Connecticut Rock 'n' Roll: A History

by Arcadia Publishing

Overview

Long neglected in the annals of American music, the Nutmeg State's influence on the history of rock'n'roll deserves recognition.

Connecticut's musical highlights include the beautiful harmonies of New Haven's Five Satins, Gene Pitney's rise to fame, Stamford's the Fifth Estate and notable rockers such as Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, Rivers Cuomo of Weezer and Saturday Night Live Band's Christine Ohlman. Rock Hall of Famers include Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz of the Talking Heads and Dennis Dunaway of the Alice Cooper Band. Some events became legend, like Jimi Hendrix's spellbinding performance at Yale's Woolsey Hall, Jim Morrison's onstage arrest at the New Haven Arena and teenage Bob Dylan's appearance at Branford's Indian Neck Folk Festival. With in-depth interviews as well as rare, never-before-seen photos, author Tony Renzoni leads a sonic trip that captures the spirit and zenith of the local scene.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781625858801
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	08/07/2017
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	1,059,931
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

A graduate of Sacred Heart University, Tony Renzoni is a rock 'n' roll enthusiast and an avid collector of rock memorabilia, amassing a record collection of over ten thousand vinyl records. He has authored over one thousand weekly guest columns published in the Connecticut Post newspaper and website. During a thirty-eight-year career with the federal government, many as a district manager in Fairfield County, Tony was a recipient of more than forty awards, including his agency's highest honor award.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 9

Foreword Ken Evans 11

Introduction 17

1 The Rock 'n' Roll Music Scene in Connecticut 19

2 Rock 'n' Roll Is Certainly Here to Stay: 1950-1959 49

3 From Classic Pop to Mop Tops to Classic Rock: 1960-1969 65

4 It's Still Rock 'n' Roll to Us: 1970-1979 110

5 Keep on Rockin' in the USA: 1980s to Present 117

Appendix A A Tribute to Joe Sia, World-Renowned Rock Photographer (1945-2003) 147

Appendix B Interviews with Connecticut Music Artists 151

Appendix C Notable Connecticut Music Venues, Concerts and Rare Behind-the-Scenes Photos 195

Bibliography 215

Index 219

About the Author 223

Editorial Reviews

"In addition to chronicling Connecticut's significant contribution to rock 'n' roll, a prime reason for Renzoni writing this book was to shine a light on those often-forgotten regional bands. "There have been so many talented artists in Connecticut but they weren't given their due. They were neglected by rock historians." Connecticut Magazine

"Nuggets like these and other music memories are part of Tony Renzoni's new book, "Connecticut Rock 'n' Roll: A History." 'I began to research rock 'n' roll especially for its influence on our society. And what began as a hobby turned into a passion for me," said Renzoni."" The Register Citizen

A new book by Anthony Renzoni, "Connecticut Rock 'N' Roll: A History" (The History Press), is packed with mini-biographies of stars who were born here, such as John Mayer and Karen and Richard Carpenter, as well as archival photos of Connecticut concerts that have become legendary, including the 1967 New Haven show in which Jim Morrison of The Doors was arrested in the middle of the performance for "public indecency" (i.e., using obscenities). The News Times

A new book by Anthony Renzoni, "Connecticut Rock 'N' Roll: A History" (The History Press), is packed with mini-biographies of stars who were born here, such as John Mayer and Karen and Richard Carpenter, as well as archival photos of Connecticut concerts

From the Publisher