Gene Cornish
Encyclopedia
Gene Cornish is an American
guitarist and harmonica player. He is an original member of the popular 1960s blue-eyed soul
band the Rascals
. From 1965–70, the band recorded eight albums and had thirteen singles that reached Billboard's Top 40 chart. In 1997, as a founding member of the Rascals, Cornish was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
to Rochester, New York
. He became a talented guitar
and harmonica
player at a young age. In his later teen years (early 1960s) he made the rounds of the local clubs and bars in his area and worked with a number of bands (even performing as a single artist on occasion).
in 1964. During that period, he met vocalist Eddie Brigati
and keyboardist Felix Cavaliere
(also members of the Starliters). Gene fronted his own group (the Unbeatables) during this period and they had a sound that was tied to the influence of early 1960s pop/rock. The group's name was a play on the Beatles
' and made a small bit of noise in 1964 with their release of the single "I Wanna Be a Beatle".
By late 1964, Brigati, Cavaliere, and Cornish had teamed with drummer Dino Danelli
to form a group that became known as the Rascals. They officially began performing in February, 1965 and before the year was out, released their first chart single. They rapidly became one of rock-n-roll's top groups. Brigati left the band in 1970 and Cornish followed in 1971. He went on to form the band Bulldog and when that group disbanded, he joined with Rascals' drummer Danelli to form the group Fotomaker
. After the group disbanded, Cornish joined the group G.C. Dangerous.
Cornish also delved in production when he (along with Danelli) produced the group April Wine
's first live album
in 1974, and Stand Back album in 1975.
In 1988, he reunited with Danelli and Cavaliere on a reunion tour of the Rascals (Brigati did not participate). The tour was cancelled after a few appearances and Cornish then joined Danelli to form the 'New Rascals' featuring Gene Cornish and Dino Danelli and in 2005 with Bill Pascali of the Vanilla Fudge
and Charlie Souza formerly with Tom Petty
. In 1997, the members of the Rascals were inducted into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame. Later that year, Cornish released an album entitled Live at Palisades Amusement Park. It presented his pre-Rascals recordings, including "I Wanna Be a Beatle," "Rockin' Robin," "Peanuts," "What'd I Say," "You're Gonna Cry Someday," and even Cole Porter
's "I Love Paris
." Cornish (along with Danelli) continues to tour with the 'New Rascals.
On April 24, 2010, all four members of the Rascals reunited for the Kristen Ann Carr benefit, which was held at New York's Tribeca Grill
. They played a set that ran over one hour and featured several of their top hits from the 1960s.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
guitarist and harmonica player. He is an original member of the popular 1960s blue-eyed soul
Blue-eyed soul
Blue-eyed soul is a media term that was used to describe rhythm and blues and soul music performed by white artists, with a strong pop music influence. The term was first used in the mid-1960s to describe white artists who performed soul and R&B that was similar to the music of the Motown and...
band the Rascals
The Rascals
The Rascals were an American blue-eyed soul group initially active during the years 1965–72. The band released numerous top ten singles in North America during the mid- and late-1960s, including the U.S. #1 hits "Good Lovin'" , "Groovin'" , and "People Got to Be Free"...
. From 1965–70, the band recorded eight albums and had thirteen singles that reached Billboard's Top 40 chart. In 1997, as a founding member of the Rascals, Cornish was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Early life
Early in his life, Cornish and his mother moved from OntarioOntario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
to Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. He became a talented guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
player at a young age. In his later teen years (early 1960s) he made the rounds of the local clubs and bars in his area and worked with a number of bands (even performing as a single artist on occasion).
