THE RASPBERRIES
The Raspberries were an American power pop/pop rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. They had a run of success in the early 1970’s music scene with their pop sound, which Allmusic later described as featuring “exquisitely crafted melodies and achingly gorgeous harmonies”. The group drew influence from the British Invasion era — especially The Beatles, The Who, The Hollies, and Small Faces — and its mod sensibility. In both the U.S. and the UK, the Raspberries helped pioneer the power pop music style that took off after the group disbanded. They also have a following among professional musicians such as Jack Bruce, Ringo Starr, and Courtney Love. (More from Wikipedia)
When Eric Carmen, a fan of the band in its early years, auditioned to join the Choir, he was rejected and instead became a member of Cyrus Erie (which was named for a brand of tractor). He turned his hurt feelings into revenge by stealing away their best musicians; and before long, Cyrus Erie was widely regarded as the best band in the Cleveland area. The tug of war between the two bands went on for awhile; but ultimately and ironically, the Raspberries were formed by Eric Carmen with three core members of the Choir: Wally Bryson, Dave Smalley and Jim Bonfanti. The Raspberries released several albums in the early 1970’s and had a number of hits, particularly “Go All the Way”. The band is remembered for their intelligent pop craftsmanship; and they are cited as influences by artists as diverse as Bruce Springsteen, Paul Stanley of KISS, Tom Petty, and Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses. The Raspberries reformed in 2004 and were the first performers when the House of Blues opened a venue in Cleveland.
Though the James Gang and the Raspberries each had a generous write-up, there was nothing at all in Wikipedia on the Starfires or the Choir, so I also contributed those articles.
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Items: The Raspberries
