diana,The Osmonds"people like that,that would come get their cargo.I always asked"now if you ever see Tommy Sands, bring a picture home for me,tell him about me",My father would smile and say"i'll be on the look out".

My nana wasn't stupid,she was smarter then me,she knew,she knew that not just music but something else was in my heart tucked deep away and for an adoptee like my self,that was something special you don't recieve any time, it's something that grows.She asked me once"joanne, whats so special about Tommy that you like,is it music,acting "?I said with a tear"nana, I like his music alot and his acting,you know alot of his movies I've watched but no,I like him because he's human,I can tell he has a kind heart,he can be funny,I can tell by looking at him he's been hurt,He has a big heart and people don't always understand him,same with me"she said"ahhhh,so you have a connection somewhere,your awful wise to pick him because I bet he never had a nana like me".I smiled and asked"nana if you ever met him, if he ever came here lets say, how would you treat him"?She thought and said"just as I treat anyone, my doors always open,I'd feed him my tripe soup{ick},I'd talk with him,probley give him a hug and make him feel like part of the family".My nana treated all our neighborhood friends that way,feed them, hug them and let them know their loved,thats how she was,always giving.

When I started writting Tommy when he was staying in Ny for awhile,My nana would always say"are you writting your boyfriend again"?I said"yup",writting Tommy made me feel so good,It made him smile and it gave me a chance to express myself but an outlet to talk to him.I always sat in the kitchen to hear music and drink some tea,then begin writting, sometimes 4 page letters,My nana would come up and say"Joanne,it's late what are you doing"?I said"writting",she said"your letters must mean an awful lot to him if your friend arlene told you to keep writting him".I said"nana they make him smile,he knows I care,we have a bond now,I just hope one day i can tell him how I feel".My nana would hug me and kiss my head,she knew an awful lot,she said"then you keep writting him,you keep the special feelings you have in your heart for when the time is right,then one day i hope he will know how much you really care and love him".

As I got older

My sister anne and I in 1972

As I got older,I turned to music more for meaning and a place I could be.I was adopted and other kids and their families could be cruel,calling me anything from the "B" word to telling their kids not to play with me.
I found shelter in music,I could sing along to a records, radio and soemtimes on my own.My parents would often catch me singing and dancing to a sterio blasting and a number of times I blew speakers but man I loved music.
I started collecting pictures of all kinds of people{Fabian.Paul Anka,wayne newton,bobby rydell,lou christie,lesley gore,,connie francis} and had them hung on my wall of fame as I called it right over my bed.
You'd think"when kids my age are all gaga for people like shaun cassidy or scott baio " as my cousin and sister were I'd be to,nope I liked the old stuff, old tv shows"the honeymooners,lucy"I liked the doo wop and rockabilly.
My father was watching Hawaii Five O on tv and it was a repeat, Tommy was on it,My dad shouted"joanne, get in here Tommy's on tv" I came running and watched the whole show,I just adored him so much,my father be asking me a question and i'd be "shhhhhing" him so i wouldn"t miss Tommy Singing.
My cousin and sister played make believe dates, this is to funny and i'll probley get beat up for blabbing but I can't help it,here those two are at age 7,my cousin had Elvis{good choice} my sister had shaun cassidy, here those two are kissing posters and pretending their out on dates, of course when they got to me,They asked "whos your date"?I said"nobody".I was the single girl and kept my secrets to myself.They would be "making out with posters"it was funny to watch ,to bad them two didn't get their lips glued then it would of been really funny.
My nana was the only one who ever understood me, she loved me so much.She'd come and visit and stay for awhile.She knew alot of my secrets and although she knew I liked people like Paul Anka she knew I had a special spot for Tommy.One time she heard me singing and came to listen,she smiled and said"joanne,what a pretty song and you sing it so well".I started to tear up and said"nana,I have something heavey on my heart and don't know what it is".She looked at me and said"what it is,is something you'll discover one day".
My cousin would tease me and say"ok,Joanne give,who do you like"?.To her ,Elvis was the tops and maybe in the day he sure was but she also would judge me and I was affraid to even mention to her who I liked or loved.She decided with the girl scouts to play 20 questions,so when it came to me,I was affraid.I got asked the normal questions"whats your favorite color,favorite movie etc" but when it came to"who do you love or like"I couldn't answear it because I was affraid to.My cousin and I never really got along,then one day she pushed it and said"anne liked shaun cassidy,I like Elvis and scott baio,how come you won't tell me who you like, you never play dates",I looked at her and said"watch babes in toyland then you'll figure it out",that was the end of that conversation for awhile.

I loved "teenage Crush"that was my song,sing boy sing,my love song,music from babes in toyland, parent trap theme, Goin Steady was my very favorite next to Teenage Crush,any song Tommy sang,I loved.I had 45 records that i played all the time.My aunt would come over and his music be blarring on my sterio,my sister said once"shes in tommy sands land again".My aunt would come in and say"jo jo, lower that",she said I reminded her of Patty Duke in the begining of her show bopping around{I watched that show too}.

My tribute to My Friend Tommy Sands

When I was a little Girl,age 5.Living in Bay Shore Ny,My parents listened to alot of Elvis, CBS.FM 101 and so I grew up with doowop and rockabilly in my house.

I loved doo wop and rockabilly.I remember my uncle would play anything from Elvis to Buddy Holly to Tom Jones in his Juke box he had in his basement with his own bar.

I grew up with the likes of Dion,Fabian, Bobby Darin, Bobby rydell,Connie Francis,Paul Anka, Joey Dee and the Starliters but I fell for someone at a very young age, Tommy Sands.

I could listen to his music and some of it had meaning for me,I could sing most songs and be in my own world when it came to music.

My parents would get a kick out of the fact I could name a song off the top of my head or sing it aloud and know all the words.

I was five in the picture above.I liked alot of diffrent music,Paul Anka was a favorite but Tommy was my very favorite.If he was on tv, My nana would call and say"joanne, your boyfriend's on tv",she was scottish and anyone I liked she called"My Boyfriend".

I listened to alot of Elvis as a kid to,my parents would play their albums when company would come over or my uncle and aunt would play cards and I could hear"jailhouse rock or my very favorite Rock a hulla".

I remember not long after my adoption in 1973,my parents with my older sister went to see Elvis in uniondale, Ny, My parents said"they had a "ball",I was to young to go at the time.

I discovered Tommy at such a young age,My aunt who was alot like me,collected albums and things but never understood why Tommy Sands she'd later found out.

This is My tribute to My friend,My first Love,to someone who made a diffrence in my life, To someone I would go to the ends of the earth for, someone I am still in love with and probley will always be,someone who I finally have found again and to someone whos very special,Tommy Sands.