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The Belvederes were one of the premiere, pioneer bands in the early years of rock and roll in the Washington, D.C. area. The band was formed in early 1957 by brothers Tommy Dercola (accordion/piano/organ/vocals) and Gino Dercola (electric guitar/electric bass/vocals). The Dercola brothers had performed in numerous public venues, including many talent shows, live TV appearances, charity events, etc., as a musical duet for about six years before forming The Belvederes in 1957. The band was very active and well-known in the Washington, D.C., entertainment and club scene primarily between 1957-1967, playing over 1500 performances in various venues in the metropolitan area until 1975. In the early 1960's, the band began using the name "Tommy Cole and the Belvederes." While the band members played in The Belvederes, they generally also pursued day jobs and/or higher education.

First Generation (1957-1958)
During the foundation years of the group (1957-1958), inspiration began with R&B styles from Fats Domino and Chuck Berry, and popular rock & roll artists including Bill Haley and Buddy Holly. Upon joining up with Denny Rafkin (stand-up bass), Vince Gideon (sax, electric guitar; later (1964-1966) with The Chartbusters), and Sam Grasso (drums), the band was able to employ multiple musical styles to perform in a variety of teen club and fraternity party settings, as well as at a Milt Grant Record Hop on August 22, 1957. Tommy, Gino, Denny and Vince met while attending High Point High School in Beltsville, MD. Sam had already graduated from another local high school.

The band contacted one of the most popular local DJs, Don Dillard from WDON, for an audition. The Belvederes, along with Terry and the Pirates, became Dillard's two regular bands at WDON record hops in 1957-58. They frequently performed at the Hyattsville Armory, the Greenbelt Armory, the Silver Spring Armory, and other local venues in the D.C. metro area. These record hops became one of the most popular dance scenes in the Washington, D.C., area, drawing over one thousand fans each night. At such performances, The Belvederes shared the stage with many stars of the era traveling through Washington, D.C., including Link Wray (of "Rumble" fame), Gene Summers (of "Straight Skirt" fame), The Six Teens (of "A Casual Look" fame), and Ray Vernon (of "Evil Angel" fame). At The Keen Klub (Rockville, MD), which was opened by a friend of Dillard's, Mickey Gilley entertained prior to The Belvederes coming on stage. Dillard often played tapes of The Belvederes' music on his top-rated radio show, increasing the popularity of the band throughout the region.

In addition to the WDON record hops and other teen club, fraternity, and social club events, The Belvederes performed at club locations such as:
 * Village Inn (Metro D.C. area): October 1957
 * Dixie Pig (Bladensburg, MD): February 1958
 * Alpine Room (Kennedy St., NW Wash. D.C.): March 1958
 * The Keen Klub (Rockville, MD): February-March 1958

In the spring of 1958, the group signed a contract and made the first of two studio recordings. However, this caused strife between the group members when the prospect of additional money and possible publicity was involved, which caused the group to dissolve before a record was produced.

Second Generation (1958-1961)
After dissolution of the original group, the Dercola brothers continued The Belvederes, employing varying musicians while breaking into the night club scene in the D.C. metro area. During this time, they also continued to work at local teen clubs, fraternity & sorority clubs, military service clubs, and local high school dances, often working at big football weekends and parties at American University, University of Maryland, and the University of Virginia. The band occasionally performed at the following locations in the D.C. area:
 * Shamrock Club (M St., NW Wash., D.C.): August-November 1958
 * Village Barn (Morningside, MD): October-November 1958; March-April 1959
 * Famous Club (New York Ave., NW Wash., D.C.): December 1958
 * Dixie Pig (Bladensburg, MD): February 1959

