Wayne Adderley: I've
just found out that The Archies have formed, but for anyone not aware of how it all started, how did you get involved
with the comic/cartoon group?
Ron Dante: I was a studio singer in New York City and had worked for both Don Kirshner
and Jeff Barry. They were the music producers behind the Archies.
One of my friends
told me they were auditioning singers for the new Archies TV show. I called Don up and he said come over for the audition.
I sang a bunch of different types of voices for them and finally got the job.
I ever recorded a
lead vocal that day called "Truck Driver" which ended up on the first album.
WA: Now The
Archies were not a really band but I remember seeing a photo of you and one of the female Archies maybe taken in
the early 70's at a concert so did you want The Archies to be a real band?
RD: No.
The idea from the
beginning was that the singers would not be named and the animated characters would be in the videos.
I was happy just
to be involved with what I knew would be a huge hit since both Don and Jeff were hit makers.
WA: Now The
Archies have formed how did that come about and who are you working with in the band?
RD: Archie Comics
and I met and I came up with the idea of reforming the group with Betty & Veronica doing many of the lead vocals. Kind
of like High School Musical and Hannah Montana meet The Archies.
I engaged two
wonderful teens, Danielle Van Zyl and Kelly-Lynn, to be the voices of Betty & Veronica. I too will continue to sing the
voice of Archie.
WA: Will we be seeing
any of the female singers from the late 60's and early 70's return to the line up or future recordings?
RD: I may have
some guest spots for the original singers on the next CD.
WA: I see you
and the band have recorded a Christmas CD. What made you want to put together this album as The Archies?
RD: The Archies had five
albums out over the years but never a Christmas Album.
I wanted
to do one for all the families that loved The Archies so they could play it for their children.
WA: Over the
years you have been recording under your own name, you had another hit under The Cufflinks name and produced many
people's records ... who have you worked with?
RD: I had the
pleasure of producing the legendary Barry Manilow, Cher and Pat Benetar among many others.
I was co-producer
of all the early Manilow hits and I'm curently working with him on his new Best of The Eighties CD.
WA: Will you
be touring with this line up of The Archies and will you bring it to England?
RD: Hopefully
some promoter will bring my show to the UK. I hear both "Sugar,Sugar" and "Tracy" were huge hits there.
