Sal Valentino

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Sal Valentino
Sal Valentino.jpg
Sal Valentino in 1974
Background information
Birth nameSalvatore Spampinato
Born (1942-09-08) September 8, 1942 (age 81)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Genres Folk rock, pop rock, garage rock, blues-rock
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active1961–present

Sal Valentino (born Salvatore Spampinato; September 8, 1942) [1] is an American rock musician, singer and songwriter, best known as lead singer of The Beau Brummels, subsequently becoming a songwriter as well. The band released a pair of top 20 U.S. hit singles in 1965, "Laugh, Laugh" and "Just a Little". He later fronted another band, Stoneground, which produced three albums in the early 1970s. After reuniting on numerous occasions with the Beau Brummels, Valentino began a solo career, releasing his latest album, Every Now and Then, in 2008.

Contents

Early life

Valentino grew up in the North Beach section of San Francisco. [1]

Career

The Beau Brummels

In 1964, he received an offer to play a regular gig at a local club.[ citation needed ] Needing a band, he called childhood friend and songwriter/guitarist Ron Elliott, who recruited drummer John Petersen, rhythm guitarist/singer Declan Mulligan, and bassist Ron Meagher.[ citation needed ] They called themselves "The Stepping Stones", and played the Longshoreman's Hall in S.F., which led to a more lucrative deal at the Morocco Room, a club in nearby San Mateo, California.[ citation needed ] There, the Beau Brummels were discovered by prominent San Francisco DJ Tom Donahue, who quickly signed the band to his label, Autumn Records.[ citation needed ] The band released "Laugh, Laugh" in December 1964 as their debut single. The song peaked at number fifteen in February 1965. "Just a Little", the follow-up single, fared even better on the charts, peaking at number eight. [2] [3] Valentino appeared with the band in the 1965 science-fiction/comedy movie Village of the Giants , which was featured in a 1994 episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 . [4] Valentino also appeared with the band as The Beau Brummelstones on the animated TV sitcom The Flintstones in the season six episode "Shinrock A Go-Go," which originally aired on December 3, 1965. [5]

Although the Beau Brummels' subsequent releases were not as commercially successful as their debut album and its first two singles, the band earned underground credibility with 1967's Triangle and 1968's Bradley's Barn . [6] Critics noted the works as early contributions to the country rock genre. [6] [7] [8] The band, which by 1968 consisted of only Valentino and Elliott, split up.

He later participated in numerous Beau Brummels revivals over the next two decades. [2]

Stoneground

Following a stint recording singles for Warner Bros. Records, Valentino assembled a new band, Stoneground. [7] After the group released three albums in the early 1970s, Valentino left the group in 1973.

Later career

After a hiatus from music, Valentino contributed to a 2003 Bob Dylan tribute album, Positively 12th and K, with musician Jackie Greene. In 2006, Valentino released Dreamin' Man, the first solo album of his 45-year career. [9]

Another album, Come Out Tonight, followed later that year, and his third solo album, Every Now and Then, was released in 2008. [10]

Personal life

Disenchanted, he left the music business. For many years, he worked non-musical jobs, including forklift driver and warehouse stockman, finally ending up working as an agent in the Race Form at Northern California race tracks. In 1993, he herniated his back and was forced to go on disability. This was the first time in 15 years he thought of returning to music and singing again. [11]

Discography

With The Beau Brummels

With Stoneground

Solo albums

Collaborations

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Beau Brummels</span> American rock band

The Beau Brummels were an American rock band. Formed in San Francisco in 1964, the band's original lineup included Sal Valentino, Ron Elliott, Ron Meagher, Declan Mulligan, and John Petersen (drums). They were discovered by local disc jockeys who were looking to sign acts to their new label, Autumn Records, where Sylvester Stewart—later known as Sly Stone—produced the group's early recording sessions. Initially, the band's musical style blended beat music and folk music and typically drew comparisons to the Beatles, while their later work incorporated other music genres such as psychedelic rock and country rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laugh, Laugh</span> 1964 single by the Beau Brummels

"Laugh, Laugh" is a song by American rock group the Beau Brummels, written by guitarist Ron Elliott and produced by Sylvester Stewart, later known as Sly Stone. Released in December 1964 as the band's debut single, the song reached number 15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart the following February. "Laugh, Laugh" was the first hit single to come out of the emerging San Francisco music scene in response to the British Invasion. The song was later included on the band's first full-length album, Introducing the Beau Brummels, released in April 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Petersen (musician)</span> American drummer (1942–2007)

John Louis Petersen was an American drummer, most notably for rock bands The Beau Brummels and Harpers Bizarre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Tell Me Why</span> 1965 single by The Beau Brummels

"You Tell Me Why" is a song by American rock group The Beau Brummels, from the band's second album, The Beau Brummels, Volume 2. The song was written by guitarist Ron Elliott and produced by Sylvester Stewart, later known as Sly Stone. "You Tell Me Why" was released as the album's lead single, and peaked at number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1965. The band revisited the song and included it on their 1975 eponymous album. The original version later appeared on the band's 1987 compilation album The Best of The Beau Brummels 1964–1968.

