History The Cuff Links

The brainchild of Pat Rizzo (formerly of Joey Dee And The Starliters), the Cuff Links were a studio group featuring Ron Dante, lead singer of the Archies. Rizzo had recruited songwriters Paul Vance and Lee Pockriss, who had previously composed hits for Perry Como ("Catch A Falling Star") and Brian Hyland ("Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini"). The songwriting duo came up with the catchy, bubblegum singalong "Tracy", which became an international hit.

Dante was the sole multi-voiced singer on the original recording, but once the song charted, a group was created, comprised of Pat Rizzo (saxaphone), Rick Dimino (keyboards), Bob Gill (trumpet/flugelhorn/flute), Dave Lavender (guitar), Andrew "Junior" Denno (bass), Joe Cord (vocals) and Danny Valentine (drums). The group recorded a handful of further singles and two albums before disbanding in the early 1970s.

In 1999, because of the great interest in 1960s & 1970s music, lead singer Michael "Valentine" Ubriaco obtained the touring rights and revitalized the group. In February 2006, original Cuff Links guitarist Dave Lavender joined the current line-up.

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