By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger (Reposted from original article 2013.)
Ocean Grove is known for its music programs. We have live music on the beach, in the parks, in the Auditorium, and on Main Avenue, but here’s something you may not know about.
The Emburys are a group of shore guys who love to get together on a street corner or in an echo chamber like the Casino and bring back that authentic acapella doo-wop sound. This is how that early form of rock and roll developed, especially in the inner cities of New York and Philly. Boogie is the guy who sings bass and is one Grover whom many of us know. The bass always stands out in these groups.*
We found them on a Sunday afternoon performing an old tune by “Shep and the Limelites” in front of the Pathway Market at the corner of Mt. Hermon Way and Pilgrim Pathway in the shadows of the Great Auditorium where, just the night before, the Beach Boys were doing the surfing thing.
But today, it was doo wops, and the guys hit the harmonies and the high/low notes with no backup instruments. This music is not easy to do. A small crowd had gathered to give them some deserved applause.
*Boogie,” Robert Napolitano, passed on April 27, 2017.
KENNY VANCE AND THE PLANOTONES: “Looking for an Echo”
And this is the full monty version by SHEP AND THE LIMELITES of “Daddy’s Home” (“ratta-tat”)
Look on u tube The Emburys. Great songs. Boogie❤🙏
Boogie, a graduate of Park Billards prep and Mike and Lou’s emporium/eatery Bradley Beach
A vocal talent who never got a break. R.I.P.
What a great sound, anyone got any more recordings of them ?
R.I.P. Boogie The best voice in Asbury and Ocean Grove… JJ November, 2017
R.I.P. Boogie . A local legend and a great guy .
Carl T.These guys are great,wish they would make more video’s.I hope they would make a CD they have talent.8/5/2016
…I haven’t seen Hide nor Hair of the Emburys…..they usually pop up here and there..Has anybody seen them?….they are talented guys!
I just reposted our 2013 Emburys article with a video of the group. I don’t know where they are now.
These guys are just superb.
There is at least one piper left, he lives on New York Ave. on the North End. He and his young son both play on their porch or in the park.
DJ : There used to be a bagpiper who lived in OG. He could be found/heard playing on the boardwalk on foggy dreary days. Usually in the evening. His card read : Occasions, Funerals, Insurrections. Music(and magic) is alive & well in OG.
Saturday afternoon there was a bagpipe band in the park off New York. As soon as the finished the Beach Boys started their sound check. A good weekend for music in the grove.
Great local bunch of guys ! I know they have YouTube videos . Do they have any CD’s out ? If not manufactured ones maybe self produced ones they sell themselves ?