Feb 3, 2023
Hi everyone, Billy Amendola on Drum Channel with my guest Jim Bonfanti who is the drummer from one of my favorite bands and one of the forerunners of the 70s power pop sound, the Raspberries.
Jim and I discuss his band experience in 1967, before the Raspberries, in a band initially called The Mods and transformed into The Choir. The band enjoyed success on the radio with a song called “It’s Cold Outside,” which to many, is considered to be a forerunner of the garage rock sound era.
In 1970, Bonfanti, Eric Carmen, Dave Smalley, and Wally Bryson formed the Raspberries in Cleveland, Ohio. Together they produced three albums, eight singles, and a top ten with “Go All The Way.” More hit songs followed with “Let’s Pretend,” “I Wanna Be With You,” and “Tonight.”
Producer Jimmy Ienner (and engineer Shelly Yakus) are responsible for all four Raspberries albums. The group disbanded in 1975 after a five-year run, and Eric Carmen went on to a successful career as a solo artist. In 2004, the original quartet reunited and undertook a well-received reunion tour and live album in 2005.
Billy Amendola signing off till next time. Thank you, Jim. Thanks, everyone! Let's listen.