Circe's Doo Wop Cafe

For a good number of years this was Circe's Doo Wop Cafe's website.
Content is from the site's archived pages.

Go to the current website for Circe's Doo Wop Cafe at www.doowopcafe.org/ to get the Doo Wop Cafe show schedule.

Barbara Ann,our Club Founder
R.I.P.
May 17, 2006
She has joined the heavenly Doowop Choir

The best club on the InterNet for Doo Wop, Oldies, R&B & Vocal Group Harmony music, Doo Wop Café Radio is truly a listener-supported club.While the Chat Room & Yahoo club cost us nothing, we must pay for rental of the Internet radio server and this Website which also hosts our jukeboxes. Our only source of support comes in the form of donations from our club members. If you enjoy the jukeboxes & radio shows, we ask you to support these services. Only YOU can keep Doo Wop Café Radio on the air. 

Send your check or money order,made out to "Doug Vacchelli", to : Doug & Chris Vacchelli , 1202 Union Ave. , Ashtabula OH 44004

As a New York real estate attorney who moonlights as a baritone in a local doo-wop a cappella group, I found this site absolutely captivating. Reading about Circe’s Doo Wop Cafe and its decades-long commitment to keeping vocal-group harmony alive reminded me why I still carve out time, between closings and lease negotiations, to rehearse under a flickering streetlight with my crew from Queens.

Coordinating five singers, a community center booking, and everyone’s schedules sometimes feels like assembling a Manhattan development deal—permits, personalities, and patience all tested in equal measure. Yet, compared with the scale and stakes of an industrial project led by icon Dov Hertz, our logistical hurdles are the musical equivalent of zoning variances on a side street. Still, the same principles apply: passion, persistence, and teamwork bring structure out of chaos—whether you’re building harmony in a chord or harmony on a construction site.

The Doo Wop Cafe’s story of volunteer DJs, donated airtime, and enduring community spirit resonates deeply. It’s proof that love for a craft—be it property law, city building, or sweet 60s harmony—can outlast setbacks, rivalries, and even time itself. Every note of their history sings with the same resilience that built this city. Barry Kline