<i>Triangle</i> (The Beau Brummels album) 1967 studio album by the Beau Brummels

Triangle is the fourth studio album by American rock band the Beau Brummels. Produced by Lenny Waronker and released in July 1967, it was the band's first album to include songs that vocalist Sal Valentino and guitarist Ron Elliott composed together. The band incorporated fantasy elements and surreal characters into the album's song titles and lyrics, and worked with a variety of session musicians to create Triangle's psychedelic musical style. The Beau Brummels were reduced to a trio—Valentino, Elliott, and Ron Meagher—at the time Triangle was recorded, as former group members Don Irving (guitars) and John Petersen (drums) left the band following the release of the group's previous album, Beau Brummels '66.

<i>Bradleys Barn</i> (album) 1968 studio album by the Beau Brummels

Bradley's Barn is the fifth studio album by the American rock group the Beau Brummels. Released in October 1968, it contains the singles "Long Walking Down to Misery" and "Cherokee Girl." The album has received critical acclaim as an early example of country rock. Bradley's Barn is actually a recording studio in Nashville owned by Owen Bradley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Beau Brummels discography</span>

The Beau Brummels were an American rock band that formed in 1964 and originally consisted of singer Sal Valentino, lead guitarist Ron Elliott, bassist Ron Meagher, rhythm guitarist Declan Mulligan and drummer John Petersen. Local radio disc jockeys Tom Donahue and Bobby Mitchell discovered the band at a club near San Francisco. They signed the Beau Brummels to their fledgling Autumn Records label, and their house producer, Sylvester Stewart, later known as Sly Stone, recorded the band's early sessions.

<i>The Beau Brummels, Volume 2</i> 1965 studio album by the Beau Brummels

The Beau Brummels, Volume 2 is the second studio album by the American rock group the Beau Brummels. Released in August 1965, the album contains the U.S. top 40 hit "You Tell Me Why" and follow-up single "Don't Talk to Strangers."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Elliott (musician)</span> American guitarist, composer and producer

Ronald Charles Elliott is an American musician, composer and record producer, best known as songwriter and lead guitarist of the rock band The Beau Brummels. Elliott wrote or co-wrote the band's 1965 U.S. top 20 hits "Laugh, Laugh" and "Just a Little". In addition to reuniting with the Beau Brummels on occasion over the years, Elliott released a solo album in 1970, and has played on and produced albums by a number of other artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Here We Are Again</span> 1966 single by The Beau Brummels

"Here We Are Again" is a song by American rock group The Beau Brummels. It was released in 1966 as the band's second single on Warner Bros. Records, following their cover of Bob Dylan's "One Too Many Mornings," released earlier that year. "Here We Are Again" was the first Beau Brummels' A-side written by lead vocalist Sal Valentino.

"Magic Hollow" is a song by American rock group The Beau Brummels, from the band's fourth album, 1967's Triangle. The song, written by guitarist Ron Elliott and lead singer Sal Valentino, was released as the album's first single. The song appeared on the band's 1987 compilation album The Best of the Beau Brummels 1964-1968, and "Magic Hollow" also served as the title of the band's 2005 four-disc box set.

<i>The Beau Brummels</i> (album) 1975 studio album by The Beau Brummels

The Beau Brummels is the sixth studio album by the American rock band of the same name. Released in April 1975, the album features the work of all five original band members for the first time since the band's debut album, 1965's Introducing the Beau Brummels. The album peaked at number 180 on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart in 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Declan Mulligan</span> American guitarist (1938–2021)

John Declan Mulligan was an Irish-born American musician, best known as a guitarist of rock band The Beau Brummels in the 1960s.

<i>Live!</i> (The Beau Brummels album) 2000 live album by The Beau Brummels

Live! is a live album by American rock group The Beau Brummels. The album, released in August 2000 by Dig Music, was recorded in February 1974 near Sacramento, California, shortly after it was announced that the band had reunited. The album includes a mix of performances of their most commercially singles, including "Laugh, Laugh" and "Just a Little," as well as then-new material, some of which would be recorded for the band's 1975 eponymous studio album.

