Meet Street Corner Five

Street Corner Five is a Philadelphia-based acappella group specializing in singing the music of the 1950's and early 1960's (though we occasionally do a tune outside those periods).

The group's beginnings go back to 1959 in the Kensington section of Philadelphia, when five kids barely entering their teens decided to "hit some harmony" as the Hollanders. At a reunion in the early '80's, a few of the members wanted to continue singing.. and thus the birth of Street Corner Five in 1983.

Two of those founding members continue in the group today. The five current Street Corner Five members have been singing together as a unit since 1995.

Besides singing at a variety of clubs, private parties, and municipal fairs in the Philadelphia, South Jersey, and Jersey Shore areas, Street Corner Five has performed in prime locations such as the Kimmel Center, the Theatre Of the Living Arts, and the Keswick Theater, among other venues. Media appearances have included singing live on WOGL, WCBS-FM, WRDV, WVLT, WNJC and WTSR. Street Corner Five was a featured act, along with The Duprees, The Cadillacs, The Impalas, and Jocko, on the nationally televised "Doo Wop Singing With Harvey Holiday", a New Jersey Network-produced precursor to the "Doowop 50" series which has been such a staple of fund raising for public television.

Here's a brief introduction to the individual members of Street Corner Five:

Dee Jaskel , second tenor	Dee began singing at a VERY young age in the Kensington section of Philadelphia as a member of The Hollanders. It was at a reunion of the Hollanders in 1983 that Street Corner Five was formed. The group has continued from that point up until the present. Her voice in the middle of the "triad" gives the group its distinctive harmony blend. Dee resides in Northeast Philadelphia with husband Ron, who is Street Corner Five's manager.
Bobby Giordano, bass	Bobby began singing with Dee in the Hollanders back in the day, and was the other original who got bitten by the bug at the reunion, starting Street Corner Five with Dee. He's been the foundation of the harmony through the group's entire 25 year existence. Bob resides in Northeast Philadelphia with wife Dale.
Michael Diamond, baritone	Michael joined the group in 1990. He'd sung in various groups around Philly prior to joining Street Corner Five. He's considered the "glue" that holds the group together through good and bad times. Michael lives in South Jersey with wife Sharon
Rich Giresi, lead tenor	Rich joined the group in early 1995, having sung in a rock band while in college, leaving that behind after graduation. He sets the tone for Street Corner Five's enthusiastic on-stage presence. Rich lives in South Jersey with wife Leslie and two children.
Jim Bakay, first tenor	Jim joined Street Corner Five in mid-1995, after taking an oh-so-many-years hiatus since singing with a group in high school. He is currently a radio host at WRDV-FM and on GoldRadio. Jim lives in Central Jersey.

AND WE CAN'T FORGET OUR SIXTH MEMBER:

Freddie DiSalvio, all voices (except bass)

freddie

Freddie's main music gig is as a member of the group MID-LIFE CRISIS. He was a regular member of Street Corner Five from early on until 1994, and has, over the last two years, helped tremendously in filling in during illnesses and other absences. We can't thank the versatile Mr. DiSalvio enough.