The Donnybrooks

Doo Wop era vocal quartet The Donnybooks won a KDKA Radio talent contest and a recording session with Calico Records.  Calico released the single “Everytime We Kiss” landing the Donnybrooks on the Billboard Top 100 in the summer of 1958.  With that success they toured the country on Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars, appeared on American Bandstand, appeared on TV dance shows New York, Baltimore, Philly, and Washington DC and headlined shows on the East Coast.  Popular in the Pittsburgh area they appeared on Clark Race and Bill Cardill television dance shows and at dances clubs throughout Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.

"The Donnybrooks" made their first performance as the “Phaetons” at an 8th grade graduation ceremony at the Third Ward School in Canonsburg, Pa. During their high school years they performed as the “Four Pals" at dance venues in the Tri-state area. The members were John Alterio, Ken Paige, Bob Kobert (aka Bobby Shawn) and Frank Trebel.  They sang their own four part harmony arrangements of popular songs. They appeared twice on the live KDKA TV "Wilkins Amateur Hour" show during the 1950's, but did not win.  Their luck changed in early 1958 when they won a KDKA Radio talent search contest and a Calico recording session.  Bill Lawrence, one of the Calico owners, became their manager and changed their name to "The Donnybrooks".  For their first recording session they choose the song “Everytime We Kiss” written by Canonsburg song writer and music teacher Lou Popiolkowski.  The B side was the song 

Break the Glass”.  Calico released the single in the spring of 1958. Art Pallan broke the record on KDKA radio launching airplay across the country.

They released their second Calico single “Coming Home From School”/ “Mandolins Of Love” in December 1959. "Coming Home From School" was written by Lou Popiolkowski and the flip side "Mandolins of Love" was written by Canonsburg song writer, Tony Ambrose.  They group disband in 1960 when the members who off to attend college and pursue professional careers.  Over the years they have reunited to perform at Doo Wop shows, private parties, night clubs and the Canonsburg 4th of July celebration. They performed at the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in Sharon PA in 2007. 

Robert Kobert continued as a solo recording artist releasing CDx on Alanna and Souvenir Records as Bobby Shawn.  His four CD's are "Bobby Shawn Through The Years," "Bobby Shawn Sings," "Playing the Jukebox" and "Christmas With Bobby Shawn."