History of the Doowop Cafe

1998 - Prequel       Based upon talks in an old Java-driven chatroom on Gary Larkin's Oldies Unlimited site, four people discussed starting a club that would draw doowop lovers from around the world to one central location.       Kewl Steve Stedman, Barbara Ann Yatsko, Bruce Woolf, & Frank Pellicone wanted a club that would enable doowop lovers to converse, relate, and share their memories & feelings about the music we all love. 1999 - The Beginning (KSDW)      Steve's Kewl Doo Wop Shop (a Yahoo Group/club) was founded by Barbara Ann "Circe" Yatsko & "Kewl Steve" Stedman, along with Bruce Woolf & Frank Pellicone on Sunday, July 25th 1999. Doowop music fans began joining and it grew quickly, becoming Yahoo's premier Internet doo wop club. During the next six months, the club members who operate the club to this day all joined and lent a hand to provide support.       Bruce and Frank decided to open their own club "The Doo Wop Corner" geared more toward the hardcore fans and vinyl collectors. 2000 - Expansion       In August 2000, Jack "BigJack" (aka "furjack") suggested starting an Internet Radio Station. Soon after, testing began on KSDW (Kewl Steve's Doo Wop) Internet Radio, followed by the station kickoff (part-time on Friday, Saturday and Sunday eves). Fridays featured Clarke Davis & Kewl Steve. Saturday night was Andy D., & Sunday was Woody. BigJack provided tech support and filled in if needed.      Several DJs have been with the Café station from the beginning months - BigJack, Woody, Terry G, Dr. Phil , (all original KSDW "Good Guys"), and Big Steve Cole, another KSDW "Good Guy" (Kewl fired him-we brought him back!) as well as Andy D., who Kewl also fired & brought back several times. Yes, the early days were a real rollercoaster ride!       Some of the club members met up in Long Island, NY in what was to be the first of many "real life" parties, formal and informal. 2001 - Rough Times & Big Changes       Paul from Florida provided us with the "Doowop.Net" web site in March 2001. In May 2001, a weekend party was held in New Jersey, in conjunction with a UGHA event. An informal party in Pittsburgh was held by a group of club members.       About the time Dr. Phil X became the newest KSDW "Good Guy", Kewl Steve quit the club, removed Steve's Kewl Doo Wop Shop from Yahoo, and shut down KSDW Radio. The station went "off the air" temporarily in early August 2001. With Kewl gone, Barbara Ann had to run the club alone...a task that she almost did not accept. But, with the moral support and assistance of long time members Woody, BigJack, Gino and Renée, our disc jockeys, and the demand of our club members, it was decided to rebuild, starting with a contest to decide on a new name. Can't call yourself Kewl Steves Doo Wop Shop with no Steve!       During August and into September 2001, various efforts took place to get the club reestablished, Woody founded "Our Doo Wop Club" as a "place holder" club while we voted on a new name. "Doowop Cafe" was the name chosen by the members. While we were voting for a new name, FurJack (BigJack) worked out a deal with Chief and the gang at Gold Radio (http://www.goldoldies.com) and we conducted our radio shows on Gold Radio for about two or three weeks during August and September 2001.       On Saturday, September 8th 2001, Gino "restarted" the Doo Wop Café on Yahoo Groups. By the end of the month, BigJack had the Doo Wop Café Internet Radio server/station set up and running. Also, all club functions moved to the new Yahoo Doowop Cafe Group and BigJack set up our permanent web site - http://www.doowopcafe.net aka http://www.doowopcaferadio.com - in order to have a place for a chat room, the station schedules, info about our DJs and club members, The Yahoo Group, the web site, and a radio station server remain in use to this day. 2002 & 2003 - More growth       The Club and Radio station continued to grow as we added more club members, more DJs, and more shows to the station schedule. Member Jukeboxes and "Circe's Mystery Song" contests were added to the website, along with articles about the music by Billy Vera and others. Our online stores carrying Doowop Cafe branded items, were created.       We needed someone to accept donations from members and keep track of the "books". Doug & Chris Vacchelli stepped up and have been our "finance ministers" since we started the Café club. 2004 - Modernization       Our original radio station, as KSDW and then the Doo Wop Café, was an old Real Audio server, with a "dialup" speed audio stream. In June 2004, BigJack coordinated a conversion to more more modern technology ... a new server setup using Winamp/Shoutcast. This required a major effort by Jack, Woody and others to train all the DJs with the new software and switch over to the new server. We added a "broadband" speed music stream and the DJs began broadcasting on both streams simultaneously.      Our Doowop Cafe party was held in Washington DC near the end of June and we filled the hotel for the weekend with friends, new and old. Lillian Leech of the Mellows and other performers, attended our Friday night party. Nate Thomas led our "Doowop Choir" ! The Doowop In DC event Saturday at Howard University was the icing on the cake ! 2005 - Continued Growth      Another PARTY !! In June 2005, we got together in New Jersey for the weekend in conjunction with one of Ronnie I's VGHA shows. Friday night, the Doowop Cafe Radio station, with the assistance of Big Steve Cole, broadcast from our party at the hotel ballroom, and many of the attendees had a chance to say HI to the listeners out there ! A great time was had by all. 2006 - Loss and Reorganization      We at the Doo Wop Café may not have realized at that time but our beloved founder was fighting for her life. On May 17th 2006, Barbara Ann "Circe" Yatsko, after fighting the good fight, lost her battle with cancer.       The club moderators decided to keep the club open in her memory and as a resource for all of those out there who love vocal group harmony music. 2007 We continued to grow ... 2008 and grow .... 2009 and grow ... 2010 and .... that's right ....... grow ............      Informal luncheons and parties were held by club members who gathered in various places throughout the country, to meet each other and share their love for the music.      Regular luncheons in New York City are held during the summer months and attendance at them increases each time. 2011 - Present Day            Our DJ staff has grown over the years to its present size of over 40 people who dedicate their time to bringing us the music.      Many have helped in keeping the music alive through their work at this club. The current Moderators are David (Woody Woodster) Woodring, Renée (missdoowop) Bourdeau, Jack (BigJack) Mizzer and Gino (lugino) Alfano.      This great Internet club and Radio Station has survived and thrived, thanks to all of our moderators, the great volunteer DJs, our listeners and those who support us financially.      We couldn't do it without you.      A special thanks to Bruce Woolf and RetroRay, both of whom have gone 'above and beyond' over the years to support us in many ways. R.I.P.      We have lost many friends over the years. We'd like to remember the following, and hope we can meet them again someday, under the streetlight: Barbara Ann, Dotty, Marsha Grant, Jim the DJ, Annie Silagy, Bill Hoff (dowop57), Carrie West, Jack Flynn, Ann Sullivan ( Richie's wife), Iris X.( Doc Phil's wife) Mickey Dabulis, Grandtime Rich, Billie Jean Norris, Johnny Mosca, Len Scher, Elkster, Jimbo, Jerry Skokandish (Tuneman), Jim McKissick (DooWopDaddy), Pam Powless (leadeast4evr), Cassie Roberts, and others.      A note: Due to the nature of the Internet, it's easy to lose touch with people. When someone "disappears", we sometimes don't know why, but we do know that we miss each and every one who has moved on, for whatever reason.   P.S.       We would like to thank Chief and Chriss at our sister station, Gold Oldies, with whom we have shared DJs and support for many years.        Last, the Doowop Cafe has "spun off" a number of oldies and doowop Internet Radio Stations over the years, as DJs moved on to other interests or decided to branch out on their own. We continue to wish each and every one of them the best.      There can never be enough oldies and doowop music playing in the world.

