Larry Santos

Last updated

Larry Santos (born June 2, 1941, in Oneonta, New York) is an American pop music singer-songwriter. Santos wrote songs for several American pop bands in the 1960s, including the 1963 hit "Candy Girl" for The Four Seasons which reached number 3 on Billboard Hot 100 chart. [1] In the mid-Sixties, he recorded singles as part of a group called The Madisons, and then under his own name. He released three albums in the 1970s and scored one pop hit single, produced by Don Davis, "We Can't Hide it Anymore", [2] which peaked on April 10, 1976, at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100. [3]

Contents

From 1976 to 1980 Santos starred in the television show Hot Fudge , a syndicated children's puppet show broadcast from Detroit, Michigan. [4] Santos scored the program's theme music and other songs, and appeared regularly as a live character actor. [5] He and lead puppet Seymour would perform a duet at the piano at the end of each episode.

Additionally, Santos built a successful career writing and singing advertising jingles. [6] Santos's songs have appeared in television commercials for Pan Am, Admiral, Chevrolet, Marathon Oil, and Budweiser among others. [6] [7]

Santos' baritone singing voice has been described as "gruff, but warm" [2] and said to bear a very strong resemblance to the voice of Richie Havens. [7] [8] His music is considered in the genre of blue-eyed soul.[ citation needed ]

Discography

Singles


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Graham</span> American bassist and singer

Larry Graham Jr. is an American bassist and baritone singer, both with the psychedelic soul/funk band Sly and the Family Stone and as the founder and frontman of Graham Central Station. In 1980, he released the single "One in a Million You", which reached the top ten on the US Billboard Hot 100. He is credited with the invention of the slapping technique on the electric bass guitar, which radically expanded the tonal palette of the bass, although he himself refers to the technique as "thumpin' and pluckin' ". In 1993, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Sly and the Family Stone. He is also the uncle of rapper Drake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Supremes</span> American Motown female singing group

The Supremes was an American girl group and a premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s. Founded as the Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, the Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown's acts and the most successful American vocal band, with 12 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. Most of these hits were written and produced by Motown's main songwriting and production team, Holland–Dozier–Holland. It is said that their breakthrough made it possible for future African-American R&B and soul musicians to find mainstream success. Billboard ranked the Supremes as the 16th greatest Hot 100 artist of all time.

<i>Whats Going On</i> (Marvin Gaye album) 1971 album by Marvin Gaye

What's Going On is the eleventh studio album by American soul singer Marvin Gaye. It was released on May 21, 1971, by the Motown Records subsidiary label Tamla. Recorded between 1970 and 1971 in sessions at Hitsville U.S.A., Golden World, and United Sound Studios in Detroit, and at The Sound Factory in West Hollywood, California, it was Gaye's first album to credit him as a producer and to credit Motown's in-house studio band, the session musicians known as the Funk Brothers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ray Parker Jr.</span> American musician (born 1954)

Ray Erskine Parker Jr. is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. As a solo performer, he wrote and performed the theme song to the 1984 film Ghostbusters. Previously, Parker achieved a US top-10 hit in 1982 with "The Other Woman". He also performed with his band, Raydio, and with Barry White.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barrett Strong</span> American singer-songwriter (1941–2023)

Barrett Strong Jr. was an American singer and songwriter known for his recording of "Money ", which was the first hit single for the Motown record label. He is also known for his songwriting work in association with producer Norman Whitfield; together, they penned such songs as "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", "War", "Just My Imagination ", and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drift Away</span> 1970 song written by Mentor Williams

"Drift Away" is a song by Mentor Williams written in 1970 and originally recorded by John Henry Kurtz on his 1972 album Reunion. Mentor Williams was a country songwriter, and John Henry Kurtz was an actor and swamp rock singer. It was later given to soul singer Dobie Gray for whom it became a surprise international hit and the best known version. In 1973 the song became Dobie Gray's biggest hit, peaking at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and certified gold by the RIAA. It was the final pop hit for Decca Records in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Want to Take You Higher</span>

"I Want to Take You Higher" is a song by the soul/rock/funk band Sly and the Family Stone, the B-side to their Top 30 hit "Stand!". Unlike most of the other tracks on the Stand! album, "I Want to Take You Higher" is not a message song; instead, it is simply dedicated to music and the feeling one gets from music. Like nearly all of Sly & the Family Stone's songs, Sylvester "Sly Stone" Stewart was credited as the sole songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Endless Love (song)</span> 1981 single by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross

"Endless Love" is a song written by Lionel Richie and originally recorded as a duet between Richie and pop icon singer/actress Diana Ross. In this ballad, the singers declare their "endless love" for one another. It was covered by Luther Vandross with fellow R&B singer Mariah Carey and also by country music singer Shania Twain. Richie's friend Kenny Rogers has also recorded the song. Billboard has named the original version as the greatest song duet of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three Times a Lady</span> 1978 single by Commodores

"Three Times a Lady" is a 1978 song by American soul group the Commodores for their album Natural High, written by lead singer Lionel Richie. It was produced by James Anthony Carmichael and the Commodores.

