The DeFranco Family
The DeFranco Family | |
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Origin | Port Colborne, Ontario Canada |
Genres | Bubblegum pop |
Years active | 1972–1978, 2000[1] |
Labels | 20th Century Fox Records |
Past members |
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The DeFranco Family, featuring Tony DeFranco, was a 1970s
. The group, all siblings, consisted of guitarist Benny DeFranco (born 11 July 1953); keyboardist Marisa DeFranco (born 23 July 1954); guitarist Nino DeFranco (born 19 October 1955); drummer Merlina DeFranco (born 20 July 1957); and lead singer Tony DeFranco (born 31 August 1959).The group had a number of
Biography
The five siblings who comprised the DeFranco Family were born to Italian immigrant parents and raised in Port Colborne and Welland, Ontario. Initially performing as the DeFranco Quintet, the group found success after a demo tape of their songs was heard by Sharon Lee, editor of teen magazine Tiger Beat. Impressed by what she heard, Lee arranged for Charles Laufer to fly the group to Los Angeles for an audition. Laufer signed the group to an exclusive deal with his company, Laufer Entertainment, financed a three-song demo, and helped them to secure a contract with 20th Century Records.
The DeFranco Family recorded at United Western Recorders studios in Hollywood with accompaniment by Wrecking Crew veterans Hal Blaine on drums, Larry Carlton on guitar, and Max Bennett on bass. They appeared on Dick Clark's American Bandstand nine times.
With their lighthearted approach to music, the DeFranco Family became a successful pop music act in the mid-1970s. They benefited from two major factors: the imposition of
The DeFranco Family's active career reached a roadblock after that point. Family quintets were beginning to fall out of favor in the mid-1970s as
Unable to attract interest from another label, they continued to tour and perform in
The siblings took up residences in California within an hour's drive from each other and remain close. Although the family gave up its involvement in the music industry, Tony and Marisa perform on occasion. [6] Tony is a real estate agent with Sotheby's International. [7]
Discography
Albums
- Heartbeat - It's a Lovebeat (1973) [Hot 200: #109; RPM: #31]
- Save the Last Dance for Me (1974) [Hot 200: #163]
Singles
- 1973 "Heartbeat - It's a Lovebeat” [Hot 100: #3; Cash Box: #1(1); RPM: #3; Australia: #6]
- 1973 "Abra-ca-dabra" [Hot 100: #32; Cash Box: #23; RPM: #15]
- 1974 "Save the Last Dance for Me" [Hot 100: #18; Cash Box: #16; RPM: #8]
- 1974 "Write Me a Letter" [Bubbling Under: #104; RPM: #90(2)]
- 1975 "We Belong Together" [Received airplay but didn't chart]
- 1976 "Venus" [Released in Japan]
Television appearances
- Dinah!
- January 23, 1974
- March 17, 1974
- April 16, 1974
- August 19, 1974
- August 28, 1974
- The Mike Douglas Show
- April 2, 1974
- June 27, 1974
- August 12, 1974
- Jack Benny's Second Farewell Special
- January 24, 1974 (taped: December 15–16, 1973)
- The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
- February 13, 1974
- American Bandstand
- July 14, 1973
- February 2, 1974
- June 1, 1974
- September 21, 1974
- Action '73
- October 27, 1973
- Action '74
- April 27, 1974
- The Brady Bunch Hour
- January 23, 1977
References
- ^ Craig Harris. "The DeFranco Family". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
- ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ "2000 AAE Distinguished Engineering Alumnus". Engineering.purdue.edu. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
- ^ Ross, Sean (September 21, 2020). "Lost Factor 1971: Some Songs Are Like a Broken Yo-Yo". RadioInsight.com. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
- ^ "Heartbeats, Lovebeats and Tiger Beats: A Conversation with Tony DeFranco". Confessions of a Pop Culture Addict. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
- ^ "Tony DeFranco" sothebysrealty.com Retrieved July 29, 2023