Recordpub.com - Dennis Tufano to perform along with Sonny Geraci on Saturday

By Deborah Carothers

Special to the Record-Courier

At the age of 19 in 1965, Dennis Tufano, lead singer of the Buckinghams, was introduced to fame and fortune when his first hit “Kind of a Drag” went to number one and the teenage boy from an ordinary family in Chicago suddenly found himself in the national spotlight.

Forty four years and just a few gray hairs later, Dennis Tufano said he still enjoys singing and performing music for his living.

“I love music and I love surrounding myself with people who appreciate music,” he said.

Tufano recalled the words of support he received from his parents when he asked if could quit his job as a graphic artist and pursue music as a career.

“They told me, ‘You can do music for a living if you want, but don’t come back and blame us if it doesn’t go well.’”

So after getting the green light from his parents, a young and ambitious Tufano went on to perform before national television audiences as a member of the Buckinghams and sold millions of records including “Kind of a Drag,” “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy,” “Hey Baby, They’re Playing Our Song,” “Don’t You Care” and “Susan.”

Tufano recalled that during the 1960s the general public believed the Buckinghams were British and when the band showed up for an appearance on the Smothers Brothers show, Tommy Smothers asked Tufano why he did not have a British accent.

“’Cause I gotta Chicago accent” Tufano said.

It turns out, the band, had dubbed themselves “The Buckinghams” because they wanted a British-sounding name in order to capitalize on the frenzy over the British music invasion that was then at its height.

They chose “The Buckinghams” because it had a connection to both Buckingham Palace in London and Buckingham Fountain in their hometown of Chicago.

But the band’s name would one day become an ongoing source of trademark contention between Tufano and a couple of the other original members of the Buckinghams.

After the Buckinghams disbanded in 1970 Tufano pursued a solo career in California as a singer, songwriter and actor.

Tufano toured with Olivia Newton John and appeared on her HBO special singing the duet “Suddenly.”

“She is a hard worker and great to work with,” Tufano said. “She would invite all of us (in her entourage) to do aerobics with her every morning.”

Tufano also co-wrote an album with Elton John’s songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin, and sang the theme song for the television sitcom “Family Ties.”

Today, Tufano lives in an artsy studio apartment in North Hollywood and continues to perform as both the original lead singer of the Buckinghams and as the front man of a Bobby Darin tribute band.

Billed as one of “Two Italian Crooners who will Rock the City Park”, Tufano will perform a free concert in Streetsboro City Park at 7:30 p.m. Saturday with Sonny Geraci. The concert is part of Streetsboro Family Days.