Arc Angel (band)
Encyclopedia
Arc Angel was an AOR
rock band that was formed by musicians Jeff Cannata
and Michael Soldan.
-based band Jasper Wrath
. Cannata played drums and Soldan played keyboards; both composed most of the group's songs. After Jasper Wrath's demise in 1976, Cannata and Soldan continued writing songs together. Cannata started working with guitar and keyboards more in order to develop his songwriting abilities. In the early '80s, Cannata and Soldan presented some of their new compositions to the staff at CBS Records
. CBS really liked what the duo were doing and they signed them for a record contract. The only problem was that there was no live band to perform the songs. Cannata and Soldan got the idea to record the album with a large group of session musicians, similar to The Alan Parsons Project
.
The self-titled debut
was released in 1983. Jeff Cannata sang lead vocals and played guitar, bass, and drums, while Michael Soldan played keyboards and sang backing vocals. Included on the roster of session musicians were former Jasper Wrath bandmates James Christian
and Jeff Batter, as well as keyboardist Jeff Bova
and bassist Hugh McDonald
. The album became a huge hit in Europe
. A music video for the song "Tragedy" was also filmed and showcased on MTV
. The video featured Cannata on lead vocals and guitar, Michael Soldan on keyboards, and local Connecticut band Cryer as the backup band. Cryer consisted of Jay Jesse Johnson on guitar, Steve Shore on bass, and Jeff Zajac on drums.
Unfortunately, the album didn't do so well domestically. Arc Angel was dismissed by U.S. critics as a Boston
/Kansas
clone. Jeff Cannata abandoned releasing albums under the Arc Angel name and began recording solo albums under the name Cannata for a while, starting with 1988's Images Of Forever. In 2002, Jeff Cannata released the album Tamorok, which was credited as a joint effort between Arc Angel and Cannata and also featured Michael Soldan on keyboards.
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
rock band that was formed by musicians Jeff Cannata
Jeff Cannata (musician)
Jeff Cannata is a Connecticut-based musician, songwriter, and record producer. Cannata was a founding member and driving force behind the New Haven-based progressive rock band Jasper Wrath. He was the drummer for the group, however he also sang, played woodwinds, and wrote a majority of the songs...
and Michael Soldan.
History
Jeff Cannata and Michael Soldan had previously been in the popular ConnecticutConnecticut
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...
-based band Jasper Wrath
Jasper Wrath
Jasper Wrath was a progressive rock band from New Haven, Connecticut that was active throughout the 1970s. They were founded by Jeff Cannata, who would later go on to form the 1980s band Arc Angel. The band also featured James Christian, who would later go on to front the notable glam metal band...
. Cannata played drums and Soldan played keyboards; both composed most of the group's songs. After Jasper Wrath's demise in 1976, Cannata and Soldan continued writing songs together. Cannata started working with guitar and keyboards more in order to develop his songwriting abilities. In the early '80s, Cannata and Soldan presented some of their new compositions to the staff at CBS Records
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
. CBS really liked what the duo were doing and they signed them for a record contract. The only problem was that there was no live band to perform the songs. Cannata and Soldan got the idea to record the album with a large group of session musicians, similar to The Alan Parsons Project
The Alan Parsons Project
The Alan Parsons Project was a British progressive rock band, active between 1975 and 1990, consisting of singer Eric Woolfson and keyboardist Alan Parsons surrounded by a varying number of session musicians....
.
The self-titled debut
Arc Angel (album)
Arc Angel is the first studio album by Connecticut-based AOR band Arc Angel.- Track listing :Side 1# "Stars" - 5:02# "Tragedy" - 3:33# "Wanted: Dead Or Alive" - 3:28*# "Used to Think I'd Never Fall in Love" - 3:51# "Rock Me Tonight" - 3:30...
was released in 1983. Jeff Cannata sang lead vocals and played guitar, bass, and drums, while Michael Soldan played keyboards and sang backing vocals. Included on the roster of session musicians were former Jasper Wrath bandmates James Christian
James Christian
James Christian is a Connecticut-based musician and songwriter who is perhaps best known for being the frontman of the band House of Lords.-Career:...
and Jeff Batter, as well as keyboardist Jeff Bova
Jeff Bova
Jeff Bova is an American Grammy Award winning keyboardist, composer, arranger and record producer. He has been active in music industry since the mid-1970s, contributing to dozens of recordings by significant mainstream artists like Celine Dion, Michael Jackson, Blondie, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker,...
and bassist Hugh McDonald
Hugh McDonald
Hugh McDonald may refer to:* Hugh McDonald , Australian musician* Hugh McDonald , member of the 1st Canadian Parliament* Hugh McDonald , American bass player...
. The album became a huge hit in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. A music video for the song "Tragedy" was also filmed and showcased on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. The video featured Cannata on lead vocals and guitar, Michael Soldan on keyboards, and local Connecticut band Cryer as the backup band. Cryer consisted of Jay Jesse Johnson on guitar, Steve Shore on bass, and Jeff Zajac on drums.
Unfortunately, the album didn't do so well domestically. Arc Angel was dismissed by U.S. critics as a Boston
Boston (band)
Boston is an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts that achieved its most notable successes during the 1970s and 1980s. Centered on guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Tom Scholz, the band is a staple of classic rock radio playlists...
/Kansas
Kansas (band)
Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...
clone. Jeff Cannata abandoned releasing albums under the Arc Angel name and began recording solo albums under the name Cannata for a while, starting with 1988's Images Of Forever. In 2002, Jeff Cannata released the album Tamorok, which was credited as a joint effort between Arc Angel and Cannata and also featured Michael Soldan on keyboards.
Members
- Jeff CannataJeff Cannata (musician)Jeff Cannata is a Connecticut-based musician, songwriter, and record producer. Cannata was a founding member and driving force behind the New Haven-based progressive rock band Jasper Wrath. He was the drummer for the group, however he also sang, played woodwinds, and wrote a majority of the songs...
- Guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, and vocals - Michael Soldan - Keyboards and vocals
Frequent contributors
- James ChristianJames ChristianJames Christian is a Connecticut-based musician and songwriter who is perhaps best known for being the frontman of the band House of Lords.-Career:...
- Vocals - Jeff Batter - Keyboards and vocals
- Jay Jesse Johnson - Guitar
- David Coe - Guitar
Discography
- Arc AngelArc Angel (album)Arc Angel is the first studio album by Connecticut-based AOR band Arc Angel.- Track listing :Side 1# "Stars" - 5:02# "Tragedy" - 3:33# "Wanted: Dead Or Alive" - 3:28*# "Used to Think I'd Never Fall in Love" - 3:51# "Rock Me Tonight" - 3:30...
- 1983 (CBSCBS RecordsCBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
) - Tamorok - 2002 (Oxford Circus)