Fotomaker
Encyclopedia
Fotomaker was a power pop
group based on Long Island, NY which released 3 albums between 1978 and 1979. It was considered to be somewhat of a supergroup of power-pop musicians, featuring what would become some future members of the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame, albeit for their work with previous bands. They made three albums within the span of a little over a year, the third of which is considered the weaker of the three. They failed to achieve any measure of success, mostly due to lack of record company promotion.
(a/k/a "The Young Rascals"). Rounding out the group were guitarist Wally Bryson, formerly of power-pop hitmakers Raspberries
(which featured singer Eric Carmen), and two relative newcomers, guitarist/vocalist Lex Marchesi and keyboardist/vocalist Frankie Vinci. The latter two members, though the only unknowns in the band, were the core talent that drove the band with their songwriting and vocal skills.
The second album, Vis-a-Vis, was hurriedly released later that year and also failed to hit. Seeing that power-pop groups had all but died, with the exception of a few acts like Elvis Costello
, The Knack
, and The Cars
who were defining themselves as "new wave" or "post punk", and with disco still raging on the charts, the third album, Transfer Station, targeted the dance genre. Wally Bryson had already left the band. "Transfer Station" sold even more poorly than their previous albums, and the group disbanded shortly thereafter.
Wally Bryson went back to Cleveland and has since turned up in Raspberries reunions over the years; he has also collaborated with his son in The Bryson Group. Frankie Vinci has done plenty of TV work, including jingles and music for the Super Bowl
, and has written songs for others such as country artist Tim McGraw.
Albums:
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
group based on Long Island, NY which released 3 albums between 1978 and 1979. It was considered to be somewhat of a supergroup of power-pop musicians, featuring what would become some future members of the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame, albeit for their work with previous bands. They made three albums within the span of a little over a year, the third of which is considered the weaker of the three. They failed to achieve any measure of success, mostly due to lack of record company promotion.
Beginnings
The band Fotomaker was formed in 1978 by bassist Gene Cornish and drummer Dino Danelli, former members of the 1960s group The RascalsThe Rascals
The Rascals were an American blue-eyed soul group initially active during the years 1965–72. The band released numerous top ten singles in North America during the mid- and late-1960s, including the U.S. #1 hits "Good Lovin'" , "Groovin'" , and "People Got to Be Free"...
(a/k/a "The Young Rascals"). Rounding out the group were guitarist Wally Bryson, formerly of power-pop hitmakers Raspberries
Raspberries (band)
Raspberries is an American power pop/pop rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. They had a run of success in the early 1970s music scene with their crisp pop sound, which Allmusic later described as featuring "exquisitely crafted melodies and achingly gorgeous harmonies." The members were known for their...
(which featured singer Eric Carmen), and two relative newcomers, guitarist/vocalist Lex Marchesi and keyboardist/vocalist Frankie Vinci. The latter two members, though the only unknowns in the band, were the core talent that drove the band with their songwriting and vocal skills.
Albums
The 1978 debut release, simply titled Fotomaker, featured all the clichés of power-pop of the `70's: hook-laden choruses, tight overdriven guitars, lush strings, 12-string acoustic guitars, a few melodic ballads, 3-minute radio-friendly tunes and strong vocal harmonies throughout. The group didn't get the publicity or promotion it deserved, though, and its minor chart hits failed to win a wider audience.The second album, Vis-a-Vis, was hurriedly released later that year and also failed to hit. Seeing that power-pop groups had all but died, with the exception of a few acts like Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
, The Knack
The Knack
The Knack was an American New Wave rock quartet based in Los Angeles that rose to fame with their first single, "My Sharona", an international number one hit in 1979.-Founding :...
, and The Cars
The Cars
The Cars are an American rock band that emerged from the early New Wave music scene in the late 1970s. The band consisted of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek, lead singer and bassist Benjamin Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes and drummer David Robinson...
who were defining themselves as "new wave" or "post punk", and with disco still raging on the charts, the third album, Transfer Station, targeted the dance genre. Wally Bryson had already left the band. "Transfer Station" sold even more poorly than their previous albums, and the group disbanded shortly thereafter.
Afterlife
In 1997, Gene Cornish and Dino Danelli, along with former Rascals bandmates Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati, were inducted into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame.Wally Bryson went back to Cleveland and has since turned up in Raspberries reunions over the years; he has also collaborated with his son in The Bryson Group. Frankie Vinci has done plenty of TV work, including jingles and music for the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
, and has written songs for others such as country artist Tim McGraw.
Albums:
- Fotomaker (Atlantic, 1978) Produced by Eddie Kramer
- Vis-à-vis (Atlantic, 1978) Produced by Gene Cornish and Dino Danelli
- Transfer Station (Atlantic, 1979) Produced by Barry Mraz