Franke and the Knockouts
Encyclopedia
Franke and the Knockouts was a short-lived band, formed in New Jersey
, USA
and fronted by singer/songwriter Franke Previte
.
Franke and the Knockouts were signed by Millennium Records
in 1981 and had three U.S. Top 40 singles and two Top 50 albums. Franke and the Knockouts' biggest single, "Sweetheart," was written by Previte and Guitarist
Billy Elworthy and became a Top 10 hit in 1981, peaking at #10 in the U.S. They also wrote and released the original versions of Eric Carmen
's 1987 hit single "Hungry Eyes
" as well as the song "(I've Had) The Time of My Life
," (both of which were featured in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing
). Previte
would later be an Academy Award winner. After Millennium folded, the band switched to MCA Records
in 1984. They released an album, which wasn't as successful as their other 2, they disbanded in 1986.
Additionally, several key session men have played with the band:
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and fronted by singer/songwriter Franke Previte
Franke Previte
Franke Jon Previte is a composer who grew up in New Brunswick, New Jersey.-Biography:He was with the New Jersey rock quintet Franke and the Knockouts as the singer and songwriter. Previously he had sung with the Oxford Watch Band and the heavy metal band Bull Angus. Franke and the Knockouts were...
.
Franke and the Knockouts were signed by Millennium Records
Millennium Records
Millennium Records originally started at 3 West 57th Street New York in 1977, and was distributed by Neil Bogart's Casablanca label. The R&B group Brooklyn Dreams. Their artist was likely electronic music pioneer Meco, whose disco cover of John Williams "Star Wars/Cantina Band" cues from Star Wars...
in 1981 and had three U.S. Top 40 singles and two Top 50 albums. Franke and the Knockouts' biggest single, "Sweetheart," was written by Previte and Guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Billy Elworthy and became a Top 10 hit in 1981, peaking at #10 in the U.S. They also wrote and released the original versions of Eric Carmen
Eric Carmen
Eric Howard Carmen is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist.He scored numerous hit songs across the 1970s and 1980s, first as a member of the Raspberries , and then with his solo career, including hits such as "All By Myself", "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again", "She Did It",...
's 1987 hit single "Hungry Eyes
Hungry Eyes
"Hungry Eyes" is a song performed by Eric Carmen, and was featured in the film Dirty Dancing. The song was recorded at Beachwood Studios in Beachwood, OH in 1987. "Hungry Eyes" peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts in 1988...
" as well as the song "(I've Had) The Time of My Life
(I've Had) The Time of My Life
" The Time of My Life" is a song composed by Franke Previte, John DeNicola, and Donald Markowitz. It was recorded by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, after having been selected to be the finale song for the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, by choreographer Kenny Ortega and his assistant Miranda Garrison...
," (both of which were featured in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing is a 1987 American romantic film. Written by Eleanor Bergstein and directed by Emile Ardolino, the film features Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in the lead roles, as well as Cynthia Rhodes and Jerry Orbach...
). Previte
Franke Previte
Franke Jon Previte is a composer who grew up in New Brunswick, New Jersey.-Biography:He was with the New Jersey rock quintet Franke and the Knockouts as the singer and songwriter. Previously he had sung with the Oxford Watch Band and the heavy metal band Bull Angus. Franke and the Knockouts were...
would later be an Academy Award winner. After Millennium folded, the band switched to MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
in 1984. They released an album, which wasn't as successful as their other 2, they disbanded in 1986.
Original Members
- Franke PreviteFranke PreviteFranke Jon Previte is a composer who grew up in New Brunswick, New Jersey.-Biography:He was with the New Jersey rock quintet Franke and the Knockouts as the singer and songwriter. Previously he had sung with the Oxford Watch Band and the heavy metal band Bull Angus. Franke and the Knockouts were...
- lead vocals - Billy Elworthy - lead and rhythm guitars
- Blake Levinsohn - keyboards
- Tommy Ayers - keyboards, backing vocals (played on the first album, but didn't officially join the band until the next one)
- Leigh Foxx - bass (currently in BlondieBlondie (band)Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
, as of 1997) - Claude LeHenaff - drums (left prior to recording of the second album)
Later Members
- Bobby Messano - lead & rhythm guitars, backing vocals (1984)
- Tico TorresTico TorresHector Samuel Juan "Tico" Torres is an American drummer and percussionist for rock band classic, Bon Jovi. He also has taken lead vocals on a song on the box set 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong, as well as backing vocals on a couple of the early Bon Jovi tracks, notably "Born to Be My...
- drums (1983-84) - Charlie DominiciCharlie DominiciCharlie Dominici is a singer for progressive metal band Dominici.Perhaps he is best known as the second vocalist for the progressive metal band Dream Theater, having replaced Chris Collins and later being replaced by James LaBrie.-Biography:Dominici originally came into prominence as a member of...
- backing vocals on self-titled debut, toured with the group as backup vocalist in 1981-1982- Dominici would later go on to front the band Dream TheaterDream TheaterDream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
- Dominici would later go on to front the band Dream Theater
Additionally, several key session men have played with the band:
- Al Wotton: drums on Below the Belt (1982) album
- John DeNicolaJohn DeNicolaJohn DeNicola is an American songwriter and producer who, in 1988, won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award, as well as receiving a Grammy nomination for co-writing the song " The Time of My Life", which became the signature theme in the soundtrack of the film Dirty Dancing...
: bass on Makin' the Point (1984) album- DeNicola also co-wrote (with Previte) "Hungry EyesHungry Eyes"Hungry Eyes" is a song performed by Eric Carmen, and was featured in the film Dirty Dancing. The song was recorded at Beachwood Studios in Beachwood, OH in 1987. "Hungry Eyes" peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts in 1988...
" and "(I've Had) the Time of My Life(I've Had) The Time of My Life" The Time of My Life" is a song composed by Franke Previte, John DeNicola, and Donald Markowitz. It was recorded by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, after having been selected to be the finale song for the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, by choreographer Kenny Ortega and his assistant Miranda Garrison...
," the original versions of which were recorded during his tenure with the band but went unreleased, until they both later appeared on The Sweetheart Collection
- DeNicola also co-wrote (with Previte) "Hungry Eyes
Albums
- Franke and the Knockouts - 1981
- Below the Belt - 1982
- Makin' the Point - 1984
- The Sweetheart Collection - 1999 compilation album (Razor & Tie, OOP)
Singles
- 1981 - Sweetheart (#10)
- 1981 - You're My Girl (#27)
- 1982 - Without You (#24)
- 1983 - You're My Girl
- 1984 - Without You (Not Another Lonely Night)
External links
- Homepage
- MusicMight Page (some information here about who played on first album seems to conflict with what is on other sites, but early info about original members appears to be correct)
- More information
- Album Reviews