Suzie Cappetta

Susan M. Cappetta (August 20, 1948 – April 13, 2007)[1] was an American pop musician. She was the writer of the top 40 hit "Dave Hull The Hullabalooer" in 1965, a song about Los Angeles radio personality Dave Hull. She was a member of the group, The Scuzzies and later worked in The Harrison & Tyler Show act.[2][3] She had done work with Jimmy Ellis.[4]

Suzie Cappetta
Background information
Birth nameSusan M. Cappetta
Born(1948-08-20)August 20, 1948
DiedApril 13, 2007(2007-04-13) (aged 58)
Occupation(s)Singer, musician
Instrument(s)Bass guitar, guitar
LabelsCRS Records, Walken

Background

Suzie Cappetta and her younger brothers, Michael and Robert, got their start in the music industry while growing up in Redondo Beach, California in the 1960s. At the age of 15, Suzie wrote a song about a local Los Angeles, California disc jockey "Dave Hull The Hullabalooer" which became a regional hit when she, her two brothers, and two cousins recorded the song in the winter of 1964. The recording was chosen by Casey Kasem as a KRLA "DJ Pick To Hit". Casey's prediction was correct when the song made the Top 40 charts in Los Angeles on March 7, 1965.[5][6][7]

The Quintet was dubbed "The Scuzzies" by Dave Hull himself when he first aired the song on his radio show. Suzie also wrote and recorded, with the help of her brothers, several jingles for Los Angeles radio station KRLA. Among those was a jingle the Scuzzies recorded promoting Baskin-Robbins' new "Scuzzy" ice cream flavor combination.

As the Scuzzies, they made television appearances on "9th Street West" with Sam Riddle in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California and "TV-8 Dancetime" with Bob Hower in San Diego, California. They were featured in Bob Eubanks' Cinnamon Cinder and Casey Kasem's Clubs. One of the highlights for the Scuzzies in 1965 was when they became the opening act for "Sonny & Cher" at the Grand Opening of "Jamaica West Jr." in Torrance, California.

Overseas work

1969 saw brother Michael fulfilling his obligation in the US Navy, while Suzie toured with the USO shows in 1970, singing and playing bass guitar in "The Harrison & Tyler Show", the first all-female band in USO history. The show, promoted by Johnny Grant, performed for U.S. troops in Viet Nam and Thailand.

The Cappetta Company etc

By 1972, Suzie and Michael got together again to become a musical duo, entertaining in nightclubs in the South Bay, Los Angeles California area. Six months later, younger brother Robert joined Suzie and Michael as their drummer, to form a family trio.

In 1973, Suzie and her two brothers headlined as "The Cappetta Company". The popular trio was booked in the Reuben's Restaurant chain five nights a week throughout the 1970s.

As "The Cappetta Company", the trio performed "LIVE" music sets on KGBS-FM during the Glen Falkenstein Show in the mid-1970s, broadcasting from the Star Theater at Universal Studios in Hollywood, showcased in Las Vegas, Nevada in the Casinos of the Mint and Hacienda Hotels, and continued to headline in major hotels, restaurants, and night clubs throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s. Their versatility in musical styles can be heard in their "live" performances and in their studio recordings which have received airplay on many radio stations from the Pacific Coast, to the Atlantic Coast of America, and even across the Atlantic to the UK.

Other groups

In later years she was a member of group Cold Fire that consisted of herself on vocals and acoustic guitar, Michael Cappetta on vocals and bass guitar, Martin Pomeroy on vocals guitar and keyboards, Richard Martinez on drums and Ken Roberts on guitar.[8] Drummer Martinez would later become the General Manager for the Music is Hope Foundation.[9][10] She would work with Roberts again with Stevie & the Saints,[11] and with Jimmy Ellis.[12] As a member of hard rock Christian group, Stevie & the Saints, she sang lead and backup vocals for the band fronted by guitarist Steve Olson.[13]

Session work

In 1996 she contributed background vocals to Jimmy "Preacher" Ellis's album Red, Hot & Blues.[14] She would do the same work again with this artist from Arkansas on his 2008 album, That's Why We All Have the Blues.[15][16]

Illness and death

In 1993, Cappetta had colon cancer. Five years later, she began to have heart problems, ultimately leading to congestive heart failure, which caused her health to decline more rapidly after the year 2000.

