The Mystics

The Mystics
Origin	Brooklyn, New York
Genres	Rock and roll

The Mystics are an American rock and roll group that began in Brooklyn, New York, in the late 1950s. The group was known as The Overons, a quintet that, when signed to Laurie Records, consisted of Phil Cracolici (born 1937, lead), Albee Cracolici (born 1936, baritone), George Galfo (born 1939, second tenor), Bob Ferrante (born 1936, first tenor), and Al Contrera (born 1940, bass). Under the direction of their manager, Jim Gribble, The Overons became The Mystics when each group member wrote a name they liked on a slip of paper, placed the papers in a hat and Contrera's choice was drawn.

March 2015 the 5 Original Mystics, Al Contrera, Albee Craoolici, Phil Cracolici, Bob Ferrante, and George Galfo were inducted into the Doo Wop Music Hall of Fame in Cerritos, CA

In late 1958, The Mystics soon recorded two songs for Laurie Records, "Adam and Eve", and the old Weavers' tune "Wimoweh". Unhappy with the results, Laurie Records commissioned Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman to write an original tune for the group. Their first effort, the song "A Teenager In Love", however, was given to labelmates Dion and the Belmonts. Pomus and Shuman were instructed to come up with something else for The Mystics. The next day, the writers returned with "Hushabye".

In May 1959, Laurie Records released "Hushabye" b/w "Adam And Eve" and within a few weeks the record was a hit. Soon Alan Freed started featuring "Hushabye" as the closing tune on his televised Saturday night Big Beat Show. At its peak, "Hushabye" was Top Ten in most of the tri-state area, spending nine weeks on the national charts that spring and summer, where it climbed to No. 20.

Gene Schwartz, head of Laurie Records, was visited by Mark Harris regarding a song of his recorded by another artist on the Laurie label. Gene showed him a stack of demos of songs rejected by The Mystics and asked him to write a song for the group's next recording session. Mark, still in high school, wrote "Don't Take the Stars" over the weekend and presented a demo to the company the following week. The group liked the song and recorded it the very same week. Thanks to heavy play by New York deejays, "Don't Take The Stars" hit the charts and became The Mystics' second hit after "Hushabye".

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