Although doo-wop was no longer making an impact on national pop charts due to the new sound from Britain such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, one doo-wop group was making local hits in New Haven. The Barries consisted of Jimmy O'Connor (Lead), Guy Villano (Tenor), Al "Brush" Battista (Baritone), Nickie Delano (of Nicky and The Nobles) and Joe Marturiello "Big Joe" (Bass). Their first single, a cover of the Mello Kings' 1957 single "Tonite, Tonite" was recorded in 1964 by three of the members (O'Connor, Villano Battista). It became a top 20 hit in New Haven. During the same year, a young sixteen-year-old Richard Carpenter (1/2 of the sibling duo the Carpenters) joined Barries' recordings on "Mary Ann" and "Why Don't You Write Me".

Nickie Delano and Joe Marturiello left the group the same year and Andy Smith joined. However, the band would be dismembered the following year. The last single, written by Smith, was ""When You're Out Of School" and "The Loneliest Man In Town". Eventually, after the band broke up, O'Conner and other local teenagers formed the group The Chosen Few.

"Tonite, Tonite"

"Why Don't You Write Me"