The Vito Picone Award
for Excellence in the Performing Arts

In 1958 a group of teenagers from Staten Island, New York formed a singing group called The Elegants after harmonizing on the South Beach Boardwalk.

 

Their lead singer, Vito Picone and member Artie Venosa wrote a classic "doo-wop" song called Little Star, based on the nursery rhyme, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. They recorded that song and it rose to number one on the Billboard charts and began a journey for VIto and The Elegants that continues today and has put Staten Island on the musical map world wide.

 

Two local performers, television host Mickey Burns and singer and producer Al Lambert saw fit to create an award to honor Vito and his contributions to the entertainment industry and then to present that award to entertainers from Staten Island. In 2025 they awarded Vito with his namesake honor.

 

This year I was honored to receive the Vito Picone Award in the second annual ceremony, along with radio legend Joe Causi and Johnny Maestro (posthumously) of The Crests and The Brooklyn Bridge.