By June 1960, The Belvederes had reorganized, with regular members Tommy Dercola (amplified accordion/vocals), Gino Dercola (electric bass/vocals), Dick Kibler (electric guitar/vocals), Roger Hughes (tenor sax), and Bill Jubane (drums). At that time, the band began focusing on what was called the "rockhouse" or "guitar shuffle" sound which, thereafter, became a staple dance beat in their repertoire. Hughes and Kibler eventually left the group, and other musicians played occasional rotations with the band, including Al Bautista (guitar), Dick Moody (sax/vocals), Bernie Schmidt (bass), and Marvin Tsoy (guitar). This incarnation of The Belvederes became the house band at a number of clubs, performing 5-6 nights per week at the following locations:
 * Village Barn (Morningside, MD): June 1960; May 1961
 * Rocket Room (New York Ave., NW Wash., D.C.): July 1960
 * Vinnie's (10th St., NW Wash. D.C.): July-November 1960; April 1961
 * Alpine Room (Kennedy St., NW Wash. D.C.): November-December 1960
 * Guy's (8th St., SE Wash. D.C.): January-March 1961

Intermingled with these regular jobs, performances continued at Milt Grant record hops as his primary band, as well as other various clubs in the D.C. area. During the band’s association with Grant and his TV show, they met a number of recording artists of the day, including Roy Hamilton, Ray Charles, Johnny Mathis, and Dion and the Belmonts, among others. The Belvederes were the 6-nights-per-week house band for 5 months at Vinnie's in 1960 and Roy Clark played the off-nights. During this phase of the band's career, they began to use the name "Tommy Cole and the Belvederes."

Third Generation (1961-1967)
Throughout this period, the band went by the name "Tommy Cole and the Belvederes" and were considered one of the top rock & roll bands in the D.C. area. Regular members of the Belvederes in this era included Tommy Dercola (electric piano/organ/vocals), Gino Dercola (electric bass/vocals), Dick Moody (tenor sax/vocals), and Bill Jubane (drums). The band experimented with new sounds around 1962-1963, including use of the Wurlitzer electric piano; the newly developed Gulbransen transistorized organ; and the Hammond B-3 organ and Leslie tone cabinet. In addition to occasional private events and social clubs, the primary night club performances were as follows:


 * Lyon's Den (Georgia Ave., NW Wash. D.C.): January-May 1962
 * Skylark (D.C. metro area): April 1962
 * Guy’s (8th St., SE Wash. D.C.): April-May 1962
 * Roundup (8th St., SE Wash. D.C.): April 1962
 * Champagne Room (14th St., NW Wash. D.C.): September 1962; November-December 1962
 * Turn of the Century (Wisconsin Ave., NW Wash. D.C.): May-November 1962
 * Rocket Room (New York Ave., NW Wash., D.C.): December 1962; January-February 1963; October 1963-February 1964
 * Strick's (Branch Ave., Marlow Heights, MD): January-February & April-August 1963; March-June & September-October 1964
 * Ben’s Hide-A-Way (D.C. metro area): September 1963
 * Shelter Room (Savannah St., SE Wash. D.C.): March-April 1963; June 1965
 * Dixie Pig (Bladensburg, MD): March-April & July-September 1963
 * Starlite (14th St., NW Wash. D.C.): November 1963-February 1964; July-September 1964
 * Benny's Rebel Room (14th St., NW Wash. D.C.): January 1965
 * Hayloft (14th St., NW Wash. D.C.): February-April 1965
 * Corral Club (Dundalk, MD): April 1965
 * Keg (Georgetown, NW Wash. D.C.): May 1965
 * The Villa (D.C. metro area): June 1965
 * Carousel Club (Baltimore, MD): June 1965
 * Quonset (Silver Hill, MD): August-November 1965; January 1966; June 1966-February 1967; June-November 1967. See Eddie Dean.
 * Silver Dollar (Georgetown, NW Wash. D.C.): March-May 1966

At venues where The Belvederes performed, they occasionally shared the stage with many of the local musicians of the day. During their association with the Rocket Room, The Belvederes shared many nights on stage with Charlie Daniels in 1963, who at that time was fronting his traveling rock and roll band called The Jaguars. In December of 1962, Jack Casady, who later became an original member of The Jefferson Airplane, filled in as the bass player for a series of Belvederes' performances at the newly-reopened Champagne Room. Recording artists The Kalin Twins (of "When" fame) came to the Champagne Room several times to hear and visit The Belvederes. Danny Gatton (guitar), a close friend of the band for many years, played a New Year's Eve gig with the group in 1958. On his nights off, he sometimes stopped by to sit in with The Belvederes at whatever club they were appearing. Joe Stanley (tenor sax) likewise was an occasional guest on their stage. During their long association with Strick's night club, they often shared the stage with Ronnie (McGeehe) and the Naturals. During their appearances at the Hayloft, The Belvederes shared the stage with the Phil Flowers Band.

