In 1977, the group toured coast to coast and was hired by Paramount Pictures to perform at the premier of their new motion picture “Grease.” They made an appearance at the Chicago premier and performed at cast parities for a few days in Chicago. After the opening, the group spent a few weeks promoting the film at outdoor events and malls.

In August of ‘77, the group was asked to become part of “Dick Clark’s Good Ol’ Rock and Roll Show” performing with and befriending the likes of Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Del Shannon, Freddy Cannon, The Coasters, The Crystals, The Shirelle’s, Danny and the Juniors, and the Drifters, to name a few of the more then 60 acts the boys worked with.

They performed with Dick Clark’s live show for five years during summer tours. At the age of 22, Cantafio, an average Joe, acted as the musical director. Joe made sure every note was perfect for the artist they were performing with.

Every article written about the band was a rave review.

Berkson became the groups’ manager when Graziano and wife gave birth to their third child in 1978. Berkson kept fine-tuning the show, adding new songs and ideas every week. Denis kept the show fresh for their audiences from coast to coast.

Jade 50’s became publicly dubbed as “Rock And Roll Theater” and “music for your eyes.” They packed every place they performed from Monday through Sunday working seven nights a week and often performing two three-hour shows a day at totally different locations while touring across the United States. 

In 1979 they hooked up with Wolfman Jack and worked on his live tours, performing with artists like Dion, The Guess Who, and Tommy James and Shondells, gaining the reputation as one of the bests live bands in the business.

At about that same time, Cantafio was approached by Paul Wilson and a few advertising companies. He was asked to sing commercials for their clients. He soon became one of the busiest “jingle singers” in Chicago and at one time, had six nationally played commercials on television at the same time. His voice was heard singing the praises of Shasta Cola, McDonalds, Betty Crocker, Perkins Restaurants, Verners Ginger Ale, Coors Beer, 7-up, Illinois Bell Telephone, Huffy Bikes, and hundreds of local radio spots.

As the 1980’s were in full swing, Jade 50’s decided to drop the “50’s” from their name. They became just “Jade” again, a suggestion from Dick Clark producer Larry Kline. Joe listened to Kline’s advice, and recorded some of the group’s original music. A two-sided vinyl single was released; “Cheer Up” backed by “Let’s Go.” Both songs made it to Dick Clark’s American Bandstand and received local airplay in the Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin areas.

In 1982, they released “Twin Spin,” a four-song mini-album that also made it to American Bandstand and local airplay. Cantafio came up an idea to have a “mini-double album.”

The concept was to create a double packaged 45-RPM record. It looked like a tiny double album but instead of two 12-song records in the double sleeves, there were two, 2-song 45-RPM records in the sleeves. For that packaging concept alone Cantafio received critical acclaim internationally. The group Culture Club used Cantafio’s idea for their second European release.

As a favor, the group’s next recording was a song titled “Hey Elvis.” A friend of Joe’s, Bill Izzo, was upset by the way Elvis’s life and reputation had been slandered in a few books after his death. Bill wrote the song. Cantafio listened and rewrote some of the lyrics. The song made it to the airwaves and is still played on jukeboxes across the country.

  That same year (’82), Cantafio was featured in a book titled “The Elvis Image” by Janice Cabaj. She wrote an entire “glowing” chapter about Joe and his group.