Novo Combo
Encyclopedia
Novo Combo was a power pop
and New Wave
rock group who enjoyed some popularity in the early 1980s. The initial lineup was Pete Hewlett, Stephen Dees, Jack Griffith and drummer Michael Shrieve
, formerly with Santana
. Carlos Rios replaced Jack Griffith on the band's second album. The band scored minor hits in 1981 with the songs "Up Periscope" and "City Bound."
Lead singer and bassist
Stephen Dees also performed with many other acts from the 1980s including Hall and Oates as well as Tony Carey
where he was also featured in the Tony Carey
video of "The First Day of Summer." He would later form his own independent pop/art rock band
Bandees in the late 1990s.
Lead guitar
ist Jack Griffith jammed out with Mick Jagger
, Carlos Santana
, Gary Moore
, penned songs for Warner Chappell
, Fiona, Revo Bop. Now has his own Commercial Business Studio, where he records bands, produces TV commercials
.
Novo Combo's singer and guitarist Pete Hewlett is a world-class singer who makes Pittsburgh his home. His name may not be as readily recognizable to Pittsburghers as Joe Grushecky
, Donnie Iris
or B.E. Taylor, but that's because he was on the road recording and touring with Billy Joel
, Carly Simon
, Joe Jackson
, Julian Lennon
, Amy Grant
, and Eric Carmen
.
Pete Hewlett got his first recording contract when he was 16 years old. His band Peter's Pipers won a battle of the bands contest at West View Park. That sent them onto the national finals, and that got them a deal with Philips
Mercury Records
.
Then came a new band—Sweet Lightning—and the attention of RCA records
, where they recorded an LP and a pair of singles. Next came a move to Cleveland, where Pete recorded with Eric Carmen
(Raspberries
), then joined the Euclid Beach Band.
But the real turning point came two years later when Hewlett's former Sweet Lightning bandmate Syd McGinness (guitarist for David Letterman
) recommended Pete to Carly Simon
, who was looking for a new backup singer. Pete got the job, moved to New York City
, recorded "Come Upstairs" and headed out on tour with Simon.
While in New York, Hewlett answered an audition with Stephen, Jack, and Michael and formed Novo Combo. They were signed to Polygram
and put out two albums. Music reviewer George Thatcher said, "The songs which stand out for me are the ones in which Pete Hewlett sings." Novo Combo toured with The Who
, Cheap Trick
, Greg Lake
and performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival '81.
Then Billy Joel
came calling. Hewlett hit the road with Joel for the "An Innocent Man
" and "The Bridge
" world tours. Then came the tour that made international news: Billy Joel
would bring a fully staged rock production to the Soviet Union
as part of the Ronald Reagan
-Mikhail Gorbachev
1985 Geneva
summit. Hewlett performed with Joel in Moscow
and Leningrad
-- and made history as part of the first live rock radio broadcast in Soviet history, which was also simulcast in the United States. The live double-album, KOHЦEPT (translation: 'In Concert'), chronicled the trip.
Back in the States, Hewlett recorded the Starlight Express Broadway soundtrack, Joe Jackson
's Big World
recording and U.S. Concert Tour, Julian Lennon
's The Secret Value of Daydreaming
album and Amy Grant
's 1997 World Leader Summit performance. Most recently Pete joined Billy Joel
once again to perform at the "Last Play At Shea
" concerts in July 2008.
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...
and New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
rock group who enjoyed some popularity in the early 1980s. The initial lineup was Pete Hewlett, Stephen Dees, Jack Griffith and drummer Michael Shrieve
Michael Shrieve
Michael Shrieve is an American drummer, percussionist, and later, an electronic music composer. He is best known as the drummer in Carlos Santana's eponymous band, playing on their first eight albums from 1969 through 1974...
, formerly with Santana
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
. Carlos Rios replaced Jack Griffith on the band's second album. The band scored minor hits in 1981 with the songs "Up Periscope" and "City Bound."
