Graziano stayed on to manage the group and watched over the boys. He had them learning everything there was to know about 50’s rock and roll. They were taught the correct way to dress on stage, the lingo and even how to dance. The group ended up spending their money on costumes. By fall of 1973, when they started performing at other Chicago area schools, they looked, talked, sounded and at times even believed they were the “teen idols” of the 1950’s. The show now had slapstick humor, knee slapping skits and choreography that amazed their audience. The music was authentic, the singing was incredible and the harmonies were very tight.

In the summer of 1974 the group recorded their first LP, “Enough To Go Around” produced by former Buckingham keyboardist, Larry Nestor. The album featured 5 original songs and 7 oldies. The group created their own label, “Fat Chance Records.” They would joke with the audience, “You have heard of gold, silver and platinum records? This week our album went plywood!”

Jade 50’s line up changed over the years because some of the members had plans to go on to college. Some used Jade 50’s as a way of paying for school. Others enjoyed the ride until they had enough of the road. Whatever the reason, they all had a great time together touring and discovering America. Most of the ex-members of Jade 50’s are very close to this day.

By 1975, after conquering the high school market, Jade 50’s moved on to colleges performing at all the Chicago area colleges. They toured all the “Big Ten” schools, Notre Dame, Marquette and every university in between. The group started setting attendance records at local bars and clubs in the Midwest. By summer of ’75, it was time for the group to expand and perform outside of the Midwest. They toured the Rocky Mountains and began to pack every venue, always being asked to return by popular demand.

In 1976, while on tour in Colorado, the owner of Aspen Records read a front-page article in the “Rocky Mountain News” which began with; “The very best band I have ever seen, bar none, is Joe Cantafio and Jade 50’s.” 

Two days later the group was in his recording studio in Golden, Colorado. They recorded a Larry Nestor original song, titled “Meet Me Halfway” backed by the 1950’s blockbuster “Sha-boom.” For the first time, the group received a stroke from the media for their recording talents and both tunes made it to the airwaves.

In 1977, in an attempt to keep the band fresh, Graziano hired Denis Berkson, the head of Drama Department of Oakton College. Berkson was brought on to choreograph and write a new show for the band. After one month of six-hour a day rehearsals, while still performing six nights a week, the new show was revealed. It became the funniest, most incredible sounding “50’s Review” ever to come out of the Midwest.

Cantafio married in June of 1977 and moved to the Northwestern suburbs of Chicago.