Hokey Pokey Singer

Description

In the 1960s four friends from the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia got together to form a singing group.  They were better than most and with their unique blue eyed soul sound quickly became a favorite with fraternities at the local colleges, including their own University of Pennsylvania.  With tight harmonies and choreography they called themselves The Tempos, out of respect for their idols, Motown’s Temptations.  Then things changed.  Lead singer David left the group, changed his name and along with another Penn pal formed a rock duo and went on to bigger and better things.  Tempos tenor Perry enlisted and went off to serve in Vietnam.  The other Tempos found replacements and bopped around for a few more years.  Once Perry returned, what could’ve been became a never was.  Perry became an accountant but never gave up his passion to sing, which is how he became a band singer and fronted for the top party orchestras along the east coast.  Perry could be in the middle of crooning a ballad and some guest would yell out, “Sing the hokey pokey!”  So that’s how Perry Silver mockingly christened himself the hokey pokey singer.  In this lively memoir Perry recounts tales of his memorable life, from the major stars he met along the way to what he saw from the bandstand.  Some of the parties he performed for could’ve been considered for Ripley’s Believe It Or Not.  For over 50 years it’s been a wild ride!

Available December 2026