REMINISCE was originally formed as a 5-man a'cappella vocal group in early 1987 by the coming together of 2 groups from
the Providence, R.I. and Southeastern Ma. areas. By the Spring of 1987 the group was performing for
private parties and special oldies shows. By the Summer of 1987 REMINISCE was performing steady
weekly bookings and opening for well known oldies groups. As a 5-man vocal group its greatest
accomplishment was its surprise performance on the October 24th, 1987 Show of the ROYAL Doo-Wop
Groups at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. What was a doubtful chance at an audition turned out
to be the reality of opening a Doo-Wop show at Radio City. Another was its return performance on the
10th Anniversary of the ROYAL Doo-Wop Groups show at Radio City Music Hall in the Spring of 1988.
The group also appeared live on the Don K. Reed show aired on WCBS FM in New York City.
Starting in early 1988, REMINISCE began auditioning musicians for their backup band. By mid-1988 the
group was performing regularly as a 7-man group in clubs and for special appearances as show-openers
in oldies shows. In 1989 REMINISCE underwent an additional change which resulted in a structure of 4
vocalists and 4 musicians, which lasted for years.
REMINISCE added female vocalist Jo-Ann Dumas to its membership in 2005. She brings many years of experience
at many levels of venues, from nightclubs to Las Vegas stages. She is talented, both as a lead and a background singer.
She has a great rapport with audiences, both on stage and off. She has added a varied assortment of material to the
group’s already large repertoire of music.
REMINISCE prides itself on achieving the original record sound when performing any song. The arrangements are
as close to the original group sound as possible. This is the reason behind the group's rapid acceptance and success as well as its faithful following.
REMINISCE has performed for audiences in Rhode Island at various venues as well as The Event Center and Lighthouse Bar at Twin River Casino, and other New England locations including twice at radio City Music
Hall, at The Hatch-Shell on the Esplanade in Boston, Ma and The Wolf-Den at The Mohegan Sun Casino, Ct
To date REMINISCE has performed with the following groups and many more:
Gary "US" Bonds "JAN and DEAN"
The "Platters" The "Skyliners"
The "Five Satins" The "Harptones"
The "Drifters" The "Five Keys"
The "Del Vikings"" Larry Chance & The Earls"
"Johnny Maestro and The Brooklyn Bridge
"Hank Ballard and The Midnighters"
“Little Richard”
"Peter Noone" ("HERMAN" - Lead Singer of HERMAN's HERMITS")
“Frankie Valli and the Four Season’s”
“Jay and the Americans”
“The Temptations”
“Little Anthony and The Imperials”
Members
Jo-Ann Dumas - Lead vocals, tenor
Jo-Ann has been singing professionally for over 55 years. She has traveled and performed extensively
throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, including Las Vegas, as well as cruise ships sailing out
of California. She has been the opening act for such greats as Rodney Dangerfield, The Grass Roots,
Grand Funk Railroad The Platters and the list goes on. She also traveled and worked with The Playmates
(of "Beep Beep" fame) until she left to pursue her own show.
The "Jo-Ann Dumas Show" was the headlining act at such venues as The Hilton Hotels, The Four Seasons
Hotel Chain (Canada), and The Sheraton Hotels, to name a few. Her vocal repertoire spans over fifty
years of music, from the big band era right up to the 21st century. She has performed every genre of
music. (Except for "Opera") but you never know!!! Jo-Ann has been known to say, "I have no plans of
getting out of the business any time soon. As long as I can sing, I will continue to do what I love best"
Frankie Gargiulo - Second tenor, lead vocals, falsetto
Frankie is from just north of Boston, Massachusetts. Although versatile in all harmony parts, he sings
most of the middle tenor parts and contributes to the groups lead vocals. He gravitated to the doo-wop vocal group harmony sound from a very early age when he was bitten by the doo-wop bug listening to the early pioneers of rythmn & blues like the Clovers, the Harptones, and the Cadillacs. His keen ear for harmony
was honed as member various doo-wop acappella vocal groups such as Inner-City, The Charades,
Sound Reunion, and founding member of Street Corner Serenade. He became a member of Reminisce
around 2005 although he had been filling in with the group for many years prior.