Career in music
Cornish became a member of Joey Dee and the StarlitersJoey Dee and the Starliters
Joey Dee and The Starliters is an American popular music team. Best known for their successful million-selling recording "Peppermint Twist" , the group was initiated by Joey Dee.-Early singles:...
in 1964. During that period, he met vocalist Eddie Brigati
Eddie Brigati
Eddie Brigati is an American singer and songwriter.Most memorably, Brigati shared vocals, and played tambourine, in the pop group The Young Rascals from 1965 to 1970...
and keyboardist Felix Cavaliere
Felix Cavaliere
Felix Cavaliere is an American songwriter, singer, music producer, and musician.Although he was a member of Joey Dee and His Starlighters best known for their hit "Peppermint Twist", he is best known for his association with The Young Rascals during the 1960s. The other members of The Rascals...
(also members of the Starliters). Gene fronted his own group (the Unbeatables) during this period and they had a sound that was tied to the influence of early 1960s pop/rock. The group's name was a play on the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' and made a small bit of noise in 1964 with their release of the single "I Wanna Be a Beatle".
By late 1964, Brigati, Cavaliere, and Cornish had teamed with drummer Dino Danelli
Dino Danelli
Dino Danelli is best known as an original member and the drummer in the rock group, The Rascals. He has been called "one of the great unappreciated rock drummers in history."...
to form a group that became known as the Rascals. They officially began performing in February, 1965 and before the year was out, released their first chart single. They rapidly became one of rock-n-roll's top groups. Brigati left the band in 1970 and Cornish followed in 1971. He went on to form the band Bulldog and when that group disbanded, he joined with Rascals' drummer Danelli to form the group Fotomaker
Fotomaker
Fotomaker was a power pop group based on Long Island, NY which released 3 albums between 1978 and 1979. It was considered to be somewhat of a supergroup of power-pop musicians, featuring what would become some future members of the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame, albeit for their work with previous bands...
. After the group disbanded, Cornish joined the group G.C. Dangerous.
Cornish also delved in production when he (along with Danelli) produced the group April Wine
April Wine
April Wine is a Canadian rock band formed in 1969. According to the band, they chose the name 'April Wine' simply because members thought the two words sounded good together...
's first live album
Live! (April Wine album)
Live! is the first live album by Canadian rock band April Wine. It was released in 1974.-Track listing:All tracks written by Myles Goodwyn and Jim Clench unless noted otherwise.# " It's True" – 6:15# "Druthers" – 4:36...
in 1974, and Stand Back album in 1975.
In 1988, he reunited with Danelli and Cavaliere on a reunion tour of the Rascals (Brigati did not participate). The tour was cancelled after a few appearances and Cornish then joined Danelli to form the 'New Rascals' featuring Gene Cornish and Dino Danelli and in 2005 with Bill Pascali of the Vanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge is an American rock band. The band's original lineup – vocalist/organist Mark Stein, bassist/vocalist Tim Bogert, lead guitarist/vocalist Vince Martell, and drummer/vocalist Carmine Appice – recorded five albums during the years 1966–69, before disbanding in 1970...
and Charlie Souza formerly with Tom Petty
Tom Petty
Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
. In 1997, the members of the Rascals were inducted into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame. Later that year, Cornish released an album entitled Live at Palisades Amusement Park. It presented his pre-Rascals recordings, including "I Wanna Be a Beatle," "Rockin' Robin," "Peanuts," "What'd I Say," "You're Gonna Cry Someday," and even Cole Porter
Cole Porter
Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
's "I Love Paris
I Love Paris
"I Love Paris" is a popular song written by Cole Porter and published in 1953. The song was introduced by Lilo in the musical Can-Can.Was the title of Michel Legrand's most popular album, which included an orchestral arrangement of the song...
." Cornish (along with Danelli) continues to tour with the 'New Rascals.
On April 24, 2010, all four members of the Rascals reunited for the Kristen Ann Carr benefit, which was held at New York's Tribeca Grill
Tribeca Grill
Tribeca Grill, opened in 1990, is a restaurant in New York, USA co-owned by Robert De Niro, Drew Nieporent and Lou Diamond Phillips, among others. The Executive Chef is Stephen Lewandowski. The "large mahogany bar is from the revered Maxwell's Plum restaurant."-References:* *...
. They played a set that ran over one hour and featured several of their top hits from the 1960s.