John Cafferty
Encyclopedia
John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band is the name of an American
rock
band from Narragansett, Rhode Island
, that began their career in the 1970s and achieved mainstream success in the 1980s. Originally known as simply Beaver Brown, the group (consisting of John Cafferty on vocals and rhythm guitar
, Gary Gramolini on lead guitar
, Patrick Lupo on bass, Kenny Jo Silva on drums, Bobby Cotoia on piano
, and Michael "Tunes" Antunes on saxophone
) started out as a New England
bar band and initially established a popular following throughout Rhode Island
, Connecticut
,and Massachusetts
.
. The soundtrack album from the film reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200
chart and produced a number 7 hit single ("On the Dark Side") on the Billboard Hot 100
. "On the Dark Side" also held number-one on the Album Rock Tracks chart for five weeks.
The group's 1985 follow-up album Tough All Over made the top 50, getting some attention for "C.I.T.Y" and the title track, which became their second number-one single on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Another song from that album, "Voice of America's Sons", was the featured theme song on the official motion picture soundtrack of the movie Cobra, starring Sylvester Stallone
. Subsequent releases were mostly sequels to the Eddie and the Cruisers concept, and Cafferty and the band faded from popular consciousness. Prior to Cobra, Cafferty's "Heart's on Fire" was featured in another Stallone film, Rocky IV
.
On September 3, 2004, keyboardist Bobby Cotoia died due to complications from liver disease at the age of 50.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band from Narragansett, Rhode Island
Narragansett, Rhode Island
Narragansett is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 15,868 at the 2010 census, but there is a greater population in the summer. The nickname for the town is "Gansett". The town of Narragansett occupies a narrow strip of land running along the eastern bank...
, that began their career in the 1970s and achieved mainstream success in the 1980s. Originally known as simply Beaver Brown, the group (consisting of John Cafferty on vocals and rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, Gary Gramolini on lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, Patrick Lupo on bass, Kenny Jo Silva on drums, Bobby Cotoia on piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, and Michael "Tunes" Antunes on saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
) started out as a New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
bar band and initially established a popular following throughout Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
,and Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
History
They achieved their greatest fame performing the music of a "Springsteen-esque" fictional band in the 1983 movie Eddie and the CruisersEddie and the Cruisers
Eddie and the Cruisers is a 1983 American film directed by Martin Davidson with the screenplay written by the director and Arlene Davidson, based on the novel by P. F. Kluge...
. The soundtrack album from the film reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart and produced a number 7 hit single ("On the Dark Side") on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. "On the Dark Side" also held number-one on the Album Rock Tracks chart for five weeks.
The group's 1985 follow-up album Tough All Over made the top 50, getting some attention for "C.I.T.Y" and the title track, which became their second number-one single on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Another song from that album, "Voice of America's Sons", was the featured theme song on the official motion picture soundtrack of the movie Cobra, starring Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
. Subsequent releases were mostly sequels to the Eddie and the Cruisers concept, and Cafferty and the band faded from popular consciousness. Prior to Cobra, Cafferty's "Heart's on Fire" was featured in another Stallone film, Rocky IV
Rocky IV
Rocky IV is a 1985 American film written by, directed by, and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the fourth and most financially successful entry in the Rocky franchise...
.
On September 3, 2004, keyboardist Bobby Cotoia died due to complications from liver disease at the age of 50.
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
CAN RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
||
| Eddie and the Cruisers Eddie and the Cruisers Eddie and the Cruisers is a 1983 American film directed by Martin Davidson with the screenplay written by the director and Arlene Davidson, based on the novel by P. F. Kluge... Soundtrack |
|
9 | — |
| Tough All Over |
Scotti Brothers Records Scotti 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... |
40 | 37 |
| Roadhouse Roadhouse (album) Roadhouse is John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band's third album, released in 1988. The album was John Cafferty's second attempt to pull his band away from the Eddie and the Cruisers franchise, but failed to do so... |
|
— | — |
| Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives! is the 1989 sequel to the 1983 cult classic Eddie and the Cruisers, and despite being a failure at the box office, has since joined its predecessor as a cult favorite. It is directed by Jean-Claude Lord, and based on literary characters created by author P.... Soundtrack |
|
— | — |
Compilation albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Eddie and the Cruisers: The Unreleased Tapes |
|
| Eddie and the Cruisers: Live and in Concert |
|
| John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band: Extended Versions |
|
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US Main Mainstream Rock Tracks Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue... |
CAN RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
|||
| 1984 | "On the Dark Side" | 7 | 1 | 19 | Eddie and the Cruisers Eddie and the Cruisers Eddie and the Cruisers is a 1983 American film directed by Martin Davidson with the screenplay written by the director and Arlene Davidson, based on the novel by P. F. Kluge... (soundtrack) |
| "Tender Years" | 31 | 10 | 75 | ||
| 1985 | "Tough All Over" | 22 | 1 | 37 | Tough All Over |
| "C-I-T-Y" | 18 | 9 | 30 | ||
| "Small Town Girl" | 64 | — | — | ||
| 1986 | "Voice of America's Sons" | 62 | — | — | |
| "Heart's on Fire" | 76 | — | — | Rocky IV Rocky IV Rocky IV is a 1985 American film written by, directed by, and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the fourth and most financially successful entry in the Rocky franchise... (soundtrack) |
|
| 1988 | "Song and Dance" | — | — | — | Roadhouse |
| 1988 | "Pride and Passion" | 66 | — | — | Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives! (soundtrack) |
Band members
- John Cafferty (Vocals and guitar)
- Gary Gramolini (Guitar)
- Patrick Lupo (Bass)
- Kenny Jo Silva (Drums)
- Bobby Cotoia (Piano/Keyboards) Died: September 3, 2004
- Michael "Tunes" Antunes (Saxophone)
Other band members
- Paul "Cozy" Jackson (Saxophone)
- Freddy (Saxophone)
- Jackie Santos (drums)
- Steve Burke (keyboards)