Sonny
Geraci of The Outsiders and Climax
Sonny
Geraci exploded onto the pop music charts in 1966 with "Time
Won't Let Me", a song which would later influence the sound
of bands like the Tower of Power, Chicago, The Buckinghams, American
Breed and even to some extent the "power pop" sound
of Huey Lewis and the News, over a period of two and one-half
decades. With the use of horns and Hammond B-3 organ during the
time when guitars and drums delivered America's Top 40 sound,
the driving force behind "Time Won't Let Me" featured
a sound that married and blended the Motown sound of Detroit with
the Mersy rock trip of the British Invasion.
"Time
Won't Let Me" featuring a young charismatic and gifted Cleveland
born lead singer/front man, vaulted to the top of the charts within
six weeks. For their efforts and accomplishments, Sonny Geraci
and the Outsiders were voted Capitol Records Best New Artist for
1966 sharing the label roster with the Beatles, and Brian Wilson's
Beach Boys. Only short sightedness by management kept Sonny and
the band from winning an opportunity to star in a televison show
titled "The Monkees" for NBC...the rest is history for
Davey, Peter, and Mickey!!!
Having endured
the test of over three decades, "Time Won't Let Me"
continues to be mainstream today. In recent years, this track
anchored the Buick Motor Division advertising campaign in 1995,
along with being included in the sound track for the movie TimeCop
starring Jean Claude Van Damme and Love Mary featuring Christy
McNichols.
The Cleveland
based Outsiders with lead singer, SONNY GERACI were not one hit
wonders. They produced (4) top forty hits and recorded four (4)
LP's for Capitol Records. In 1990, Capitol also released the Best
of the Outsiders in their Collector's Series format. During this
time period Sonny toured relentlessly. National televison appearances
on Hullabaloo, Where the Action Is, American Bandstand, Upbeat,
and many others kept Sonny in demand all over the country. The
Gene Pitney Tour stopped in 66 cities in sixty-six days seasoned
SONNY GERACI for that was to come as a professional entertainer.
SONNY GERACI
wasn't done...he was just starting.
Having moved
to Los Angeles in the early 70's, Sonny formed Climax and structured
a working relationship with Marc Gordon, manager of the Fifth
Dimension and label entrepreneur. Bones Howe protege, record producer,
Larry Cox was added to the team and together with songwriter Walt
Nims, they distributed, produced and recorded one of the ultimate
love ballads of all time"Precious & Few".
Recorded earlier
in 1970, the track sat forgotten until producer Larry Cox added
his magic by recognizing Sonny's unique vocal abilities, reworked
the master by adding his (Cox) own version of Phil Spector's "Wall
of Sound" featuring his love of full orchestration for Marc
Gordon's Rocky Road label. Larry Cox would later revitalize the
career of Jefferson Starship with this same wizardry.
SONNY GERACI
found himself in March of 1972 with the No. 1 single in all the
world. Cox would later tell Cashbox Magazine...SONNY GERACI was
on his way to being the Frank Sinatra of the 70's. Today, record
sales for "Precious & Few" are approaching 5 million
and along with "Time Won't Let Me", still receive heavy
radio air play daily in every major market on the adult contemporary
and oldies stations.
As we enter
the next millennium, SONNY GERACI's talents are being presented
in a brand new way. Audiences can wrap themselves in the warmth
of today's contemporary sounds, encounter the music that lives
within Baby Boomers...from crooning to slick Rock n' Roll. Today's
SONNY GERACI Show features a talented supporting cast led and
directed by musical director, Michael Criscione, that compliments
Sonny's ability to deliver a style, stage presence and charisma
few entertainers posses.
Every now
and then, an entertainer comes along with star power. The SONNY
GERACI Show takes both the performing and the audience to a higher
level and demonstrates the diversification and versatility of
this multi-faceted professional...SONNY GERACI who has stood the
test of four decades and now the 2000's. Sit back...listen and
enjoy...you will be thoroughly rewarded and electrified as you
experience...
SONNY GERACI...The
Voice, The Music, The Passion.
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