Joe Gannon
Encyclopedia
Joe Gannon is a Philadelphia native, recording producer, director, musical stage lighting and production designer. Gannon operated and managed Frank Zappa
’s record company and produced records for CBS. He worked as road manager for Bill Cosby
and staged Madonna
's first film appearance. He toured internationally as a producer, director and lighting designer for such stars as Alice Cooper
, Teddy Pendergrass
, Luther Vandross
, Barry Manilow
, Julio Iglesias
. His wife runs a restaurant in Maui named after him.
. Joe Gannon was Neil's road manager, lighting director and show consultant in the early 70's. Gannon's involvement was credited as the reason for the great improvement in Neil's stage presentations by the time of the legendary 1972 Hot August Night
concert series.
and Shep Gordon, Gannon was responsible for turning Cooper's vision into a tangible, three-dimensional nightmare reality of magic and wonderment. These set designs resulted in some of the most elaborate stage and light presentations of any rock show, setting a new standard in terms of sheer massive size. In 1974, Gannon directed the documentary film, Good To See you Again, Alice Cooper, which was in re-released in 2005.
, Nick Reynolds
and singer Barbara Bogue (she later became his wife) who together began a singing group called Dave Guard & the Calypsonians and later, The Kingston Quartet
. The group performed at college frat parties and were regulars playing the "Cracked Pot" club across the street from campus, Gannon playing stand-up bass. He left the group after graduation in 1956, moving to Minneapolis where he went into business. The Calypsonian
s regrouped with Guard, Reynolds and Bob Shane
becoming known as the Kingston Trio. Gannon returned to California and eventually became the long-time road manager, then later business manager for the Trio. In 2000 The Kingston Trio was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame
.
In 1967 Joe was credited as recording engineer on the Lost Kingston Trio Album, which was recorded at the breakup of the group with John Stewart.
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
’s record company and produced records for CBS. He worked as road manager for Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby
William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...
and staged Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
's first film appearance. He toured internationally as a producer, director and lighting designer for such stars as Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
, Teddy Pendergrass
Teddy Pendergrass
Theodore DeReese "Teddy" Pendergrass was an American R&B/soul singer and songwriter. Pendergrass first rose to fame as lead singer of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes in the 1970s before a successful solo career at the end of the decade...
, Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
, Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."...
, Julio Iglesias
Julio Iglesias
Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva , better known simply as Julio Iglesias, is a Spanish singer who has sold over 300 million records worldwide in 14 languages and released 77 albums. According to Sony Music Entertainment, he is one of the top 15 best selling music artists in history,...
. His wife runs a restaurant in Maui named after him.
Neil Diamond
In 1970, Gannon was one of the first production designers to use moving sets on rock concert tours while working with Neil DiamondNeil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
. Joe Gannon was Neil's road manager, lighting director and show consultant in the early 70's. Gannon's involvement was credited as the reason for the great improvement in Neil's stage presentations by the time of the legendary 1972 Hot August Night
Hot August Night
Hot August Night is a 1972 live double album by Neil Diamond. The album is a recording of a Diamond concert on Thursday August 24, 1972, one of ten sold out concerts that Diamond performed that month at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles...
concert series.
Alice Cooper
Expanding upon creative input from Alice CooperAlice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
and Shep Gordon, Gannon was responsible for turning Cooper's vision into a tangible, three-dimensional nightmare reality of magic and wonderment. These set designs resulted in some of the most elaborate stage and light presentations of any rock show, setting a new standard in terms of sheer massive size. In 1974, Gannon directed the documentary film, Good To See you Again, Alice Cooper, which was in re-released in 2005.
Kingston Trio
In the early 1950s after serving the Navy, Gannon attended Menlo Park College, School of Business Administration in California. There he met Dave GuardDave Guard
Donald David "Dave" Guard was an American folk singer, songwriter, arranger and recording artist. Along with Nick Reynolds and Bob Shane, he was one of the founding members of The Kingston Trio.Guard was educated in Honolulu, Hawaii, at Punahou School in what was then the pre-statehood U.S....
, Nick Reynolds
Nick Reynolds
Nick Reynolds was an American folk musician and recording artist. Reynolds was one of the founding members of The Kingston Trio, whose largely folk-based material captured international attention during the late fifties and early sixties.- Early life :Growing up in Coronado, California, his...
and singer Barbara Bogue (she later became his wife) who together began a singing group called Dave Guard & the Calypsonians and later, The Kingston Quartet
Dave Guard
Donald David "Dave" Guard was an American folk singer, songwriter, arranger and recording artist. Along with Nick Reynolds and Bob Shane, he was one of the founding members of The Kingston Trio.Guard was educated in Honolulu, Hawaii, at Punahou School in what was then the pre-statehood U.S....
. The group performed at college frat parties and were regulars playing the "Cracked Pot" club across the street from campus, Gannon playing stand-up bass. He left the group after graduation in 1956, moving to Minneapolis where he went into business. The Calypsonian
Calypsonian
A calypsonian , originally known as the chantwell is a musician, from the Anglophone Caribbean, who sings songs called calypso. Calypsos are musical renditions having their origins in the West African griot tradition...
s regrouped with Guard, Reynolds and Bob Shane
Bob Shane
Bob Shane is an American singer and guitarist and, with Nick Reynolds' passing in October 2008, the only surviving founding member of The Kingston Trio. In that capacity, Shane became a seminal figure in the revival of folk and other acoustic music as a popular art form in the U.S...
becoming known as the Kingston Trio. Gannon returned to California and eventually became the long-time road manager, then later business manager for the Trio. In 2000 The Kingston Trio was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame
Vocal Group Hall of Fame
The Vocal Group Hall of Fame was organized to honor outstanding vocal groups throughout the world. It is headquartered in Sharon, Pennsylvania, United States. It includes a theater and a museum....
.
In 1967 Joe was credited as recording engineer on the Lost Kingston Trio Album, which was recorded at the breakup of the group with John Stewart.
