Steve Alaimo

Stephen Charles Alaimo (December 6, 1939 – November 30, 2024) was an American singer who was a teen idol in the early 1960s. He later became a record producer and label owner, but he is perhaps best known for hosting and co-producing Dick Clark's Where the Action Is in the late 1960s. He had nine singles appear on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart without once reaching the Top 40, the most by any artist not reaching the Top 40.

Early years and the Redcoats Alaimo was born on December 6, 1939, in Omaha, Nebraska, He entered the music business during his time as a pre-med student at the University of Miami, joining his cousin's instrumental rock band the Redcoats, becoming the guitarist, and eventually, the singer. The Redcoats consisted of Jim Alaimo on rhythm guitar, Brad Shapiro on bass, and Jim "Chris" Christy on drums. After playing a sock hop held by local disc jockey Bob Green and label owner Henry Stone, the band earned a record deal with Stone's Marlin Records. In 1959, "I Want You To Love Me" became a regional hit for the band. Green became Alaimo's manager, ultimately giving up the role to Stone. That same year, Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars came to Miami needing a band to back up artists, so the Redcoats became that band.

Solo career The Redcoats broke up in 1960, and under Stone's tutelage, Alaimo became a "blue-eyed soul singer" with an all Black back-up band. Alaimo and the group became the house band for a local club at the Eden Roc Hotel. Despite his rising local fame, he released two solo albums that did not earn him the national spotlight. On September 23, 1964, Alaimo opened the concert at the Alexandria (Va.) Roller Rink ahead of The Mugwumps and The Beach Boys. During this time, Stone put Alaimo to work as a promotion man for Stone's Tone Distributors, which acquainted him with the music industry at large.

National recording career Through his promotion job, Alaimo landed his first major record deal with Checker Records, a subsidiary of Chess Records, in 1961. Most of his films became forgotten fodder, although Wild Rebels received renewed interest after being featured in an episode of TV's, Mystery Science Theater 3000.

TK Records In 1969, Henry Stone reunited with Alaimo, who set up Alston Records as an outlet for Alaimo's music. Alaimo quit performing to focus on running a record label. In 1972, Timmy Thomas hit with "Why Can't We Live Together" for Stone's Glade Records, which released the single in partnership with Atlantic Records. Stone then consolidated many of his labels under the TK Records umbrella with Alaimo in 1973, releasing records independent of the major label system.

Death Alaimo died on November 30, 2024, at the age of 84. He was survived by his wife, Candy. He was six days shy of what would have been his 85th birthday.

Discography Studio albums 1961: Twist with Steve Alaimo 1962: Mashed Potatoes 1963: Every Day I Have to Cry 1963: Steve Alaimo 1965: Starring Steve Alaimo 1965: Where the Action Is 1966: Steve Alaimo Sings and Swings

Compilation albums 1996: Hits and Rarities 1997: Anthology 2005: 50s-70s

Singles YearSongUS

Cast Your Fate to the Wind peaked at No. 22 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart When My Little Girl Is Smiling peaked at No. 27 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart

In Canada, he had just three songs on the charts. "I Don't Know" and "Real Live Girl" both reached No. 43 and "So Much Love" was No. 61.