Johnny Angel Bio In the beginning… Proper name: John “Jack” H. Hunt, Jr. Born and raised on the Northside of Pittsburgh, an intercity kid.
Origin of “nickname”: As a young paper boy in the “Woods Run” section of the Northside of Pittsburgh, I (Jackie) had a large route. One of my favorite customers was Mr. Michael Angelo Camino. He had the nicest garden in the neighborhood and would allow me to pick pears or grab a tomato to eat while delivering papers. One day I got up enough nerve to ask him if I could take the vegetables he didn’t use to sell on my paper route and I would split the money I made with him. He laughed and told me I could but he did not want the money. I was making some nice cash for a kid on a paper route and one afternoon while I was picking some veggies in Mr. Camino’s yard, his granddaughter, Maria Louisa, walked by (I had always admired her) and I said out loud, “Mr. Camino when I grow up, I’m going to marry your granddaughter”. Mr. Camino encouraged me to leave his yard by saying with authority… “Johnny you little devil who thinks he’s an Angel you better leave my yard”. After a few days I got up the nerve to approach Mr. Camino and tell him that I meant no disrespect and he kindly said, “Well since you are going to marry my granddaughter, maybe I should take half of that money”. He was joking and that broke the ice. My new nickname… “Johnny Angel” was born. The song “Johnny Angel” by Shelly Fabres certainly helped my musical career but, was not written or sung for me. Thank you Shelly!
Oh, by the way…I have been married to Mr. Camino’s granddaughter for 38 years.
Music overtakes me… I started singing in the church choir at 5 years old. My first solo was … “Jesus Loves Me”. Rock n’ roll took over my soul and I began playing the drums at thirteen, performing with my cousins. At 15 years of age I met Al Lipp at a party which was on my birthday…my cousin Jimmy was dating this girl in West View and took me as his guest to her party. All Lipp and Rick Norris were playing guitars at the party and we struck up a conversation, two weeks later the “Cordells” were born. Al and I have been together ever since.
The Cordell’s… We recorded our first record on Steel Town Sound, in the mid-sixties and performed at fraternity parties and clubs until the group broke up in 1970. Al joined the band “Harombee” and recruited me as their drummer. It was in this band that I resurrected the Johnny Angel character. We did a skit similar to what Sha Na Na did at Woodstock.
In the mid seventies I joined a lounge band with my music mentor and drum teacher, Walt Zastawa, called “Higher Up”. This band later developed into Johnny Angel and the Halos.
Johnny Angel and the Halos… We, (me and my partners Al Lipp and Gary Daley) have been together since 1974. We have performed with and/or backed up many of our heroes from the early days of rock n’ roll which include: Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Harvey Fuqua and the Moonglows, The Cleftones, Dion, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Marvelettes, The Contours, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Mary Wilson of the Supremes, James Brown, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Bill Pinky and Charlie Thomas and the Drifters, The Coasters, The Cadillacs, The Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, Leslie Gore, Lou Christie, Felix Cavaliere of the Rascals, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, The Shirelles, The Crystals, Chubby Checker, Eddie Holman, The Delfonics, Jerry Butler, The Edsels, Dee Dee Sharp, The Orlons, The Original Tymes, Chuck Negron/Three Dog Night, The Mamas and the Papas, The Turtles, The Grassroots, Len Barry and the Dovells, The Vogues, Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners, The Marcels, The Jaggerz, The Jive Five, The Pixies Three, The Teenagers, The Turtles, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Frankie Ford, Jay and the Americans, The Box Tops, Joey Dee and the Starliters, The Capris, Kenny Vance and the Planotones and have performed with The McKeesport Symphony and Marvin Hamlish and the Pittsburgh Pops Symphony Orchestra.
Original songs… Johnny Angel and the Halos have had three CD’s, which are now out of print, and two 45 rpm records.
Songs written and recorded by Johnny Angel and the Halos:
- Porky, 50 Years of Cool
- I’ll Be Lovin’ You
- Good Christmas Tonight
About the Show: Format: Playing songs, mostly Vinyl, from the late 50’s through the early 70’s. Soul, Rock n’ Roll, Rhythm n’ Blues and DooWop. Interviews with many of the artists’ whose music is played. Stories of experiences over my career in Rock n’ Roll and working with the Rock and Soul Icons.
Comment from Johnny Angel: “I have been collecting Vinyl for more than 50 years and have a passion for the look, sound and memories of the classic 45 rpm and 78 rpm. I also have a great collection of Pittsburgh related rock n’ roll memorabilia. I enjoy telling Pittsburgh related stories and memories of performing with my childhood heroes who are Rock n’ Roll, Rhythm n’ Blues Icons and many who are represented in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. I have even had the opportunity to break bread at my home with many of these artists and have fun stories of our conversations around our dinning room table.”
Requests and comments: Call in requests are not accepted on the show. For song requests and dedications, e-mail Johnny Angel@
Johnnyangel@1320wjas.com