Addrisi Brothers
Encyclopedia
The Addrisi Brothers were an American
pop
duo
from Winthrop, Massachusetts
. The brothers themselves were Donald Addrisi (December 14, 1938 - November 13, 1984) and Richard Addrisi, known as Dick (born July 4, 1941).
Both Don and Dick played parts in their family's acrobat
ic group, The Flying Addrisis. In the 1950s, they got in touch with Lenny Bruce
about starting a singing career, and moved to California
. They auditioned for parts on the Mickey Mouse Club
but were rejected; however, they signed to Del-Fi Records
soon after, and recorded several singles. Aside from the modest chart
hit
"Cherrystone" (1959), these were not successes, and further releases from Imperial Records
and Warner Bros. Records
fared no better, so the pair began working more as songwriter
s.
Their biggest success as a songwriting duo was with "Never My Love
", a hit for The Association. In the 1970s they also charted several more hit singles of their own. They composed the theme music
for the television program
, Nanny and the Professor
. They worked together until Don Addrisi died from pancreatic cancer
in 1984.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
from Winthrop, Massachusetts
Winthrop, Massachusetts
The Town of Winthrop is a municipality in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population of Winthrop was 17,497 at the 2010 U.S. Census. It is an oceanside suburban community in Greater Boston situated at the north entrance to Boston Harbor and is very close to Logan International...
. The brothers themselves were Donald Addrisi (December 14, 1938 - November 13, 1984) and Richard Addrisi, known as Dick (born July 4, 1941).
Both Don and Dick played parts in their family's acrobat
Acrobatics
Acrobatics is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination. It can be found in many of the performing arts, as well as many sports...
ic group, The Flying Addrisis. In the 1950s, they got in touch with Lenny Bruce
Lenny Bruce
Leonard Alfred Schneider , better known by the stage name Lenny Bruce, was a Jewish-American comedian, social critic and satirist...
about starting a singing career, and moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. They auditioned for parts on the Mickey Mouse Club
Mickey Mouse Club
The Mickey Mouse Club is an American variety television show that began in 1955, produced by Walt Disney Productions and televised by the ABC, featuring a regular but ever-changing cast of teenage performers. The Mickey Mouse Club was created by Walt Disney...
but were rejected; however, they signed to Del-Fi Records
Del-Fi Records
Del-Fi Records was a record label based in Hollywood, California and owned by Bob Keane. The label's first single released was no 4101 "Caravan" by Henri Rose released in 1958; however, the label was most famous for signing Ritchie Valens. Valens' first single for the label was "Come On Let's Go"...
soon after, and recorded several singles. Aside from the modest chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
"Cherrystone" (1959), these were not successes, and further releases from Imperial Records
Imperial Records
Imperial Records is a United States based label started in 1947 by Lew Chudd and reactivated in 2006 by label owner EMI.- The independent and Liberty Records years :...
and Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
fared no better, so the pair began working more as songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
s.
Their biggest success as a songwriting duo was with "Never My Love
Never My Love
"Never My Love" is a pop standard written by American siblings Donald and Richard Addrisi and best known from a hit 1967 recording by The Association. The Addrisi Brothers had two Top 40 hits as recording artists, but their biggest success was as the songwriters of "Never My Love"...
", a hit for The Association. In the 1970s they also charted several more hit singles of their own. They composed the theme music
Theme music
Theme music is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits...
for the television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
, Nanny and the Professor
Nanny and the Professor
Nanny and the Professor is a U.S. fantasy situation comedy created by AJ Carothers and Thomas L. Miller for 20th Century Fox Television. During pre-production, the proposed title was Nanny Will Do. The series first aired as a mid-season replacement on January 21, 1970, on ABC and was last telecast...
. They worked together until Don Addrisi died from pancreatic cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 1984.
Albums
- We've Got to Get it On Again (Columbia RecordsColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, 1972) U.S. #137 - Addrisi Brothers (Buddah RecordsBuddah RecordsBuddah Records was founded in 1967 in New York City. The label was born out of Kama Sutra Records, an MGM Records-distributed label, which remained a key imprint following Buddah's founding...
, 1977) U.S. #118 - Ghost Dancer (Scotti Brothers RecordsScotti Brothers RecordsScotti Brothers Records was a California-based record label founded by Tony and Ben Scotti in 1974. Their first success was releasing albums from teen pop star Leif Garrett. They later helped launch the careers of Felony, Survivor, and "Weird Al" Yankovic...
/ Atlantic RecordsAtlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, 1979)
Singles
- "I'll Be True" / "Everybody Happy" (1958) Brad Label
- "Cherrystone" (1959) U.S. #62
- "We've Got to Get it On Again" b/w "You Make It All Worthwhile" (1972) U.S. #25
- "Does She Do it Like She Dances" (1977) U.S. #74
- "Never My LoveNever My Love"Never My Love" is a pop standard written by American siblings Donald and Richard Addrisi and best known from a hit 1967 recording by The Association. The Addrisi Brothers had two Top 40 hits as recording artists, but their biggest success was as the songwriters of "Never My Love"...
" (1977) U.S. #80 - "Slow Dancin' Don't Turn Me On" (1977) U.S. #20
- "As Long As The Music Keeps Playing" (1979) (12" Promo)
- "Ghost Dancer" (1979) UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
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