She died on April 13, 2007, at the age of 58.[17][18]

Discography
Singles
Act Song title Release info Year Notes #
The Scuzzies "Dave Hull The Hullabalooer" / "Our Favourite DJ" CRS Records CRS-1110 1965 [19][20]
Suzie-Michael-Angelo "Me and Bobby McGee" / "Gimme That" Walken WX-428-B 1979 [21]
Cappetta "Hurting Me" / "All I See Is You" Sea Seven Records 135 A: arranged by Davis-Delaine-Nazarian
B: arranged by Davis-Delaine-Cappetta[22]
Albums
Act Song title Release info Year Notes #
Suzie-Michael-Angelo Me And Bobby McGee Walken WX427-A 1979 [23]
The Scuzzies Dave Hull The Hullabalooer CRS Records 2007 CD album

Credits
Music roles with other artists
Act Song title Album title Release info Year Role Notes #
The Scuzzies "Dave Hull The Hullabalooer" CRS Records CRS-1110 1965 writer [24][25] co producer Don Wayne[26]
The Scuzzies "Our Favorite D.J." CRS Records CRS-1110 1965 writer producers, Bob Field and Don Wayne[27][28]
Suzie-Michael-Angelo, Cappetta Company "Gimme' That" Walken Records WX-428-B 1973 lead vocal, writer arr: Don Ralke
prod: Ken Jenkins
engnr: Stan Ross[29]
Cappetta "Hurting Me" Sea Seven Records 135 lead vocal, writer Bettken Production, Arranged by Davis-Delaine-Nazarian
Cappetta "All I See Is You" Sea Seven Records 136 lead vocal, writer Bettken Production, Arranged by Davis-Delaine-Cappetta[30]
Stevie & The Saints Eye on the Prize Victoria Underground 1990
2003		 lead and backing vocals [31]
Released on Victoria Underground CD June 13, 2003[32]
Jimmy Ellis Red, Hot & Blues Kris Records 8147 1996 background vocals [33]
Jimmy Ellis That's Why We All Have the Blues Blues Victoria Underground 11
Big Whale 011		 2002 background vocals [34]

References
  1. "Susan M Cappetta til in Social Security Death Index". Fold3. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  2. Bill Martinez Live Dave Hull: April 10, 2013
  3. Dead Rock Stars Club 2007 January to June
  4. All Music Suzie Cappetta Credits
  5. KRLA Beat: L.A.'s first rock-and-roll newspaper 12.01.10 We're not much on fancy words...
  6. Las Solanas Consulting KRLA 1110 AM Los Angeles, California Week: 03/01/65
  7. Las Solanas Consulting KRLA TEEN - TOPPERS, TOP SIXTY TUNE - DEX
  8. GoPro Nowhere Man - Beatles cover Cold Fire 1982
  9. The Examiner October 6, 2014 - Julian Lennon new 'Summertime' EP released to support Music is Hope Foundation © Liz H Kelly, National Digital Entertainment Columnist]
  10. The Rex Hotel Kevin Crabb Quartet (Los Angeles)
  11. Firestream Music Vault Stevie & the Saints
  12. All Music Jimmy Ellis Red, Hot & Blues, Credits
  13. Untombed Christian Metal and Rock E-Magazine Bands /S /Stevie & the Saints
  14. All Music Jimmy Ellis - Red, Hot & Blues Credits
  15. Paris Djs 20 January 2013 The Story Of Jimmy 'Preacher' Ellis 1963-1972 - out on Tramp Records
  16. All Music Jimmy Ellis - That's Why We All Have the Blues Credits
  17. Dead Rock Stars Club 2007 January to June
  18. Hullabaloo!: The Life and (Mis)Adventures of L.A. Radio Legend Dave Hull, By Dave Hull, Bill Hayes A Scuzzy Smash!
  19. What's Cookin' Today on CRN 03/29 Dave Hull, The Hulaballoer, Jennifer Marion, Anaba Wines, Steve Evans
  20. Airheads Radio Survey Archive Artists The Scuzzies With The Vibrants
  21. 45Cat WX-428-B
  22. Discogs Cappetta – Hurting Me
  23. Rate Your Music The Capetta Company or Me And Bobby McGee
  24. What's Cookin' Today on CRN 03/29 Dave Hull, The Hulaballoer, Jennifer Marion, Anaba Wines, Steve Evans
  25. Airheads Radio Survey Archive Artists The Scuzzies With The Vibrants
  26. KRLA Beat We're not much on fancy words...
  27. Popsike SCUZZIES W/ VIBRANTS: Our Favorite Dj / Dave Hull The Hullabalooer 45 rare Oldi
  28. KRLA Beat We're not much on fancy words...
  29. 45Cat WX-428-B
  30. Discogs Cappetta – Hurting Me
  31. robertigno-christian.blogspot.com Thursday, 1 January 2009 Stevie & The Saints - Eye on the Prize (1990)
  32. All Music Stevie & The Saints, Eye on the Prize, (CD - Victoria Underground #)
  33. Artist Direct Jimmy Ellis - Red, Hot & Blues
  34. Artist Direct Jimmy Ellis - That's Why We All Have the Blues
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