Lead singer and bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Stephen Dees also performed with many other acts from the 1980s including Hall and Oates as well as Tony Carey
Tony Carey
Antony Laurence Carey is a keyboard player best known for his work with Rainbow.One of his earliest musical experiences was in a band called Blessings, in which he played until 1975 when Ritchie Blackmore discovered and hired him as keyboardist for Rainbow. He played with Rainbow on two world...
where he was also featured in the Tony Carey
Tony Carey
Antony Laurence Carey is a keyboard player best known for his work with Rainbow.One of his earliest musical experiences was in a band called Blessings, in which he played until 1975 when Ritchie Blackmore discovered and hired him as keyboardist for Rainbow. He played with Rainbow on two world...
video of "The First Day of Summer." He would later form his own independent pop/art rock band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
Bandees in the late 1990s.
Lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
ist Jack Griffith jammed out with Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
, Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana
Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
, Gary Moore
Gary Moore
Robert William Gary Moore , better known simply as Gary Moore, was a Northern Irish musician from Belfast, best recognised as a blues rock guitarist and singer....
, penned songs for Warner Chappell
Warner/Chappell Music
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc. is an American music publishing company, and a division of the Warner Music Group. The company traces its origins back to 1811 and the founding of Chappell & Company, a music publishing company and instrument shop on London’s Bond Street that, in 1929, began a rapid...
, Fiona, Revo Bop. Now has his own Commercial Business Studio, where he records bands, produces TV commercials
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
.
Novo Combo's singer and guitarist Pete Hewlett is a world-class singer who makes Pittsburgh his home. His name may not be as readily recognizable to Pittsburghers as Joe Grushecky
Joe Grushecky
Joe Grushecky is an American rock musician known for his work with the Iron City Houserockers in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and for his works since the late the 1980s with his act Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers and his solo career...
, Donnie Iris
Donnie Iris
Donnie Iris is an American rock musician known for his work with The Jaggerz and Wild Cherry during the 1970s, and for his solo albums during the 1980s...
or B.E. Taylor, but that's because he was on the road recording and touring with Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
, Carly Simon
Carly Simon
Carly Elisabeth Simon is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records, and has since been the recipient of two Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award for her work...
, Joe Jackson
Joe Jackson (musician)
Joe Jackson is an English musician and singer-songwriter now living in Berlin, whose five Grammy Award nominations span from 1979 to 2001...
, Julian Lennon
Julian Lennon
John Charles Julian Lennon is an English musician, songwriter, actor, and photographer. He is the son of John Lennon and Lennon's first wife, Cynthia Powell. Beatles manager Brian Epstein was his godfather. He has a younger half-brother, Sean Lennon. Lennon was named after his paternal...
, Amy Grant
Amy Grant
Amy Lee Grant is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, media personality and actress, best known for her Christian music. She has been referred to as "The Queen of Christian Pop"...
, and Eric Carmen
Eric Carmen
Eric Howard Carmen is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist.He scored numerous hit songs across the 1970s and 1980s, first as a member of the Raspberries , and then with his solo career, including hits such as "All By Myself", "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again", "She Did It",...
.
Pete Hewlett got his first recording contract when he was 16 years old. His band Peter's Pipers won a battle of the bands contest at West View Park. That sent them onto the national finals, and that got them a deal with Philips
Philips Records
Philips Records is a record label that was founded by Dutch electronics company Philips. It was started by "Philips Phonographische Industrie" in 1950. Recordings were made with popular artists of various nationalities and also with classical artists from Germany, France and Holland. Philips also...
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...
.
Then came a new band—Sweet Lightning—and the attention of RCA records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
, where they recorded an LP and a pair of singles. Next came a move to Cleveland, where Pete recorded with Eric Carmen
Eric Carmen
Eric Howard Carmen is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist.He scored numerous hit songs across the 1970s and 1980s, first as a member of the Raspberries , and then with his solo career, including hits such as "All By Myself", "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again", "She Did It",...
(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...
), then joined the Euclid Beach Band.
But the real turning point came two years later when Hewlett's former Sweet Lightning bandmate Syd McGinness (guitarist for David Letterman
David Letterman
David Michael Letterman is an American television host and comedian. He hosts the late night television talk show, Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS. Letterman has been a fixture on late night television since the 1982 debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC...
) recommended Pete to Carly Simon
Carly Simon
Carly Elisabeth Simon is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records, and has since been the recipient of two Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award for her work...
, who was looking for a new backup singer. Pete got the job, moved to New York City
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...
