Sonny Geraci
{{Short description|American singer (1946–2017)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Sonny Geraci
| image = Sonny Geraci 1972.JPG
| caption = Geraci in 1972
| alt =
| birth_name = Emmett Peter Geraci
| alias = Peter Emmett
| birth_date = {{birth date|1946|11|22}}
| birth_place = Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2017|2|5|1946|11|22}}
| death_place = Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
| genre = Pop
| occupation = Singer
| years_active =
| label = Capitol
| past_member_of = {{ubl|The Outsiders|Climax|The Grass Roots}}
}}
Emmett Peter "Sonny" Geraci (pronounced "Jer-ay-see"; November 22, 1946 – February 5, 2017){{Cite web |date=February 5, 2017 |title=Emmett P. 'Sonny' Geraci Obituary – Mayfield Heights, OH |url=https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/mayfield-heights-oh/emmett-p-sonny-geraci-7283083 |access-date=April 1, 2019 |website=Dignity Memorial}} was an American singer, best known as lead singer of musical groups The Outsiders and Climax.
Biography
Geraci first became known as the original lead vocalist with The Outsiders, a band from Cleveland, Ohio.{{Cite web |last=Geraci |first=Sonny |title=An Interview with Sonny Geraci |url=http://www.classicbands.com/SonnyGeraciInterview.html |access-date=February 5, 2017 |website=Classic Bands |interviewer=Gary James}} The Outsiders recorded for Capitol Records, turning out four Top 40 hits: "Time Won't Let Me", "Respectable (What Kind of Girl Is This)", "Girl in Love", and "Help Me Girl", which was arranged by Chuck Mangione.
Geraci's biggest hit song was "Precious and Few" (first released as a single on July 16, 1971) as lead vocalist for Climax, which reached No. 3 on the Billboard charts.{{Cite book |last=Adams |first=Deanna R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LBCZvsVKomwC |title=Rock 'N' Roll and the Cleveland Connection |publisher=Kent State University Press |year=2002 |isbn=0-87338-691-4 |pages=58–59}} Climax released their debut album, Climax featuring Sonny Geraci, in 1972. Despite the success of the single, Geraci never released another album with Climax and the group disbanded in 1975. A second album of material was almost completed but never released.
In 1983, Geraci assumed the pseudonym Peter Emmett for an MCA project called "The Peter Emmett Story".{{Cite AV media |url=http://www.parallel-time.com/pret.htm |title=The Peter Emmett Story |type=Album |publisher=Carousel Records |year=1983}} Intended as a comeback vehicle for Geraci, he was backed in the studio by Donnie Iris's band, The Cruisers. A band called North Coast, pictured on the album sleeve, was put together after the recording had been made with The Cruisers. The band played shows in the Cleveland/Akron area before disbanding a few years later. In 2002, he filled in for his friend Rob Grill as lead vocalist for The Grass Roots and became an honorary member of the band.{{Cite web |title=Passings: Sonny Geraci of the Outsiders and Climax (1947–2017) |url=https://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2017/02/passings-sonny-geraci-of-outsiders-and.html |access-date=July 19, 2019 |website=VVN Music}}
After 25 years away from the music industry, Geraci started to perform again and in 2007 toured under the name "Sonny Geraci and The Outsiders".{{Cite web |last=Norman |first=Michael |date=February 6, 2017 |title=Sonny Geraci, lead singer of legendary Cleveland rock group The Outsiders, dead at 69 |url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2017/02/sonny_geraci_lead_singer_of_le.html |access-date=April 1, 2022 |website=The Plain Dealer |language=en}} In April 2012, Geraci suffered a brain aneurysm (specifically, a cerebral arteriovenous malformation), requiring intensive care.{{Cite web |date=May 9, 2012 |title=Sonny Geraci of Climax & the Outsiders Suffers Brain Aneurysm |url=http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2012/05/sonny-geraci-of-climax-outsiders.html |access-date=February 5, 2017 |website=VVN Music}}
From November 15 to 16, 2013, a benefit concert for Geraci was held at the Z-Plex at Stringz 'N Wingz in Streetsboro, Ohio. The benefit concert featured several musicians and groups including The Rip Chords, Dennis Tufano, Gary Lewis, Frank Stallone, Gary DeCarlo, Joey Molland, Terry Sylvester, Billy Joe Royal, Ron Dante, Pat Upton, Jim Gold, The Shadows of Knight, The Michael Weber Show, Johnny Farina, The Vogues, and the 1910 Fruitgum Company.{{Cite web |last=Gapinski |first=Dave |date=October 24, 2013 |title=Benefit concert set for Sonny Geraci, former vocalist for The Outsiders |url=http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/benefit-concert-set-for-sonny-geraci-former-vocalist-for-the-outsiders |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206185253/http://www.newsnet5.com/news/local-news/cleveland-metro/benefit-concert-set-for-sonny-geraci-former-vocalist-for-the-outsiders |archive-date=February 6, 2017 |website=WEWS-TV}}
Geraci died on February 5, 2017, at the age of 70.{{Cite web |last=Boose |first=Josh |date=February 5, 2017 |title=Sonny Geraci Dies |url=http://wtam.iheart.com/articles/local-news-122520/sonny-geraci-dies-15535977/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206103528/http://wtam.iheart.com/articles/local-news-122520/sonny-geraci-dies-15535977/ |archive-date=February 6, 2017 |website=WTAM}}{{Cite web |date=February 5, 2017 |title=Sonny Geraci Obituary |url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/emmett-geraci-obituary?pid=1000000184053306 |access-date=February 7, 2017 |website=Legacy.com}} He was buried at Knollwood Cemetery in Mayfield Heights, Ohio.{{cite web | last=Norman | first=Michael | title=Sonny Geraci, lead singer of legendary Cleveland rock group The Outsiders, dead at 69 | website=cleveland.com | date=2017-02-06 | url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2017/02/sonny_geraci_lead_singer_of_le.html | access-date=2024-09-16}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.sonnygeraci.net}}
- {{AllMusic |class=artist |id=sonny-geraci-mn0000044505}}
- {{Discogs artist|540267-Sonny-Geraci}}
- {{IMDb name|2804511}}
- {{Find a Grave|176042230}}
{{The Grass Roots}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Geraci, Sonny}}
Category:American people of Italian descent
Category:American rock singers
Category:Singers from Cleveland
Category:Burials at Knollwood Cemetery
{{US-singer-stub}}