The DeFranco Family

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The DeFranco Family featuring Tony DeFranco was an early- and mid-1970s pop music group from Welland, Ontario, Canada, however there has been some friendly banter about where the DeFranco's are from. All five were born in Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada. Brothers Tony and Benny appeared together in Port Colborne in November 2001 and gave no help to if they were from Port Colborne or Welland. Consisting of Benny (b. 11 July 1953), Marisa (b, 1954) Merlina (b, 1957) , Nino (b. 19 October 1955), and lead singer Tony (b. 31 August 1959), this group had a number of hits between 1972 and 1977, including "Abra-Ca-Dabra" and their biggest hit, "Heartbeat (It's a Love Beat)." The DeFranco Family appeared in almost every issue of a number of the teen magazines of this period, such as Tiger Beat and Flip. By the late 1970s, the group had faded from the pop scene; Tony DeFranco is now a real estate agent in the Los Angeles area, where most of the family members reside.

Contents 1 Discography 2 Television Appearances 3 Recent Appearances 4 External links

Discography

• 1973 Heartbeat, It's a Lovebeat
• 1974 Save the Last Dance for Me

Television Appearances

• Dinah - January 23, 1975
• Dinah - March 17, 1975
• Dinah - April 16, 1975
• Dinah - August 19, 1975
• Dinah - August 28, 1975

• Mike Douglas - April 2, 1975
• Mike Douglas - June 27, 1975
• Mike Douglas - August 12, 1975

• Jack Benny Farewell Special

• Sonny & Cher Show

• American Bandstand - July 14, 1973
• Action '73 - 5th Special - October 27, 1973
• American Bandstand - February 2, 1974
• Action '74 - April 27, 1974
• American Bandstand - June 1, 1974
• American Bandstand - September 21, 1974

Recent Appearances

• Rhino Retrofest - Santa Monica, CA - August 1999 (Benny, Marisa, Merlina & Tony only)
• BB King's - Universal City, CA - April 2000
• Port Colborne, Ontario Canada - November 2001 (Benny & Tony only)
• Detroit, MI - February 13, 2004 - (Tony only)
• Warsaw, IN - February 14, 2004 - (Tony only)

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