At the age of 6 Vitale won an audition on WAAM-TV and performed for the Paul Whiteman Big Brother Benefit Show at the Baltimore Coliseum on November 28, 1952. Joe went on to win the Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour contest in 1956. As a result, he traveled to New York and won the national competition. He eventually won the amateur contest three more times.
The baritone vocalist made appearances on the Arthur Godfrey Show, and guested on the Jackie Gleason Show. He appeared for seven years at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City with the Tony Grant Revue – most of these appearances before he was 15!
Joe attended Holabird Jr. High School as a local celebrity. On October 13, 1956 he performed a halftime show for the 4th Annual Inner City Boys Bowl Game at Patterson Park High School.
In the ‘60s Vitale made local appearances at Sperl’s on Harford Road, and the Blue Onion on Howard Street.
Note both sides of Joe’s Councellor single were written by Gar Bacon (see Jack Gale).
As a drummer and vocalist Vitale later worked with other local bands including Vince Corolla’s Krackerjax, and Bobby Berger’s Goin’ Back Band…
Recordings by Jo Jo include:
19** Councellor 6209 Teenage Dream / Drag Foot
1963 May 127 My Little Cinderella / A Million to One