The Dramatics are an American soul music vocal group, formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1964. They are best known for their 1970s hit songs "In the Rain" and "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get", both of which were Top 10 Pop hits, as well as their later 1993 collaboration "Doggy Dogg World" with Snoop Dogg, a top 20 hit on the Billboard Rhythmic Top 40.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Len Barry</span> American singer (1942–2020)

Leonard Warren Borisoff, known professionally as Len Barry, was an American singer, songwriter, lyricist, record producer, author, and poet.

Barbara Mason is an American soul singer with several R&B and pop hits in the 1960s and 1970s, best known for her self-written 1965 hit song "Yes, I'm Ready". She has released 12 albums, including her 1965 debut with Yes, I'm Ready, and has had 14 top 40 hits on the US Billboard R&B chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I've Been Loving You Too Long</span> 1965 single by Otis Redding

"I've Been Loving You Too Long" (originally "I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)") is a soul music ballad written by Otis Redding and Jerry Butler. Considered by music critics and writers to be one of Redding's finest performances and a soul classic, it is a slow, emotional piece with Redding's pleading vocals backed by producer Steve Cropper's arpeggiated guitar parts and a horn section.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In the Still of the Night (The Five Satins song)</span> 1956 single by The Five Satins

"In the Still of the Nite", also subsequently titled "In the Still of the Night", is a song written by Fred Parris and recorded by his band the Five Satins. While only a moderate hit when first released, it has received considerable airplay over the years and is notable as one of the best known doo-wop songs, recorded by artists such as Boyz II Men and Debbie Gibson. It is heard in several films, such as The Buddy Holly Story, Dirty Dancing, and The Irishman.

"Splish Splash" is a 1958 novelty rock song performed and co-written by Bobby Darin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chain of Fools</span> 1967 single by Aretha Franklin

"Chain of Fools" is a song written by Don Covay. Aretha Franklin first released the song as a single in 1967 and subsequently it appeared on many of her albums. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues chart and number two on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. In the lyrics, the singer has been with her boyfriend for five years but realizes she's one of his "chain of fools," women with whom he's been cheating. Others tell her to leave him, but she says his love is too strong and she's too weak. Yet someday, she predicts the chain will break.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady (Kenny Rogers song)</span> 1980 single by Kenny Rogers

"Lady" is a song written by Lionel Richie and first recorded by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. It was released in September 1980 on the album Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You've Made Me So Very Happy</span> 1967 single by Brenda Holloway

"You've Made Me So Very Happy" is a song written by Brenda Holloway, Patrice Holloway, Frank Wilson and Berry Gordy, and was released first as a single in 1967 by Brenda Holloway on the Tamla label. The song was later a huge hit for jazz-rock band Blood, Sweat & Tears in 1969, and became a Gold record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Four Tops</span> American vocal quartet

The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet from Detroit who helped to define the city's Motown sound of the 1960s. The group's repertoire has included soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, doo-wop, jazz, and show tunes.

"We Can't Hide It Anymore" is an American pop music song written by Barry Murphy and first recorded by Larry Santos. It appeared on Santos' 1975 album Casablanca and the single reached number 36 on Billboard magazine's Billboard Hot 100 chart in April 1976.

References

  1. Bronson, Fred (October 1, 2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (5th ed.). Billboard. p. 125. ISBN   978-0823076772.
  2. 1 2 "Top Album Picks". Billboard Magazine. 89 (42): 92. October 22, 1977.
  3. Jancik, Wayne (January 1998). The Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders. Billboard. p. 507. ISBN   9780823076222.
  4. Kiska, Tim; Gollick, Ed (2010). Detroit Television. Images of America. Arcadia Publishing. p. 66. ISBN   9780738577074.
  5. Woolery, George W. (May 23, 1995). Children's Television, the First Thirty-five Years, 1946-1981: Live, film, and tape series. Scarecrow Press. p.  228. ISBN   978-0810816510.
  6. 1 2 Hall, Claude (September 6, 1969). "Field Productions Offers Client An On-the-Spot Custom Service". Billboard Magazine. Vol. 81, no. 36. p. 38.
  7. 1 2 Damsker, Matt (September 16, 1984). "Richie Havens Sells His Soul". Los Angeles Times. p. Q70.
  8. Colford, Paul D. (October 16, 1985). "FOLK WISDOM; Veteran Richie Havens finds a new medium for the music". Newsday. p. 3. Retrieved November 22, 2013.

Larry Santos at Allmusic.