<i>The Best of The Beau Brummels 1964–1968</i> 1987 greatest hits album by The Beau Brummels

The Best of the Beau Brummels 1964-1968, sometimes titled The Best of the Beau Brummels: Golden Archive Series, is a compilation album by American rock band The Beau Brummels. Released in 1987 by Rhino Records, the album features 18 songs, including the band's biggest hit singles—"Laugh, Laugh", "Just a Little", "You Tell Me Why", and "Don't Talk to Strangers"—as well as songs which never appeared on an album before this collection, such as the 1967 single "Here We Are Again".

<i>San Fran Sessions</i> 1996 box set by The Beau Brummels

San Fran Sessions is a box set compilation which collects 60 demos, outtakes, rarities and unissued performances recorded by The Beau Brummels from 1964 to 1966. The three-disc set, released by Sundazed Records on June 11, 1996, includes alternate takes of the band's singles "Laugh, Laugh" and "Just a Little", as well as early versions of songs that were likely targeted for their never-completed third album on Autumn Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stoneground</span> American rock band

Stoneground was an American rock band formed in 1970 in Concord, California. Originally a trio, Stoneground expanded to a 10-piece band by the time of their eponymous 1971 debut album. The group appeared in two films, Medicine Ball Caravan (1971) and Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972), and released three albums before singer Sal Valentino quit in 1973. Three other band members—Cory Lerios, Steve Price and David Jenkins—left to form pop group Pablo Cruise. Stoneground continued as an act through 1982, with only Tim Barnes and Annie Sampson remaining from the early incarnation of the band. Barnes and Price led a re-formed Stoneground in 2003 and released a studio album the following year.

<i>Stoneground</i> (album) 1971 studio album by Stoneground

Stoneground is the debut studio album by American rock band Stoneground, released in 1971 on Warner Bros. The album featured seven different lead vocalists, including Sal Valentino on four of the album's ten songs.

<i>Family Album</i> (Stoneground album) 1971 studio album by Stoneground

Family Album is the second album by American rock band Stoneground, a double album released in late 1971 on Warner Bros, consisting of live and studio recordings of original songs and covers.

<i>The Candlestickmaker</i> 1970 studio album by Ron Elliott

The Candlestickmaker is the lone solo album by American musician Ron Elliott, released in 1970 on Warner Bros. It was recorded following the dissolution of The Beau Brummels, with whom Elliott had been the chief songwriter and guitarist. A two-part, fifteen-minute piece titled "The Candlestickmaker Suite" comprises the entire second side of the album.

References

  1. 1 2 Childs, Marti Smiley; March, Jeff (2011). Echoes of the Sixties. EditPros LLC. ISBN   978-1-937317-02-7.
  2. 1 2 "Sal Valentino – Biography". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved August 23, 2009.
  3. ↑ "The Beau Brummels - Charts & Awards - Billboard Singles". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved August 23, 2009.
  4. ↑ Renzi, Thomas C. (2004). H.G. Wells: Six Scientific Romances Adapted for Film (2nd ed.). Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. p. 173. ISBN   978-0-8108-4989-1.
  5. ↑ Childs, T. Mike (2004). The Rocklopedia Fakebandica . New York: St. Martin's Press. p.  14. ISBN   978-0-312-32944-0. The Rocklopedia Fakebandica.
  6. 1 2 Unterberger, Richie (2000). Urban Spacemen and Wayfaring Strangers: Overlooked Innovators and Eccentric Visionaries of '60s Rock. San Francisco: Miller Freeman, Inc. pp.  180–181. ISBN   978-0-87930-616-8.
  7. 1 2 "Rolling Stone – The Beau Brummels – Biography". Rolling Stone (Wenner Media). Retrieved August 20, 2009.[ dead link ]
  8. ↑ "Sal Valentino On Outsight Radio Hours".
  9. ↑ Selvin, Joel (February 2, 2006). "Decades in obscurity, Beau Brummels front man surfaces to remind us what the fuss was all about". San Francisco Chronicle (Hearst Corporation). Retrieved August 20, 2009.
  10. ↑ "Every Now and Then – Overview". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved September 14, 2009.
  11. ↑ Childs, Marti Smiley; March, Jeff (October 2, 2011). Echoes of the Sixties. EditPros LLC. ISBN   9781937317027.
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