Depending on the venue, the group found ways to adapt to unusual environments. At the Turn of the Century club, which was a small venue with no dance floor, performances were adapted to add a humorous twist, which the group dubbed as the "Songs That Momma Never Sang". These dozens of song parodies and adaptations usually included humorous and risqué lyrics, wigs, props, and sound effects. The name of "Tommy Cole & The Belvederes", including the partial lyrics to one of the "Songs That Momma Never Sang", are mentioned in a fiction novel by Joe Haldeman. The band was one of the top rock & roll bands in the area at that time, drawing many faithful fans to club performances. Fraternities and sororities at several local colleges hired The Belvederes to entertain at their campus parties; they especially enjoyed "The Momma's Songs."

In 1962, local singer Prince Preston (real name Preston Peters), with backup singers The Barvelles and music by The Belvederes, recorded and released "Dancing Girl." The record was released nationally and sold well in the southwestern United States. The label listed the artist as "Prince Preston with The Belvederes." It was on Congressional Records, #C-1003.

During this timeframe, another local singer, Sonny King (real name Clay Smith), with music by The Belvederes, recorded and released the ballad "Do You Love Me" and the flip-side, the up-tempo "Dig Yourself". This was on Marida Records, #M-1401 and M-1402. In 1964, Tommy Dercola appeared on the record "Johnny Bom Bonney" by Phil Flowers, playing the Hammond B-3 organ (Almanac Records, #815-1), recorded at The Hayloft, Washington, D.C.

Between 1966 and 1967, a transition occurred in the foundation of the band. Primary members now consisted of Tommy Dercola (Hammond organ/vocals), Bill Jubane (drums), Adrian B. "Switchy" Swicegood (sax), with occasional periods including Dick Kibler (aka Richie Kay) (guitar/vocals), Wally Simms (guitar/sax), Brad Fisher (bass), and Dick Brauer (bass). In January 1967, at Edgewood Recording Studios in Washington, D.C., The Belvederes (T. Dercola, Jubane, Swicegood, and a hired bass player), with Ritchie Kay on guitar and vocals, recorded seven original tunes. The recordings were never released. Upon completion of their final stint at the Quonset night club in November 1967, The Belvederes name was effectively retired.

The Later Years (1967-1975)
The Dercola brothers, who had founded The Belvederes, began playing with other bands in 1967. Gino primarily did one-nighters with the Joe Carter Combo for the next eight years in various military service clubs, social clubs, and night clubs. The Combo was versatile in its ability to play full jobs of either rock and roll or country music. The key band members included Joe Carta (his real name; rhythm guitar/vocals), Gino Dercola (bass/vocals), Rick Richtmyer (lead guitar/vocals), Bobby Goode (drums), and other drummers.

Tommy played with the Ralph Hidalgo Hawaiian Combo at the Orchid Isle Restaurant (Bethesda, MD). This Combo was comprised of Hidalgo (uke/singer), Tommy Dercola (organ/vocals) and Bill Jubane (drums) from May-December 1970. Tommy eventually fronted a new trio, comprised of Dercola (organ/vocals), Al Bautista (guitar/vocals), and Bill Jubane (drums/vocals). This band played at the following venues under the name Tommy Cole Trio:


 * Loft Room (Waldorf, MD): December 1971
 * Gus and John's (Camp Springs, MD): October-December 1973
 * Oysterman's Inn (Deal, MD): January-August 1974
 * East-West Gardens (Chillum, MD): September 1974-July 1975

Tommy Dercola's final professional appearance was in July 1975. Gino Dercola's final professional appearance was in mid-1976.