The original Bon-Aires were Dennis Diamond, Scotty McLearie, Mike Paladino and George Lavatelli. Scotty and George were members of a group called the Shades from Englewood, New Jersey. Mike Paladino was in a number of groups as a kid including the Princetones. A product of St. Joseph's High School, West New York. Mike and a friend Pete Prince formed the Princetones - Pete Prince - wrote the classic tune Guardian Angel outside of Leone's pizza parlor in West New York. The group was the first to record a demo of the song in 1958. The song was basically stolen from the group after they performed it at St. Celicia's high school in Englewood, NJ. It was subsequently done by no less than five groups but the Princetones were never given recognition for it.
In 1965, they released the Shrine of St. Cecilia b/w Jeannie Baby on Rust (#5097).
