Singer • Entertainer • Veteran • Humanitarian
Born in 1950 as Thomas Salvatore Petillo in Newark’s Ironbound section, Tommy was the son of Caroline and David Petillo, both second-generation Italian Americans from Naples. Named after uncles from both sides of his
family, Tommy grew up in a warm, music-filled household that reflected his Italian roots.
He attended Wilson Avenue School through seventh grade before his family moved to Nutley in 1964. After attending Franklin Junior High, Tommy graduated from Nutley High School in 1969, then enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving honorably in the Military Police attached to the 267th Ordnance in Naha, Okinawa, until 1972.
Music was always Tommy’s passion. In 1972, he formed the group Parkway, performing throughout New Jersey until 1977. His big break came in 1978 when he was invited to become lead singer of The Duprees, the legendary vocal group famous for romantic classics like You Belong to Me and Have You Heard. His voice and charisma revitalized the group, leading to a decades-long career that continues today. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Tommy balanced his musical career with professional work in the painting
industry. He served as a foreman and estimator for A-Del Painting before becoming president and owner of American Walcraft, specializing in commercial and industrial wallcoverings. In 1995, he joined the Township of Nutley Department of Public Works, where he worked for 25 years until his retirement in 2020. A proud public servant, Tommy also graduated from fire school in 1997 and became a Nutley volunteer firefighter.
Tommy gave back to the community in other ways as well. From 1993 to 1995, he produced and hosted more than 100 episodes of The Jersey Music & Video Spotlight from Orecchio Broadcasting in Nutley. In 1995, he organized From Doo Wop with Love, the first and only concert held at the Nutley Park Oval, featuring national artists and raising funds to help two local families in need. As the voice of The Duprees, Tommy has performed for over five decades at major venues including Radio City Music Hall, Bergen PAC, and theaters across Pennsylvania, Florida, Massachusetts, South Carolina, California, and Iowa, where he appeared at the “Winter Dance Party” honoring Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper. The Duprees continue to tour nationally, record new albums, and bring their signature harmonies to audiences worldwide.
In 2001, during a trip to Italy, Tommy wrote We Need More Love Songs: Doo Wop, The Duprees & Me, a memoir of his musical journey. In 2005, he and The Duprees appeared in the PBS special My Music: Doo Wop 50, which
continues to air nationally, introducing their timeless sound to new generations. In 2019, Tommy founded the East Coast Music Hall of Fame (ECMHOF), dedicated to honoring and preserving the music and artists of the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s. Its inaugural gala featured legends like Tony Orlando, Ronnie Spector, Freddie Paris, and members of The Rascals, celebrating a golden age of American music.
In 2023, Tommy and The Duprees received a Lifetime Achievement Award from LaGuardia Entertainment of New Jersey for excellence and contribution to music. Over his 50-year career, Tommy has shared the stage with musical icons such as Bobby Rydell, Connie Francis, Johnny Maestro, and Cousin Brucie.
Today, Tommy Petillo & The Duprees are recognized as “New Jersey’s Ambassadors of Love Songs.” Their devoted fan community spans more than 50,000 followers worldwide, reflecting generations of listeners who continue to cherish their music. Tommy credits his success to his spiritual faith, his loving wife, sons, family, and friends. “I could never have dreamed of such an honor,” he says of his induction into the Nutley Hall of Fame. “I am deeply grateful to everyone who believed in me and supported me along the way.”