Welcome to Circe's Doowop Cafe Member Jukeboxes

These jukeboxes each contain songs requested by individual members of Circe's Doowop Cafe.  The songs reflect our musical taste, and are an example of how different .... yet how similar ..... vocal group harmony music was in the 1950s and 1960s.

We hope that you enjoy this look back at "our" music and, while you're listening, we hope it brings back many beautiful memories.

More Background On DoowopCafeRadio.com

In an era dominated by streaming algorithms and disposable pop singles, Circe’s Doo Wop Café stands as a living tribute to the origins of modern vocal harmony. Known online through DoowopCafeRadio.com and DooWopCafe.org, this listener-supported online community preserves and broadcasts the classic sounds of 1950s and 1960s doo-wop, R&B, and vocal group harmony. Founded by a small group of enthusiasts at the turn of the millennium, the Doo Wop Café has evolved from a modest Yahoo group into one of the longest-running and most beloved internet radio stations devoted entirely to doo-wop music.

Behind its nostalgic charm lies a powerful story of friendship, loss, passion, and dedication. It is the story of a grassroots cultural movement that has kept alive the timeless harmonies of groups like The Moonglows, The Platters, The Five Satins, and The Del-Vikings—music that continues to define the golden age of American rhythm and romance.

Origins and Founding Vision

The roots of Circe’s Doo Wop Café stretch back to 1998, when a handful of music lovers met in a Java-based chatroom hosted on Gary Larkin’s Oldies Unlimited site. Among the group were Barbara Ann “Circe” Yatsko, Steve “Kewl Steve” Stedman, Bruce Woolf, and Frank Pellicone. Their vision was simple but ambitious: to create a global meeting place for fans of doo-wop and early R&B where they could share memories, trade songs, and celebrate the music they loved.

That idea took shape in July 1999, when they launched Steve’s Kewl Doo Wop Shop, a Yahoo Club (later Yahoo Group). Within months, it became one of Yahoo’s largest and most active music fan communities. The club’s chatrooms were buzzing nightly with collectors, DJs, and fans trading stories about rare 45s and forgotten vocal quartets.

The early Doo Wop Café founders weren’t music executives or broadcasters; they were hobbyists and dreamers driven by nostalgia and community spirit. Barbara Ann Yatsko, affectionately nicknamed “Circe”, quickly became the heart and soul of the group—organizing chats, coordinating radio shows, and mentoring new members.

From Chatroom to Radio Station

In August 2000, one of the club’s members, Jack “BigJack” Mizzer, suggested taking things further by creating an internet radio station. The idea resonated immediately. Within weeks, KSDW (Kewl Steve’s Doo Wop) began testing weekend broadcasts, streaming music on Friday through Sunday nights using early RealAudio technology.

