Vini Poncia
Encyclopedia
Vini Poncia is an American
musician, songwriter
and record producer
.
In the 1960s, Poncia formed a songwriting team with Peter Anders. An album of songs co-written by these childhood friends The Anders & Poncia Album, was produced by Richard Perry
and released in 1969. Their songs were recorded by artists including The Ronettes
, Bobby Bloom
, and Darlene Love
. Anders and Poncia were also members of The Trade Winds
and The Innocence. The Trade Winds's debut single "New York is a Lonely Town" reached #32 on the Billboard
Hot 100 chart in 1966. In 1991, the Japanese singer-songwriter
Tatsuro Yamashita
covered this song as "Tokyo is a Lonely Town".
In 1968, together with Frankie Meluso (aka Mell) and Peter Anders, Poncia founded MAP (Mell Anders Poncia) City Records in New York City
. Their company included a small recording studio
brought by their chief engineer Peter H. Rosen, who recorded sixteen albums before the company dissolved in 1970.
During the 1970s, Poncia became Ringo Starr
's co-writer, and appeared on several of his solo albums. He also produced albums for Melissa Manchester
and Lynda Carter
's Portrait
. As a songwriter, he wrote songs for Jackie DeShannon
and Tommy James
. He was also the producer for The Faragher Brothers
albums, Open Your Eyes (1978) and The Faraghers (1979).
In 1978, he produced Peter Criss
' 1978 solo album
. At Criss's prompting, Poncia was brought in to produce two Kiss
albums – 1979's Dynasty and 1980s Unmasked. He sang backup vocals and helped with songwriting on both albums. In 1981, he produced the album, Turn Out The Lights, for the band Tycoon
.
Poncia also produced the Detroit rock band Adrenalin
, and their song "Road of the Gypsy", from the film
Iron Eagle in 1985. He also produced DC Drive and their self titled album in 1991. Poncia produced Criss's second post-Kiss solo album, 1982's Let Me Rock You
, and he was credited as co-writer for five songs on Kiss's 1989 release, Hot in the Shade
.
Poncia also co-wrote "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing
" with Leo Sayer
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician, 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...
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
.
In the 1960s, Poncia formed a songwriting team with Peter Anders. An album of songs co-written by these childhood friends The Anders & Poncia Album, was produced by Richard Perry
Richard Perry
Richard Perry is an American music producer. Perry began as a performer in his adolescence, but shifted gears after graduating college and rose through the late 1960s and early 1970s to become a highly successful and popular record producer with over a dozen gold records to his credit by 1982...
and released in 1969. Their songs were recorded by artists including The Ronettes
The Ronettes
The Ronettes were a 1960s girl group from New York City, best known for their work with producer Phil Spector. The group consisted of lead singer Veronica Bennett ; her older sister, Estelle Bennett; and their cousin Nedra Talley...
, Bobby Bloom
Bobby Bloom
Robert "Bobby" Bloom was an American singer-songwriter. He is known best for being a one-hit wonder with the 1970 song, "Montego Bay," which was co-written with and produced by Jeff Barry.-Biography:...
, and Darlene Love
Darlene Love
Darlene Love is an American popular music singer and actress. She gained prominence in the 1960s for the song "He's a Rebel," a #1 American single in 1962, and was part of the Phil Spector stable that produced a celebrated Christmas album in 1963....
. Anders and Poncia were also members of The Trade Winds
The Trade Winds
The Trade Winds was an American pop group formed in Providence, Rhode Island. The group's members were Peter Andreoli and Vincent Poncia, Jr., and had previously had a hit single together under the name The Videls with a song called "Mr. Lonely", which hit #73 on the U.S...
and The Innocence. The Trade Winds's debut single "New York is a Lonely Town" reached #32 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot 100 chart in 1966. In 1991, the Japanese singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Tatsuro Yamashita
Tatsuro Yamashita
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, and record producer. He has been known by his musical style deeply influenced from 1960s American pop and rock music....
covered this song as "Tokyo is a Lonely Town".
In 1968, together with Frankie Meluso (aka Mell) and Peter Anders, Poncia founded MAP (Mell Anders Poncia) City Records in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Their company included a small recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
brought by their chief engineer Peter H. Rosen, who recorded sixteen albums before the company dissolved in 1970.