Phil Mullen - Guitar, saxophone, Flute, Harmonica
Phil has been performing at various venues and with varying styles of music, since 1965. Phil also
performs as a member of other bands in Rhode Island. He is a very talented and in demand musician.
Phil has been a great asset to Reminisce since his joining the Group,
Not only is Phil a magnificent sax flute and harmonica player, he also doubles as the guitar player for
Reminisce.
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Bill "Black" Barnes - Drums
Bill (Black) Barnes is a passionate drummer, whose career spans decades.
Bill started playing out in clubs while still an adolescent. Bill’s long career includes; studio work,
roadwork from Maine to Miami; as well as opening for several notable performers.
The breadth of Bill’s work encompasses all genres. Following decades of performing Bill continues
to remain passionate about drumming.
Paul Pusateri - Keyboard
Paul Pusateri the newest Member of Reminisce
(Former Members)
Ron Iacobucci - First tenor, Bass, lead vocals
Started singing in my first vocal group in 1957 at the age of 15. We were a group of friends from the Mt.
Pleasant area of Providence. I myself grew up in the Italian section of Providence called Federal Hill. We
decided to name our group The Federials. Shortly after we were introduced to songwriter Jimmy Crane
who had a song for us, it was called "Why Try to Change Our Love", a ballad. We recorded a demo of it
and off we went to New York City. We headed to the Brill Building and went floor to floor with our
demo. That was the place to get noticed. While in New York we met a woman Millie D'Rosa from
Elizabeth New Jersey. We signed her as our manager. She got us signed with a small recording label
called Kenya Records which was in Harlem. We didn't do much with the recording or the Record Label
and kind of gave up that pursuit.
I went into the service at age 17 and when finished I got married and started a family. Couldn't give up
singing harmony and kept singing with different guys for pleasure. I started a new group with Ron Lewis,
Roy Hodges (my cousin) and Russ Benoit. We did backup vocals for a singer named Dickie Doyle. We
recorded "Little Baby Lee" sometime in the 60's. We weren't doing to much and stopped for a while.
Then we met Jack Mento and Henry D'Lozio who were with a group called Flashback. We hit it off and
soon started Reminisce (a cappella). Ron Lewis, lead, myself as 1st tenor, Roy Hodges as 2nd tenor, Jack
Mento as baritone and Henry D'Lozio as bass. After getting a big break to perform at Radio City Music
Hall (twice), we decided to make the move to a full band. That is how we stand today.
Jack Mento - Baritone, bass, lead vocals
Started singing on street corners in the Eagle-Park/Charles-Street areas of Providence, RI at about the
age 17. After returning from a 3-year commitment in the Army, I met up with 3 other guys and
eventually formed an a cappella group known as “Flashback”. The other members were: Henry D’Alosio,
Jim Fisher and Russ Flanagan, The group became a 5-man group with the addition of Ron Lewis. When
Flashback disbanded, 3 of its members went on to form the group known as “Reminisce” by the addition
of Ronnie Iacobucci and Roy Hodges. The group began as an a cappella group and lasted that way for a
year, with the high point being our 2 performances on the Radio City Music Hall Stage. We decided to
add music behind our very strong vocals in order for us to take our group to the next level.
Thank You
We want to take this opportunity to thank all the people who were once a member of Reminisce and
played an important part in the group’s longevity, popularity and reputation. They were and still are
considered members of Reminisce and will never be forgotten. Thank you for your years of service to
the group. You are always welcome anywhere we are and can always share in the harmony or music of
this group.
We also want to take this opportunity to thank all our fans who have been loyal to Reminisce, some for
over 30 years. It is to them that we dedicate this web-site and hope it makes you proud of us. We never
forget to thank the fans for without you, we would not be in existence today. THANK YOU, FANS.
RON LEWIS DAVID JACOVONY RON LAURITO
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