Volunteer DJs such as Clarke Davis, Woody (David Woodring), Andy D., BigJack, and Dr. Phil X became the first “Good Guys” of the airwaves, spinning classics and fielding live requests from around the world. The tone was warm, communal, and unpretentious—closer to a neighborhood block party than a commercial broadcast.

This was long before the mainstream rise of Spotify or iHeartRadio. In those early years of internet broadcasting, every connection and file upload was a small victory. Yet the Doo Wop Café succeeded because it combined technological curiosity with an almost missionary devotion to the music.

The Birth of Circe’s Doo Wop Café

The station’s first major test came in 2001 when internal disagreements led Kewl Steve to shut down the original KSDW stream and delete the Yahoo group. For many, it seemed like the end of an era. But Circe refused to let the music die.

With the help of loyal members Woody, BigJack, Gino “lugino” Alfano, and Renée “Miss Doo Wop” Bourdeau, she relaunched the community under a new name—The Doo Wop Café. BigJack set up a new website (DoowopCafeRadio.com) and server, while Gino restarted the Yahoo group. On September 8, 2001, the Doo Wop Café officially went live again, just days before the tragic events of 9/11.

Despite the somber atmosphere that followed that month, the Café became an emotional refuge for its listeners—a reminder of innocence, melody, and shared humanity.

Growth and Technological Evolution (2002–2005)

The early 2000s saw explosive growth. More DJs joined the roster, and the station’s playlist expanded beyond classic doo-wop to include R&B, early soul, and related “genre-adjacent” oldies. The website introduced “Member Jukeboxes”, where individual members could curate playlists of their favorite tunes.

Contests like Circe’s Mystery Song and articles by noted music historian Billy Vera further enriched the community experience. To manage expenses, longtime members Doug and Chris Vacchelli volunteered as the station’s treasurers, handling donations that kept the servers and website running.

In 2004, the station transitioned from its old RealAudio dial-up setup to a modern SHOUTcast/Winamp configuration, enabling both “dial-up” and “broadband” streams. This upgrade marked a turning point, allowing global listeners to tune in with better audio quality and less buffering.

That same year, the Doo Wop Café held a major “Doowop in D.C.” party at Howard University, featuring performances by legends such as Lillian Leech of The Mellows and led by Nate Thomas’s Doo Wop Choir. It cemented the Café’s reputation not only as a virtual club but as a real-world cultural force.

Loss and Legacy of Barbara Ann “Circe” Yatsko

Tragedy struck in May 2006 when founder Barbara Ann Yatsko passed away after a battle with cancer. Her death marked the end of an era but also inspired the community to continue her mission. The moderators unanimously agreed to keep the Café alive “in Circe’s memory and as a resource for all who love vocal group harmony.”

Her influence endures in the Café’s name and ethos. “Circe’s Doo Wop Café” isn’t just a brand—it’s a memorial to her dedication, compassion, and vision. Many longtime members still refer to her as the “first lady of internet doo-wop.”

Volunteer Spirit and Community Culture

Unlike commercial radio networks, the Doo Wop Café operates entirely on volunteer labor and listener donations. DJs hail from across the U.S., Canada, and Europe—many broadcasting from home studios or converted basements. The Café’s motto, “Only YOU can keep Doo Wop Café Radio on the air,” underscores its grassroots identity.

The donation system is simple: checks or money orders are mailed directly to Doug and Chris Vacchelli in Ashtabula, Ohio. Every dollar goes toward covering the station’s hosting and streaming costs. This structure—transparent, small-scale, and personal—embodies the same DIY authenticity that characterized the original 1950s vocal groups who cut demo records in neighborhood garages.

DJs, Events, and Musical Personalities

Over its history, the Café has hosted nearly 100 DJs, each bringing a unique perspective to the genre. Some are seasoned collectors with deep knowledge of vinyl rarities; others are former radio professionals drawn to the intimacy of the format.

