The Duprees, one of the great streetcorner harmony Doo Wop groups to have multiple hits in the early '60s, Their ar0ranger, Freddy Weismantel at Coed Records, relied on updates of pre-rock pop standards for most of their cuts, Freddy Weismantel, soft rock and roll-ized the songs, mostly Joni James' early 50's tunes. Their NY/NJ street-corner roots were still audible in their harmonies. In 1962-1963, they were successful with "You Belong to Me" (previously recorded by James Jo Stafford, Patti Page, Dean Martin, and, most notably, Margaret Whiting who was the biggest seller when the song originally was released. Another Duprees' Top Ten, "My Own True Love" (from the soundtrack of #Gone With the Wind), Joni James' "Have You Heard," and "Why Don't You Believe Me."

The Duprees, like most American pop stars (including Elvis temporarily), and were washed out by the British Invasion. Nevertheless, changing labels from Coed to Columbia, they continued to record throughout the late '60s/early 70's with style variations.

Mike Kelly or Joey Vann? Is Mike Kelly lypsynching to Joey Vann's lead voice? Some of our viewers who are avid Duprees fans, collectors and historians seem to think so. Oldies Television endeavored to find Freddy Weismantel, the original arranger, to no avail. The archivist who furnished the clip (from the Dick Clark Saturday Night Show) avers not, but another familiar with both Mike and Joey's voice style says it is Joey Vann's voice. To add to the confusion, "You Belong To Me" was originally recorded with Vann as lead singer of The Duprees, when he left, the very same Weismantel music track was used to re-record the vocals with Kelly singing lead. The mystery continues...