History:

The Young Ideas were a band from Whitehall, Pennsylvania. The Young Ideas were originally called Kal's Kids. That group was formed and managed by Frank Fasching and Charles "Kal" Kastelnik SR. 

Kal's Kids began performing in 1959. In 1960, the group had  a successful TV appearance on The Ted Mack Anateur Hour. The pre-teen group consisted of Craig Kastelnik on lead vocals and bass guitar, Tony Fasching on guitar, Charles "Butch" Kastelnik Jr. on drums, Alan Gaumer on trumpet, and an unknown lead guitarist. Other members are unclear. 

Eventually the group cut a single in 1964. The single was "Long Lonely Broken Hearted" backed with "Oh Lonely". Both tracks were co-written and produced by local disc jockey, vocalist, and legendary performer "Frantic" Freddie Mylander. He recorded many singles and even a full length album on his own. Kastelnik co-wrote and sang both numbers on the single.

The single is one of the rarest soul records released on the east coast, fetching hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars per copy. After the record was made, Charles Kastelnik Jr. and Craig bounced around various local groups after Kal’s Kids broke up. They had a stint with the Pro-Teens, a backing band for Freddie Mylander who released two singles. Charles was also in a band called The Wandells for a short period.

Craig Kastelnik formed The Young Ideas with Frank Fashcing's assistance around 1966. The band immediately began rehearsing and seeking a record deal. They recorded two sides with another local music legend, Henry Casella who is known most commonly as King Henry. Casella was a lounge musician who operated his own studio in Easton, PA. The Young Ideas recorded Casella's tracks "Barney Buss" and "Melody". The single was picked up by Date and was a local chart hit. They were signed to a contract by CBS but nothing came from it.

The group is erroneously credited with performing a single for ABC titled "Be My Baby". I could find no evidence that it's the same group. It doesn't really sound like them either and a picture online promoting the single shows a band featuring older looking musicians. 

The Young Ideas continued playing throughout the Lehigh Valley, eventually hitting Helffrich Recording Labs in Allentown to produce a full length album. Independently released, "The Young Ideas" was recorded and produced in 1970. The group at this point in time consisted of:

1) Craig Kastelnik on lead vocals, organ, and trumpet

2) Tom Nicholson on backing vocals, piano, and trombone

3) Tony Fasching on backing vocals, guitars, and alto sax

4) Leni Martucci on backing vocals and bass guitar, the eldest by at least 10 years

5) Billy Fasching on drums and percussion

6) Rich Samar on tenor saxophone

On the album, Nicholson also contributed harpsichord and piano and Kastelik contributed additional piano and recorder. Rich Samar's contribution appears to be minimal. The album is a mix of psychedelic pop, soul, and folk rock. The album didn't sell well and the group went their separate ways. 

By 1971, Nicholson was already back on the scene, apparently assisting Pete Helffrich at his studio in Allentown. He worked there for many years, playing on dozens of recordings and helping local talent make their albums. His most notable (and awesome) contributions include playing the harpsichord and pianos on Sandstone's "Can You Mend A Silver Thread". That's a decent baroque / folk rock album that is very rare. He also contributed electric piano to Probe 10's "There Is A Universe". That's a strange jazz fusion record which features Jim McGee, who also worked with Helffrich and Nicholson. He relocated down south apparently as a retiree. 

Craig Kastelnik formed other bands and stuck to the jazz genre for decades. Two of those bands, Kato and Tower Suite, featured Tony Fasching on guitar. Kastelnik formed a trio with his wife and Bernard Purdie at one point. He still plays around here, usually at local restaurants or at MusikFest. Fasching played with him often over the years but passed away in 2008. Leni passed in 2013 and Billy passed away in 2017.