Mardi Gras (music group)
Encyclopedia
Mardi Gras was a New York
based rock and roll
group. They released several singles
which were hits
throughout Europe in 1970 and 1971, followed by an eponymous album
in 1972, on Peter Anders
and Vini Poncia
's Map City Records label
. The core of the group was three friends, Lou Burgio, Bob Azzara, and Flip Cesario, who had performed in other bands, including the Royal Teens
and Joey and the Twisters
in the early 1960s.
Their first release, a cover
of "Girl, I've Got News for You," reached #1 in France
, and moved high up the charts in Italy
, the Netherlands
, Spain
, and elsewhere in Europe. They followed this with a cover of "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby
," which again charted highly across Europe, including peaking at #19 in the UK Singles Chart
in 1972. They released two other singles, "Every Day I Have to Cry Some" (1971), and "Paris Sunshine" (1972), soon after issuing their only album.
They recorded one more record, backing the French singer, Michel Laurent, on "Sing Sing Barbara," which reached #1 across parts of Europe, staying at the top of the charts in Italy for six consecutive months.
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...
based rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
group. They released several singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
which were hits
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
throughout Europe in 1970 and 1971, followed by an eponymous album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
in 1972, on Peter Anders
The Trade Winds
The Trade Winds was an American pop group formed in Providence, Rhode Island. The group's members were Peter Andreoli and Vincent Poncia, Jr., and had previously had a hit single together under the name The Videls with a song called "Mr. Lonely", which hit #73 on the U.S...
and Vini Poncia
Vini Poncia
Vini Poncia is an American musician, songwriter and record producer.In the 1960s, Poncia formed a songwriting team with Peter Anders. An album of songs co-written by these childhood friends The Anders & Poncia Album, was produced by Richard Perry and released in 1969...
's Map City Records label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. The core of the group was three friends, Lou Burgio, Bob Azzara, and Flip Cesario, who had performed in other bands, including the Royal Teens
Royal Teens
The Royal Teens were a New Jersey rock and roll band that formed in 1956, consisting of Bob Gaudio on piano, Tom Austin on drums, Billy Dalton on guitar, and Billy Crandall on saxophone. They are best known for their single "Short Shorts", which was a #3 hit in the United States in 1958. The...
and Joey and the Twisters
Joey and the Twisters
Joey and the Twisters was a Twist group formed from remnants of the original Royal Teens around 1961. The group was led by Teens vocalist Joey Villa , along with several other members from the local Manhattan Doo-Wop scene...
in the early 1960s.
Their first release, a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Girl, I've Got News for You," reached #1 in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and moved high up the charts in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and elsewhere in Europe. They followed this with a cover of "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby
Too Busy Thinking About My Baby
"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" is a Motown song written by Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong, and Janie Bradford. The song was first recorded by The Temptations as a track on their 1966 album Gettin' Ready. Eddie Kendricks sings lead on the recording, which was produced by Whitfield. Jimmy Ruffin...
," which again charted highly across Europe, including peaking at #19 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in 1972. They released two other singles, "Every Day I Have to Cry Some" (1971), and "Paris Sunshine" (1972), soon after issuing their only album.
They recorded one more record, backing the French singer, Michel Laurent, on "Sing Sing Barbara," which reached #1 across parts of Europe, staying at the top of the charts in Italy for six consecutive months.
Members
- Lou Burgio - Vocals, drums
- Bob Azzara - Farfisa organ, vocals
- Flip Cesario - Guitar, vocals
- Noel Koward - Vibes, vocals