Frankie LaRocka
Encyclopedia
Frankie LaRocka was a musician
and producer. He was a member of Scandal and, at various stages, played the drums
with Bon Jovi
, David Johansen
, Bryan Adams
, and John Waite
. In the 1990s, he became an A&R
man and producer with his most notable work being with the Spin Doctors
on their breakthrough album Pocket Full of Kryptonite
.
from 1978. He joined Scandal in 1982 and played on their self-titled album of the same year as well as earning credit on John Waite's self-titled album.
LaRocka toured with Bryan Adams on his 1983 world tour, and was part of the band when they appeared that year live in concert on the legendary televised Rockpalast
show (also broadcast live on European radio). Bon Jovi opened for Scandal in a 1984 tour which led to that band being signed to Polygram Records. La Rocka played drums on their 1984 Bon Jovi
album. After parting company with Scandal, he returned to session work playing on sessions by John Waite and in 1985 appearing with him in his band on TV shows like Solid Gold
. In the early '90s, LaRocka played drums with Company of Wolves, a straight-ahead rock band signed to Mercury Records
.
Frankie also signed a girl group from London called NeverBlue, Tasha Leaper, Susan Mottley and Lisa Hurley. The group worked with Brian Rawlings, famed for Cher
's Believe album. NeverBlue was signed to Straight Line Records under Atlantic Records
.
. He produced their 1991 debut Pocketful of Kryptonite. The album sold slowly at first but it eventually became a hit after their song Little Miss Can't Be Wrong
started picking up airplay on MTV
and radio. The follow-up single Two Princes
was a top ten hit and the album reached a peak of #3 on the Billboard charts in 1993. LaRocka produced subsequent albums for the Spin Doctors but they failed to achieve the same success.
He produced the soundtrack for the 1993 movie Philadelphia
. It reached #12 on the Billboard 200 album chart and featured a top ten single hit in the Bruce Springsteen
song Streets of Philadelphia
. Springsteen also won an Academy Award for Best Song as well as a Golden Globe. Neil Young
was also nominated for an Academy Award for his track Philadelphia and the album also featured tracks by Peter Gabriel
and the Spin Doctors.
By the end of his career at Sony, LaRocka was vice president of the A&R department. He was back playing drums for a New York
band Hot Monkey Love and with Noel Redding
on a 2002 live album recorded at Prague
. He also had an independent production company, Straight Line Productions, and had signed the band happyendings to J Records
where they were recording their debut record.
LaRocka died after undergoing heart surgery in New York in May 2005.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and producer. He was a member of Scandal and, at various stages, played the drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
with Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
, David Johansen
David Johansen
David Roger Johansen is an American rock, protopunk, blues, and pop singer, as well as a songwriter and actor. He is best known as a member of the seminal protopunk band The New York Dolls and also achieved commercial success under the pseudonym Buster Poindexter.-Early life:Johansen was born in...
, Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
, and John Waite
John Waite
John Charles Waite is an English rock singer and musician. He was lead vocalist for The Babys and Bad English. As a solo artist, he scored several international hits, including 1984's "Missing You", a top ten hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart, reaching #1 in the...
. In the 1990s, he became an A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
man and producer with his most notable work being with the Spin Doctors
Spin Doctors
Spin Doctors is an American alternative rock band formed in New York City, best known for their early 1990s hits, "Two Princes," and "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong," which peaked the Billboard Hot 100 charts at #7 & #17 respectively....
on their breakthrough album Pocket Full of Kryptonite
Pocket Full of Kryptonite
Pocket Full of Kryptonite is the first studio album by American band Spin Doctors, released in August 1991. It peaked at #1 and #3 on Billboard's Heatseekers and Billboard 200 albums charts, respectively...
.
Musical history
LaRocka started his career playing drums with David Johansen on Johansen's self-titled albumDavid Johansen (album)
David Johansen is a 1978 album by the rock musician David Johansen and his first solo album following his tenure as lead singer of the New York Dolls. The album was released on Blue Sky Records, a sub-label of Columbia Records that was associated with Johnny and Edgar Winter...
from 1978. He joined Scandal in 1982 and played on their self-titled album of the same year as well as earning credit on John Waite's self-titled album.