During the 1970s, Poncia became Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
's co-writer, and appeared on several of his solo albums. He also produced albums for Melissa Manchester
Melissa Manchester
Melissa Manchester is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Beginning in the 1970s, she has recorded generally in the adult contemporary genre. She has also appeared as an actress on television, in films, and on stage....
and Lynda Carter
Lynda Carter
Lynda Jean Carter is an American actress and singer, best known for being Miss World USA and as the star of the 1970s television series The New Original Wonder Woman and The New Adventures of Wonder Woman ....
's Portrait
Portrait (Lynda Carter album)
Portrait is the first album by the American actress Lynda Carter. It was released in 1978 on vinyl LP, 8-track and cassette as well as a limited edition picture LP. Carter co-wrote three of the songs: "Want to Get Beside You," "Fantasy Man" and "Toto "...
. As a songwriter, he wrote songs for Jackie DeShannon
Jackie DeShannon
Jackie DeShannon is an American singer-songwriter with a string of hit song credits from the 1960s onwards. She was one of the first female singer-songwriters of the rock 'n' roll period.- Life and early career :...
and Tommy James
Tommy James
Tommy James is an American pop-rock musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer, best known as leader of the 1960s rock band Tommy James and the Shondells.-Early life and career:...
. He was also the producer for The Faragher Brothers
The Faragher Brothers
The Faragher Brothers is a Blue-eyed soul family musical group from Redlands, California consisting originally of brothers Tommy Faragher, Davey Faragher, Jimmy Faragher and Danny Faragher...
albums, Open Your Eyes (1978) and The Faraghers (1979).
In 1978, he produced Peter Criss
Peter Criss
George Peter John Criscuola , better known as Peter Criss, is an American drummer and singer, best known as the original drummer for the rock band Kiss...
' 1978 solo album
Peter Criss (album)
Peter Criss is a 1978 solo album from the drummer and vocalist of American hard rock band Kiss. It was one of four solo albums released by the band members on September 18, 1978. The other albums were released by Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Ace Frehley...
. At Criss's prompting, Poncia was brought in to produce two Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
albums – 1979's Dynasty and 1980s Unmasked. He sang backup vocals and helped with songwriting on both albums. In 1981, he produced the album, Turn Out The Lights, for the band Tycoon
Tycoon (band)
Tycoon was an American rock band from New York City. The group released two records on Arista Records. "Such a Woman" charted one Top 40 hit single in 1979, "Such a Woman" Tycoon was an American rock band from New York City. The group released two records on Arista Records. "Such a Woman" charted...
.
Poncia also produced the Detroit rock band Adrenalin
Adrenalin (American band)
Adrenalin is an American rock band from East Detroit Michigan, that is perhaps best known for their song "Road of the Gypsy," featured in the 1986 film Iron Eagle....
, and their song "Road of the Gypsy", from the film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Iron Eagle in 1985. He also produced DC Drive and their self titled album in 1991. Poncia produced Criss's second post-Kiss solo album, 1982's Let Me Rock You
Let Me Rock You
Let Me Rock You is the third album released by former Kiss drummer Peter Criss. Due to poor sales for his previous album, Out of Control, Let Me Rock You was not released in the United States until 1997, when it was reissued on CD. The album was produced by Vini Poncia, who previously produced...
, and he was credited as co-writer for five songs on Kiss's 1989 release, Hot in the Shade
Hot in the Shade
-Personnel:*Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar, vocals*Gene Simmons – bass guitar, vocals*Bruce Kulick – lead guitar, backing vocals*Eric Carr – drums, percussion, vocals-Charts:AlbumSingles- Certifications :...
.
Poncia also co-wrote "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing
You Make Me Feel Like Dancing
"You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" is a song by the British singer Leo Sayer, taken from his 1976 album Endless Flight. The song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it his first number one single in United States, and #2 on the UK Singles Chart...
" with Leo Sayer
Leo Sayer
Leo Sayer is a British singer-songwriter, musician, and entertainer whose singing career has spanned four decades. Sayer became a naturalised Australian citizen in 2009. Sayer was a top singles and album act on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1970s...
.