I've been a major fan of Todd Rundgren and Jethro Tull forever, but many others have interested me throughout the years.. Like CSN&Y ... Beatles and more....
My Influences I guess, would have to be the people that I always counted on, But are gone,,(and who inspired me),,,, Mike Benvenga, Joe Kamouh, Bobby Monier, Les Cooley, Sal Leone, Cathy Yohre, Wild Irish Rose, Vinny P. and my Mom and Dad.....
When I was 4 or 5 years old.....
I made a list of people I wanted to meet in my lifetime..
People who I wanted to play music with and record.. like Paul Cassone, Greg Pulgin, Matt D'Emic, Charlie Burke, John LePore, Jack Piccolomini, Jack Whitman, John Cassone, Charlie Wilson, Greg Pulgin, Tony Monier, Al McCloud, Debra Alexandra, Fran Yates, Kathy Zunich, Gary DeJesu, Ed Nash, Bob-o Martin, Mike Lee, Tommy Guella, Jeff Esposito, Mike McMahon, Frank Lupo, Chris Yohre, Donna Kaspak, Eric Cardona, Mike Faulhaber, Gary Arso, Nicky Moore, Bob Westcott, Dave Law, Dan Eisen, Helen Cahill, Bob Miloni, Roy Bauer, Linda Brown, Kathy Swarthout, Pat Donovan, John Carano, and Jane Herrmann and I was lucky enough to fulfill my dream and work with each and every one of these people...
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and then people like John Taylor who was always there for anything I did, Mark Wells who just never stops helping me in ways even he doesn't know..and my new older brother Peter G. who's support and friendship is something I treasure... and Harold Politano. who has such a knack for soundtracks, it gives me thrills.. and Chris 'B... who just has a way of bringing me back down to earth, and gets me to relax and enjoy things,,,and Ann B. so special... people we could all learn things from.. and as far as friends,,, I have had the best throughout my life, I call myself Mr. Lucky....
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Sounds like things I've done!!!!
Memorable Times......----------------------------------------------------------
ROSELAND BALLROOM.. after being on Polish radio for two weeks, with two of my tunes the famous Polish Radio announcer Michael Kecki, brought us to Roseland Ball room, where I got to play my originals with a band, we had a guy watching us at all times, since there was liquor sold there and we were all under age.
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REGIS PHILBIN... I had written a song about Regis, called "OUTREGIS" He brought me on the show two weeks in a row, and took me to Westbury Music fair for two years, where he was performing with Kathie Lee.. we went into business together selling the tune on Cassette and it was truely, my 15 minutes of fame...
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SLY A. FOX..... a children's program that I was lucky enough to work with ,, doing all the music teaching kids not to go with strangers,, to tell if something doesn't seem right,,, not to let anyone touch them,,, dangers of drugs and more,,, this program was brought around to many schools in the tri state area,, and I was thrilled to be a part of it..
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JINGLES..... Being very interested in that thing called a jingle,, I was fortunate to have done several commercial jingles for Long Island Radio... I had a blast doing them with friends.. and hearing them on the air...
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NOVELTY TUNE ON RECORD... a California producer called one day and said I love your novelty songs,,, can you do one on wrestling for me? not a wrestling fan I was reluctant,, he said if I did, he would guarentee A RECORD,, I put a twist on the wrestling, by having it to do with a girl,, and called it,, I WANNA WRESTLE WITH YOU. in about 8 weeks, a package came to my door, with two dozen copies of the record,,, and from a few royalty checks,, it did well in Germany,,,
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HOME SHOPPER ON CD..... This same producer, also took a tune of mine called, I wanna be a Home Shopper,,, and put it on CD...
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AND IF THERE WERE A BOOK ABOUT MY LIFE...
You would find my new mom and dad.. (Chris and Ann Bottari) Celeste, George, Michelle, Brian, Christine, Dan, Alex, Matthew, Annette, Paul, Ricky, Eric, Donna, Chris, Desiree, Bella, Sean, Frankie, Denise, Boris, Katie, Elana, and Emmy... You would also find Debi P. Aunt Florence, Sister Mercedes, Barbara Zack, and Joe Zachorowski..
