It was Dion DiMucci, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame legend and arbiter of "The Bronx Blues" who set Vinny Adinolfi on the path to becoming a musician. It was also with Dion's help that Vinny came to work with producers Terry Cashman & Tommy West (It was Cashman & West who produced all of Jim Croce's hit records.) While working with the much-respected hitmakers, Vinny was able to work with Dion on the albums Return of the Wanderer and Fire In the Night. Vinny continues to work with Cashman, West and their partner Phil Kurnit to this day, producing records for Phil Kurnit's Winthrop Records, Metrostar Records and Lifesong Records.
In 2003, as a stage actor, Vinny Adinolfi played "Eric DeVene" in the Heather Brothers New York Off-Broadway production, Cafe a Go Go, and most recently, playing the part of "Jimmy Whispers" in the Broadway-bound,
A Bronx Tale, and as the lead vocal voice of the group The Dukes, the new heist movie set to 50's rock and roll, with stars Robert Davi, Chazz Palminteri, and Peter Bogdanovich, set for release later this year.
"It was a cousin of mine who challenged me to take my kids and another cousin of ours (Dino Rocco) out to play some dates in Las Vegas." With the addition of Jimmy Fracassi, best known for his many years with The Earls and touring with Dion, Vinny's two sons, Vinny 'The Kid', Nicky 'Stix' , brother Richie and his cousin Dino Rocco, Vinny formed The Bronx Wanderers. The dates went over so well, that they became a family act.
Dino Rocco was born in Queens, New York but spent much of his childhood in the Bronx tagging along with his “crooner” father, Sal Rocco. Sal moved the family to Long Island where Dino honed his skills as a musician. Dino quickly became a veteran of the New York club and college circuits. It was with Iron Horse, the legendary Staten Island group that Dino was approached by Rock 'n'Roll superstar, Steven Van Zandt, who is the anchor of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band as well
as Bruce’s producer. Steven produced Iron Horse and took Dino under his wing to play with him.
From here Dino moved on to do studio work with Foreigner’s Mick Jones, Philip Michael Thomas of Miami Vice fame and Pat Thrall of Meatloaf. In 1999 Dino, Yo! Vinny and their cousin, Debbie Oddo, who at the time was a senior executive for the Monte Carlo Hotel in Las Vegas, challenged her two cousins to put together an act promising to book them in the Monte Carlo. So Dino and Yo! Vinny honed their stagecraft in Las Vegas.
Dino is happy to be back with “My Cousin Vinny” and being an integral part of “The Bronx Wanderers.”
"Your appearance was the first concert I ever promoted; I don't know how we're gonna top it! People are still talking about it this morning! The Bronx Wanderers are a class act, both on and off the stage." A winner! - DJ Chris Erwin WUGO
Beginning in the Bronx as a father-son Dion tribute band, Yo! Vinny and the Bronx Wanderers exploded on the scene big-time in 2008, with their show-stopping stage show, amassing a huge loyal following, and celebrated groupies like Chazz Palminteri,
Danny Aiello and Dion DiMucci himself. As their fame increaded so did their set-list, that now includes tributes to Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, The BeeGees, Rascals, KC & the Sunshine Band, Tommy James, Bob Seeger and the Brooklyn Bridge.
You can take the boy out of the Bronx,
but you can't take the Bronx out of the boy!
In Florida, with their Bronx-born manager Ray Reneri.
Yo! Vinny in the world's capital of pasta, sausage
and doo wop - [the Bronx]. Vinny! (r) pays the check.
That explains all the laughter; dinner is on him ... again.
The Bronx Wanderers are five of nicest, most pleasant guys that I have met -- an absolute pleasure to spend two-days with them. The feedback I have gotten from our country club members is... "they were the most exciting, fun, energetic act we have ever had. People are already asking, as to when they will be back down here in Florida. They really had this place jumping for two days." Larry, our general manger told me yesterday that they were absolutely incredible and made the weekend probably the best in club history. I have already received three Emails from Stu Feinstein from Le Clique with his desire to get The Wanderers involved in his party circuit. Judy Rosenberg also told me that they would be absolute dynamite for the clubs that she reps in NY.
Jeff -WOODFIELD COUNTRY CLUB, Boca Raton, FL
This page was last updated: November 2, 2009
On another perfect cool summer evening, the unexpected happened. A lighting bolt of pure rock n' roll struck the audience at the Bay Ridge Park in Brooklyn. Instead of running for cover, the crowd flocked to the bandstand to hear the electric sounds presented by YO' VINNY & THE BRONX WANDERERS. Aug 12, 2008 will long be remembered as a hot ticket for those savvy enough to attend this event. THE BRONX WANDERERS' performance was so hot, so jumping that the group did a four-song encore, something that is almost unprecedented at these shows. I must say again, Yo! You Done Good! -- Frank Careccia, Golden Oldies Magazine Nov. 2008
I recently saw an absolutely phenomenal tribute band called The Bronx Wanderers. Listening to this 5-member band was like having the original groups on stage; amazing. If you like the music of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons–Dion & The Belmonts, you will love The Bronx Wanderers.
-- Jeff Eats, Jeff Richman, South Florida (via Brooklyn)
Yo! Vinny and the Bronx Wanderers
Ray Reneri Management 888 811-9723
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Nickie Dino Vinny Jimmy Richie Vinny, Jr