LaRocka toured with Bryan Adams on his 1983 world tour, and was part of the band when they appeared that year live in concert on the legendary televised Rockpalast
Rockpalast
Rockpalast is a German music television show that broadcasts live on German television station Westdeutscher Rundfunk . Rockpalast started in 1974 and continues to this day. Hundreds of rock and jazz bands have performed on Rockpalast...
show (also broadcast live on European radio). Bon Jovi opened for Scandal in a 1984 tour which led to that band being signed to Polygram Records. La Rocka played drums on their 1984 Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi (album)
Bon Jovi is the debut album from American rock band Bon Jovi, released January 21, 1984. Produced by Tony Bongiovi and Lance Quinn, the album is significant for being the only Bon Jovi album on which a song appears that was not written or co-written by members of the band...
album. After parting company with Scandal, he returned to session work playing on sessions by John Waite and in 1985 appearing with him in his band on TV shows like Solid Gold
Solid Gold (TV series)
Solid Gold is an American syndicated music television series that debuted on September 13, 1980. Like many other shows of its genre, such as American Bandstand, Solid Gold featured musical performances and various other elements such as music videos...
. In the early '90s, LaRocka played drums with Company of Wolves, a straight-ahead rock band signed to Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
.
Frankie also signed a girl group from London called NeverBlue, Tasha Leaper, Susan Mottley and Lisa Hurley. The group worked with Brian Rawlings, famed for Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
's Believe album. NeverBlue was signed to Straight Line Records under Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
.
A&R and production work
LaRocka's first stab at production was with Irish band Silent Running, whom he signed while working in the A&R department at Atlantic Records. He also played drums on their album Deep. He began working for Sony Music and one of his first signings was the Spin DoctorsSpin Doctors
Spin Doctors is an American alternative rock band formed in New York City, best known for their early 1990s hits, "Two Princes," and "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong," which peaked the Billboard Hot 100 charts at #7 & #17 respectively....
. He produced their 1991 debut Pocketful of Kryptonite. The album sold slowly at first but it eventually became a hit after their song Little Miss Can't Be Wrong
Little Miss Can't Be Wrong
"Little Miss Can't Be Wrong" is a song by the rock band Spin Doctors. It was the third track on their 1991 album Pocket Full of Kryptonite and was also its second single...
started picking up airplay 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....
and radio. The follow-up single Two Princes
Two Princes
"Two Princes" is a song by the New York City-based pop rock band Spin Doctors. As a single, it reached #7 in the United States, #2 in Canada, and #3 in the United Kingdom. It was the band's most popular song. It also ranked at #21 on Blender magazine's list of the "50 Worst Songs Ever". It ranked...
was a top ten hit and the album reached a peak of #3 on the Billboard charts in 1993. LaRocka produced subsequent albums for the Spin Doctors but they failed to achieve the same success.
He produced the soundtrack for the 1993 movie Philadelphia
Philadelphia (film)
Philadelphia is a 1993 American drama film that was one of the first mainstream Hollywood films to acknowledge HIV/AIDS, homosexuality and homophobia. It was written by Ron Nyswaner and directed by Jonathan Demme. The film stars Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington...
. It reached #12 on the Billboard 200 album chart and featured a top ten single hit in the Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
song Streets of Philadelphia
Streets of Philadelphia
"Streets of Philadelphia" is an Oscar winning song, written and performed by American rock musician Bruce Springsteen for the first mainstream film on HIV/AIDS in the 1993 film, Philadelphia...
. Springsteen also won an Academy Award for Best Song as well as a Golden Globe. Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
was also nominated for an Academy Award for his track Philadelphia and the album also featured tracks by Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
and the Spin Doctors.
By the end of his career at Sony, LaRocka was vice president of the A&R department. He was back playing drums for a New York
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...
band Hot Monkey Love and with Noel Redding
Noel Redding
Noel Redding was an English rock and roll guitarist best known as the bassist for The Jimi Hendrix Experience.-Biography:...
on a 2002 live album recorded at Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. He also had an independent production company, Straight Line Productions, and had signed the band happyendings to J Records
J Records
J Records was an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment, and was distributed through the RCA Music Group.-Company history:...
where they were recording their debut record.
LaRocka died after undergoing heart surgery in New York in May 2005.