Hello People
Encyclopedia
One of the most unique rock groups of the 1960s, Hello People, was created during late 1967 in New York by producer Lou Futterman.
The idea for creating the group stemmed from Marcel Carné's film Children of Paradise (Les Enfants du Paradis). Etienne De Crux, the father of French mime, plays the part of Bapties's father in the film. During the sixties De Crux taught painting to a group of musicians. Since these musicians learned to paint so quickly, De Crux reasoned that musicians could also learn mime and apply it in some new way to create a new form. The manager of the musicians De Crux taught, Lou Futterman, decided he would implement this new concept. He then put together a new group of musicians who would perform in mime makeup and do mime routines between songs, never speaking a word to the audience.
The group played as Todd Rundgren
's back-up band on some of his early tours in the 1970's. They also were part of his Back to the Bars
tour, singing background vocals.
In 1975 the Group's album "Handsome Devils" charted in Billboard Magazine at #145. The 1975 single "Future Shock" charted at 71.
The original Hello People were:
W. S. "Sonny" Tongue - vocal, guitar (stage name "Country")
Greg Geddes - bass, vocal (stage name "Smoothie")
Bobby Sedita - guitar, vocal (stage name "Goodfellow")
Larry Tassi - keyboards, vocal (stage name "Much More")
Michael Sagarese - flute (stage name "Wry One")
Ronnie Blake - drums (stage name "Thump Thump")
The idea for creating the group stemmed from Marcel Carné's film Children of Paradise (Les Enfants du Paradis). Etienne De Crux, the father of French mime, plays the part of Bapties's father in the film. During the sixties De Crux taught painting to a group of musicians. Since these musicians learned to paint so quickly, De Crux reasoned that musicians could also learn mime and apply it in some new way to create a new form. The manager of the musicians De Crux taught, Lou Futterman, decided he would implement this new concept. He then put together a new group of musicians who would perform in mime makeup and do mime routines between songs, never speaking a word to the audience.
The group played as Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren
Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
's back-up band on some of his early tours in the 1970's. They also were part of his Back to the Bars
Back to the Bars
Back to the Bars is a live album by rock musician Todd Rundgren, which was released as a double LP in 1978.-Side one:# "Real Man" – 4:47# "Love of the Common Man" – 4:25# "The Verb 'To Love'" – 8:00# "Love in Action" – 3:44...
tour, singing background vocals.
In 1975 the Group's album "Handsome Devils" charted in Billboard Magazine at #145. The 1975 single "Future Shock" charted at 71.
The original Hello People were:
W. S. "Sonny" Tongue - vocal, guitar (stage name "Country")
Greg Geddes - bass, vocal (stage name "Smoothie")
Bobby Sedita - guitar, vocal (stage name "Goodfellow")
Larry Tassi - keyboards, vocal (stage name "Much More")
Michael Sagarese - flute (stage name "Wry One")
Ronnie Blake - drums (stage name "Thump Thump")
Studio albums
- The Hello People" (1967) (Philips)
- Fusion" (1968) (Philips 80027 - PHS 600-276 Stereo)
- Have You Seen The Light"
- Homemade With TEAC" (1974) (Teac TCA 1)
- The Handsome Devils" (1974) (ABC Dunhill DSD-50184)
- Bricks" (1975) (ABC Dunhill 882)
- Lost At Sea"
- Have You Seen The Light" (Mediarts 41)