, recorded "Come Upstairs" and headed out on tour with Simon.
While in New York, Hewlett answered an audition with Stephen, Jack, and Michael and formed Novo Combo. They were signed to Polygram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
and put out two albums. Music reviewer George Thatcher said, "The songs which stand out for me are the ones in which Pete Hewlett sings." Novo Combo toured with The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
, Greg Lake
Greg Lake
Gregory Stuart "Greg" Lake is an English musician, songwriter and producer, best known as a vocalist and bassist of King Crimson, and the bassist, guitarist, vocalist, and lyricist of Emerson, Lake & Palmer.-1960s: King Crimson:...
and performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival '81.
Then Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
came calling. Hewlett hit the road with Joel for the "An Innocent Man
An Innocent Man
An Innocent Man is the ninth album by American singer/songwriter Billy Joel, released in 1983 .This album is Joel's tribute to the music of his childhood...
" and "The Bridge
The Bridge (Billy Joel album)
The Bridge is Billy Joel's 10th studio album released by Columbia Records in 1986 and was his final album to be produced by Phil Ramone...
" world tours. Then came the tour that made international news: Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
would bring a fully staged rock production to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
as part of the Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
-Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is a former Soviet statesman, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and as the last head of state of the USSR, having served from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991...
1985 Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
summit. Hewlett performed with Joel in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
-- and made history as part of the first live rock radio broadcast in Soviet history, which was also simulcast in the United States. The live double-album, KOHЦEPT (translation: 'In Concert'), chronicled the trip.
Back in the States, Hewlett recorded the Starlight Express Broadway soundtrack, Joe Jackson
Joe Jackson (musician)
Joe Jackson is an English musician and singer-songwriter now living in Berlin, whose five Grammy Award nominations span from 1979 to 2001...
's Big World
Big World
Big World is a 1986 live album by Joe Jackson. The album was recorded in front of an invited audience at the Roundabout Theatre in New York City on 22–25 January 1986. Jackson's intent was to capture the excitement and spontaneity of a live performance, but without any noise from the crowd...
recording and U.S. Concert Tour, Julian Lennon
Julian Lennon
John Charles Julian Lennon is an English musician, songwriter, actor, and photographer. He is the son of John Lennon and Lennon's first wife, Cynthia Powell. Beatles manager Brian Epstein was his godfather. He has a younger half-brother, Sean Lennon. Lennon was named after his paternal...
's The Secret Value of Daydreaming
The Secret Value of Daydreaming
The Secret Value of Daydreaming is the second album by singer–songwriter Julian Lennon. It was released in March 1986 on Virgin Records. "Stick Around" was the lead single and was the album's lone top 40 hit. The album peaked at Number 32 on the Billboard 200 charts upon its release and was...
album and Amy Grant
Amy Grant
Amy Lee Grant is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, media personality and actress, best known for her Christian music. She has been referred to as "The Queen of Christian Pop"...
's 1997 World Leader Summit performance. Most recently Pete joined Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
once again to perform at the "Last Play At Shea
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
" concerts in July 2008.
Novo Combo (1981)
- Side one:
- Up Periscope (Stephen Dees)
- City Bound (E train) (Stephen Dees/Desmond Child)
- We need love (Pete Hewlett/Michael Shrieve/Jack Griffith/ Stephen Dees)
- Long Road (Stephen Dees/Jack Griffith)
- Tattoo (Pete Hewlett)
- Side two:
- Don't do that (Stephen Dees/Michael Shrieve /Pete Hewlett/Jack Griffith)
- Sorry (for the delay) (Stephen Dees)
- Axis will turn (Jack Griffith)
- Light of world (Pete Hewlett/Michael Shrieve/Jack Griffith/ Stephen Dees)
- Do you wanna shake? ( Stephen Dees/Jack Griffith/ Pete Hewlett/Michael Shrieve)
- Hard to Say goodbye (Pete Hewlett)
- Album produced by Chris Kimsey for Wonderknob Ltd.
Animation Generation (1982)
- Side one:
- Animation Generation
- Too Long Gone
- Slow Fade
- Keep Your Love Alive
- Anyone Can See
- Side two:
- Welcome Innervision
- Chained Man
- Follow the Love
- She Runs
- No Wonder