The DeFranco Family was comprised of five siblings from Ontario, Canada, fronted by 13-year-old Tony DeFranco, the youngest member of the group. The DeFrancos had an interesting path to fame: rather than laboring for years in the industry as the Jacksons, Osmonds, and Sylvers did, they simply cut to the chase and sent their demo (and photos, I'm sure) directly to George Laufer, the publisher of Tiger Beat magazine. Laufer was so impressed with their Tony was the clear star of the group, and his face dominated the covers of Tiger Beat magazine for the next two years until Laufer told the family he was only interested in working with Tony and no longer wanted the other four siblings. To their credit, the family refused to let him drop the other kids: it was all or nothing. Laufer chose nothing, and that was the end of the DeFranco Family's singing career.
Tomorrow: The Finger 5
Never got into The Defranco's...
ReplyDeleteWho's tomorrows "wannabe's"?
Finger 5 tomorrow, ER. Ever hear of them?
ReplyDeleteOne of my friends was once taking the same flight as the DeFrancos, but he didn't know who they were. He only knew they were supposedly famous because they kept grabbing kids in the gate area, forcing autographed photos into their hands. They gave one to Pete, but he tossed it on the way out of the airport.
ReplyDeleteYep, tried to make another teen sensation, but it's a lot harder than it sounds. Unless you're Bobby Sherman.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of Finger 5...can't wait until tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteI love the Defranco family
ReplyDeletesince 1972 to all the years
to come and I am still love
them they are a gorgus singing
family and Tony Defranco is a
gorgus lead singer and also
my almost my twin brother and
I am happy that he is and he
sings better than the Jackson 5
I Love Tony defranco 4-ever
Jeannine Regis
kittviper@fios.com