Alive 'N Kickin' is an American pop group formed in Brooklyn, New York. Led by singers Pepe Cardona and Sandy Toder, they are best known for their 1970 hit "Tighter, Tighter", which peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.[1]
Dave Shearer Sandy Toder Pepe Cardona Bruce Sudano Jeff Miller Woody Wilson Vito Albano Ronny Pell Johnny Parisio Richie Incorvaia
The group's initial run lasted from 1968 to 1971, during which they didn't achieve success outside of "Tighter, Tighter", making them a one-hit wonder. In 1976, most of the original lineup reformed, and they've continued to perform to the present day, with various member changes. They have released one studio album, 1970's Alive 'N Kickin'.
The six original members formed the band when they were teenagers in 1968, in guitarist Dave Shearer's basement. The group also included Sandy Toder and Pepe Cardona on vocals, Bruce Sudano and Jeff Miller on keyboards, and Woody Wilson on bass. They gained some popularity when they began recording for Tommy James on the label he was signed to, Roulette Records.
"Tighter, Tighter": 1970edit
In early 1970, the band began recording sessions for their upcoming, self-titled studio album, which came out in January. A song written and produced by Tommy James and Bob King, and arranged by Jimmy Wisner, was to be recorded, and although James originally considered having his friends do this song—now known as "Crystal Blue Persuasion"—he liked it so much he decided to keep it for himself. As a gesture of friendship to the group, he wrote "Tighter, Tighter" for them. After recording the track, the group replaced Vito Albano (drums, percussion) and Dave with Ronny Pell and Johnny Parisio. With the new lineup, "Tighter, Tighter" was released.[2]
The song came out in May 1970 and stayed on the US chart for 16 weeks.[2] It sold over one million copies and received a Gold disc, awarded by the R.I.A.A.[2]
Two singles were almost immediately released to ride on the good fortune of the hit song, but after a lack of success with "Just Let It Come" and "London Bridge", and after increasing difficulties with their producer Morris Levy and the label's insistence on trying to make more singles so quickly, the band quietly broke up by early 1972.[3]
Reunion: 1976edit
Most of the group reunited in 1976, with a lineup that included Cardona, Wilson (this time on lead guitar), Shearer, Albano, and new bassist Richie Incorvaia. They played from the mid-1970s until the late 1980s. Since then, the band's lineup changed numerous times, though Cardona and Parisio remained a constant presence. Wilson, Albano, and Shearer left, and Incorvaia died.[4]
Later yearsedit
Pepe Cardona was diagnosed with stage-3 pancreatic cancer in August 2019. The tumor was removed in April 2020, but it had spread to his stomach. He died on July 28, 2020, aged 72.[5][6]
alive, kickin, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, july, 2023, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Alive N Kickin news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message Alive N Kickin is an American pop group formed in Brooklyn New York Led by singers Pepe Cardona and Sandy Toder they are best known for their 1970 hit Tighter Tighter which peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart 1 Alive N Kickin OriginBrooklyn New YorkGenresPop pop rockYears active1968 1971 1976 presentLabelsRoulettePast membersDave ShearerSandy ToderPepe CardonaBruce SudanoJeff MillerWoody WilsonVito AlbanoRonny PellJohnny ParisioRichie Incorvaia The group s initial run lasted from 1968 to 1971 during which they didn t achieve success outside of Tighter Tighter making them a one hit wonder In 1976 most of the original lineup reformed and they ve continued to perform to the present day with various member changes They have released one studio album 1970 s Alive N Kickin Contents 1 History 1 1 Formation 1968 1 2 Tighter Tighter 1970 1 3 Reunion 1976 1 4 Later years 2 Discography 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editFormation 1968 edit This section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed July 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message The six original members formed the band when they were teenagers in 1968 in guitarist Dave Shearer s basement The group also included Sandy Toder and Pepe Cardona on vocals Bruce Sudano and Jeff Miller on keyboards and Woody Wilson on bass They gained some popularity when they began recording for Tommy James on the label he was signed to Roulette Records Tighter Tighter 1970 edit In early 1970 the band began recording sessions for their upcoming self titled studio album which came out in January A song written and produced by Tommy James and Bob King and arranged by Jimmy Wisner was to be recorded and although James originally considered having his friends do this song now known as Crystal Blue Persuasion he liked it so much he decided to keep it for himself As a gesture of friendship to the group he wrote Tighter Tighter for them After recording the track the group replaced Vito Albano drums percussion and Dave with Ronny Pell and Johnny Parisio With the new lineup Tighter Tighter was released 2 The song came out in May 1970 and stayed on the US chart for 16 weeks 2 It sold over one million copies and received a Gold disc awarded by the R I A A 2 Two singles were almost immediately released to ride on the good fortune of the hit song but after a lack of success with Just Let It Come and London Bridge and after increasing difficulties with their producer Morris Levy and the label s insistence on trying to make more singles so quickly the band quietly broke up by early 1972 3 Reunion 1976 edit Most of the group reunited in 1976 with a lineup that included Cardona Wilson this time on lead guitar Shearer Albano and new bassist Richie Incorvaia They played from the mid 1970s until the late 1980s Since then the band s lineup changed numerous times though Cardona and Parisio remained a constant presence Wilson Albano and Shearer left and Incorvaia died 4 Later years edit Pepe Cardona was diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer in August 2019 The tumor was removed in April 2020 but it had spread to his stomach He died on July 28 2020 aged 72 5 6 Discography editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed July 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message Albums Year Title US Record label 1970 Alive N Kickin 129 Roulette Singles Year Title US Record label B side Album 1970 Tighter Tighter 7 Roulette Sunday Morning Alive N Kickin Just Let It Come 69 Roulette Mother Carey s Chicken 1971 Good Ole Lovin Back Home Roulette Junction Creek London Bridge Roulette You Gave Me Something See also editList of 1970s one hit wonders in the United StatesReferences edit Alive N Kickin Songs Albums Reviews Bio amp More AllMusic Retrieved February 17 2023 a b c Murrells Joseph 1978 The Book of Golden Discs 2nd ed London Barrie and Jenkins Ltd p 272 ISBN 0 214 20512 6 Gary James Interview with Pepe Cardona of Alive N Kickin classicbands com Retrieved August 23 2023 Richie I of Alive N Kickin Alive n kickin com Retrieved August 25 2015 Cohen Jason August 7 2020 Longtime City Island resident and musician Pepe Cardona sings his last tune BronxTimes Retrieved July 19 2022 Pepe Cardona of Alive N Kickin Has Died rockawave com July 29 2020 Retrieved August 29 2020 External links editAlive N Kickin at AllMusic Alive N Kickin video clips Gary James interview with Pepe Cardona Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alive 27N Kickin 27 amp oldid 1186655905, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