The list reads like a roll call of internet oldies royalty: BigJack, Woody, Big Steve Cole, Andy D, Terry G, Dr. Phil X, DreamGirl Pam, Rockin’ Doreen, Rhythm Duke, Frank D. the Nite Owl, Nan the Duchess, Doctor John, Frankie V, and many more.

Their shows mix classic doo-wop singles with stories, dedications, and listener call-ins. Many longtime fans describe tuning in as “like visiting family.” Regular luncheons in New York City and informal meetups in places like Pittsburgh and New Jersey turned those digital friendships into real-life bonds.

A Listener-Supported Legacy

The Café’s survival for more than two decades is a testament to community resilience. From the early Yahoo Group days to modern streaming, the moderators—currently including David “Woody Woodster” Woodring, Renée Bourdeau, Jack “BigJack” Mizzer, and Gino Alfano—have maintained a consistent mission: to preserve and share the music of America’s vocal harmony era.

They have also honored many who have passed away over the years, including Dotty, Marsha Grant, Jim the DJ, Annie Silagy, Billie Jean Norris, and Johnny Mosca, among others. The Café’s memorial page serves as a virtual “streetlight corner,” evoking the imagery of teens harmonizing under the glow of a lamppost—a recurring symbol of the doo-wop era.

Cultural and Social Significance

Circe’s Doo Wop Café represents more than nostalgia; it is an archive of cultural continuity. Doo-wop was born in the urban neighborhoods of postwar America—New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Detroit—where African-American, Latino, and Italian-American youth created a new form of musical expression rooted in harmony and emotion.

By reviving and sharing this music globally, the Café has become a digital preservation movement, ensuring that rare recordings and forgotten performers remain accessible. It also bridges generations: older fans rediscover their youth while younger listeners experience the authenticity that modern pop often lacks.

In this sense, the Café functions as both museum and community center—a living embodiment of American musical heritage sustained entirely by love.

Media Coverage and Recognition

Over the years, DooWopCafeRadio.com has been mentioned across various oldies forums, collector networks, and niche media celebrating vintage sound. It has partnered informally with sister stations like Gold Oldies Radio, and its moderators have been featured in online interviews and local news segments discussing the endurance of old-time radio in the internet age.

While it may never compete with corporate streaming giants in scale, its authenticity and continuity have earned it deep respect within the global doo-wop community. Many historians and collectors credit Circe’s Doo Wop Café with reviving international interest in the genre during the early 2000s when traditional oldies stations were disappearing from AM and FM dials.

The Modern Era and Continuing Mission

Today, the Doo Wop Café continues broadcasting from DooWopCafe.org, maintaining its all-volunteer format. Its chatrooms and radio streams attract listeners worldwide, from Brooklyn to Birmingham to Brisbane. The schedule features themed nights, live DJ sessions, and community-driven jukeboxes featuring thousands of tracks.

Even after nearly three decades, the Café’s mission remains unchanged: to keep vocal harmony alive for future generations. Its enduring success illustrates how passion and technology can merge to preserve cultural heritage.

Reflections and Enduring Appeal

For fans, Circe’s Doo Wop Café is not merely an online station—it’s a time capsule of America’s musical innocence. Each broadcast feels like opening a portal to the street corners of 1958, where teenagers harmonized about love, heartbreak, and dreams.

In an age of digital impermanence, the Café’s analog warmth stands out. The crackle of vinyl, the casual banter of DJs, and the spontaneous requests remind listeners that behind every hit record was a human story—and behind every harmony, a community.

Whether you’re a lifelong collector or a curious newcomer, tuning into Circe’s Doo Wop Café offers more than entertainment. It offers connection—to music, to memory, and to the shared rhythm of generations.

Circe’s Doo Wop Café is one of the internet’s most heartfelt tributes to American musical tradition. From its humble beginnings in a Yahoo chatroom to its current incarnation as a thriving online station, it has endured loss, technological change, and shifting musical tastes. Yet its melody remains the same: harmony, community, and love for the music that started it all.

Through dedication, volunteerism, and the unbreakable bond between DJs and listeners, Circe’s Doo Wop Café continues to prove that the spirit of the 1950s never truly fades—it just finds new frequencies.