The Vagrants

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The band in 1966.

The Vagrants were an American,

drums.[2]

Rise to stardom

Formed in 1964,

Sam and Dave
), and other Motown hits; there are no known recordings of these songs in the limited Vagrants' catalogue.

The Vagrants then signed to the

Atlantic Recording Corporation, and their cover of Otis Redding's "Respect" became a hit on the East Coast in 1967. In 1969, guitarist Leslie West left to form the post-Cream power-band Mountain, that became famous with Felix Pappalardi, on bass and vocals.[1]

A compilation of all of the group's singles (excepting both sides of the "Oh Those Eyes" 45) was issued on an Arista Records release titled The Great Lost Album in 1987,[1] on which both Leslie and Larry West are credited by their birth names, Leslie and Larry Weinstein.

The New Vagrants

In the 1990s, singer Peter Sabatino decided to reform the group with new members to create The "New" Vagrants. The new lineup featured Tony Pinisi on organ, Eli Brown on bass guitar, Tom SanFilippo on guitar, and Joe Forgione (formerly of The Soul Survivors) on drums. The group has played many gigs throughout Long Island, especially at the OK Club and the Odyssey Club in Amityville, New York. The group started to record a new album called 21st Century Vagrants in 2002 at Electric Randyland Studios in Manhassett.

Drummer Joe Forgione died of a heart attack onstage at the Downtime Club, New York on October 20, 2003. On December 20, 2020, Leslie West suffered a heart attack at his house in Florida, and died on December 22.

References

Bibliography

  • Roxon, Lillian: Lilian Roxon's Rock Encyclopedia (Grosset and Dunlop, Universal Library Edition, 1972) p503

External links