Before the days of Saturday Night Live and the Blues Brothers, comedian John Belushi grew up in west suburban Wheaton where he gigged in a high school band The Ravens.
Belushi actually played drums in the Wheaton Central High School group that also featured two brothers – guitarist Michael Blasucci and bass player Dick, guitarist Tony Pavolonis and organist Phil Special.
Michael and Phil had performed in the Wheaton Central High School Variety Show that year, featured on the track “Girl from Ipanema/Goldfinger Theme” that was included on a two-record set the school released. The Ravens also played at their varsity talent show (where the only picture of them was taken), although it does not appear Belushi was part of that same variety show that Blasucci and Special performed at.
The Ravens would release a lone single – “Listen to Me Now” https://youtu.be/vJgFnrlq7EY b/w “Jolly Green Giant” – although the record was more of a DIY project for family and friends.
According to the story told, their lone single was re-issued in 2011 on the Alona’s Dream label, “The group saved up a little money and recorded a 45 at a studio somewhere in Chicago in 1965. They made about forty copies and gave them to their friends and families. One side was an edgy original tune about teenage romance. The other side was a cover of the garage rock hit ‘Jolly Green Giant’ originally by The Kingsmen.” Belushi also singles on the “Jolly Green Giant” track.
“The master tapes were erased the day after the session and the 45’s have been for the most part lost with only very few know to have survived over the years.” The Alona’s Dream single is just as hard to find as it was limited to 198 copies.
Apparently, bass player Blasucci would remain friends in Belushi’s comedy circles as he resurfaced in 1982 playing bass on SCTV’s Joe Flaherty EP Count Floyd (RCA Victor).