You would also see all the band names that I had through the years.. The LTD's..The Towncryers, the 3rd Revolution, The Paper Plane, Shepherd, The Tubes, Albatross, Uncle Amos, the Matty Kaspak Extravaganza,, and "Oz"
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SONGS ON HERE..... Who's that guy? just an old favorite of mine... When Ernie sets the Table,, about the ghost in the Ledge Light house...... "I Bet She's Missin Me Now" is an oldie of mine with a new twist.. then one more new one.."Maybe We Shouldn't",,, which was meant to be a duet... but not finding the right female for it, I changed around the words and just went at it... and there's also a poppy tune called ..Before Your Kiss... Then an oldie of mine on here called, I Wouldn't Treat you like She Does (originally was HE DOES ) but I was lucky enough to come across this incredible gal Debra Alexandra who did several tunes with me..- Great lady, friend and singer...Also new on here, but an oldie, "Beware of the Fire" with Debra singing.. and then one that I always liked that was about an old old girlfriend, I'm not saying who... Everybody's Girl.... "Who's that Guy" just a fun tune for me.. and then there's "Jingles".. a bunch of commercial jingles which I just love to do...Hope you all find at least one thing you like....-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
AND MY FAVORITES??..... Chinese food...The New York Mets,, The Long Island Ducks...I love walking around Pt. Jefferson and the Hamptons.(they're places that just make you feel good, great music, people, shops, bars and food ).. Also love it when I'm down the Jersey shore, where I met my wife. Pine Lake with the family.. Fishing,,, my Ipod,,, Texting.. ....... E-mail... Haunted Lighthouses...scratch tickets.. jokes..... sitting on the deck looking at the Pond,,, playing guitar and writing music....
My parents were sure i was going to be a baseball player.. I did nothing but play ball, until I saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show, and there was Elvis too and the next thing you know? there I was... With a rented guitar in front of a mirror, doing just what they did... I couldn't play the guitar, but boy did I have all the moves down...
Being pushed, since age 4 or 5 to play piano, I started to learn the guitar.. slow at first I guess,, But then I thought, if I put a band together, we could practice in a dim lit basement, have fun blasting loud music.. and the clincher was.... GIRLS LOVE GUYS IN BANDS...!!!
so,,,, a band it was !!!!
I've been Blessed with so many good friends,, and surrounded by such great musicians, but if I had to single out a few,, I would have to tip my hat to Paul Cassone, who for so many years, worked hand and hand with me on EVERYTHING, and Greg Pulgin for years a co-writing partner on many songs, and Charlie Wilson, for taking a simple song and working his magic,,I love these guys, along with the rest.
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The next 20 years or more, were filled with playing party's, then dances, then shows, bars, clubs and concerts, meeting wonderful people, having great times, funny stories, and a lifetime of memories...
Right from the start, I loved writing, and coming up with something of my own.. a lot of the bands I was in, did do cover material (other peoples songs) but my heart was always in writing,, and then recording, and learning how to record,,, back then Analog,,, Now? Digital...-----------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------- In high school I sat behind the famous engineer/producer Jimmy Iovine,,, I had hoped throughout life, some of his magic would have rubbed off on me,,, however sitting behind me in high school was the guy who invented silly string, and I think he rubbed off on me instead..
When I came to the realization that Rock Stardom wasn't in the cards for me (last Thursday) I started sending songs to publishers,, Just wanting to be a writer.. Finally with songs of my own and co-written songs, I had almost 200 contracted tunes, None ever making it to record....
So I continue, writing and recording and learning.. (I do miss the playing) But I guess I've just become a
studio-rat.. However, I still love it with all my heart,, and I'm still in there trying...The goal really hasn't changed... the GRAMMY acceptance speech is ready.... and so I go on....
I now have a wonderful and beautiful wife Donna, (who is my everything, and a super photographer to boot) with a huge family, who I adore..can't get much luckier then me... and two wonderful Step sons, Chris and Sean, who are the best...one daughter in law Des, and the best two grandchildren on the planet, Bella and Frankie... and when I hear "Poppy" ...I melt... that's me !
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ONE MORE NOTE... my love for Chinese food has gotten me the name of MATTY-SON with the family... when I get lonely for the stage, I go out back to a large double deck, and with a guitar around my neck, I play a song on the top deck,, looking down to the lower one,,The lower deck is capable of at least 5 rows of seats... 10 across,, and so I play,,, and to me? for that moment.. if only for that one night..... I just played,,, ,MATTY-SON SQUARE GARDEN !
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and lastly....
Thanks to all the talented people, I ever played with.. or recorded with,,, for ALWAYS making me look good!
