Joey Dee & the Starliters: Kings of the Twist Craze

Joey Dee & the Starliters were an American band that became the definitive soundtrack of the early 1960s twist dance craze. Hailing from Passaic, New Jersey, their biggest achievement was the number-one single "Peppermint Twist," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in 1962.

Early career

The group formed around 1958, with Joey Dee (born Joseph DiNicola) as the frontman. They built a reputation as a dynamic live act, performing a mix of rock and roll and R&B covers in clubs around the New York and New Jersey area.

Their big break came with a residency at the Peppermint Lounge in New York City, a venue that suddenly became the epicenter of twist mania. This live exposure led to a recording contract with the Roulette record label.

Breakthrough

The band's breakthrough was instantaneous and directly tied to their live show. In late 1961, Roulette released "Peppermint Twist," a song named after their home venue.

The single captured the energy of their performances and rocketed to number one on the Billboard chart in January 1962. This success propelled their album, Doin' the Twist at the Peppermint Lounge, which also performed well commercially.

Key tracks

Peppermint Twist — This chart-topping single defined the twist era and remains the band's signature song.

Hey, Let's Twist — Featured in the 1961 film of the same name, this track capitalized on the dance craze and solidified their pop culture status.

What Kind of Love Is This — A later single that showed the group's ability to deliver a strong vocal harmony performance beyond dance numbers.

Shout — The band's energetic cover of the Isley Brothers classic became a staple of their explosive live sets.

The massive success of "Peppermint Twist" led to starring roles in two films, Hey, Let's Twist and Two Tickets to Paris. The band also served as a launching pad for several musicians who would later find fame, including a young Joe Pesci and members who would later form The Rascals.

As the twist craze faded, Joey Dee & the Starliters continued to record and tour. They released several more albums on Roulette, including Back at the Peppermint Lounge and Dance, Dance, Dance, but were unable to replicate the monumental chart success of their initial hit.

Fans of Joey Dee & the Starliters' upbeat, dance-driven rock and roll may also enjoy the sounds of Chubby Checker, who popularized the twist dance itself. The early soul-rock fusion of The Rascals shares a similar energetic lineage. For the classic American bandstand sound, explore Bill Haley & His Comets.

The music of Joey Dee & the Starliters maintains a regular rotation on classic hits radio stations and dedicated oldies FM channels. Their iconic track "Peppermint Twist" is a fixture on playlists celebrating early 1960s pop and rock history, ensuring new generations discover their sound.

You can hear the timeless dance rock of Joey Dee & the Starliters on radio stations featured right here on onairium.com. Tune in to our curated stations to rediscover this pivotal act from the twist era.