Jim Bonfanti
Encyclopedia
James Alexander Bonfanti (born December 17, 1948 in Windber, Pennsylvania
) is a rock
drummer
, best known as a member of the band Raspberries
.
Bonfanti's music career began in 1965 when he saw The Beatles
on Ed Sullivan
. That experience eventually led him to join the band The Mods. This band was later renamed The Choir
, and their recording of "It’s Cold Outside" reached the national charts in 1967.
In 1970, Jim, Wally Bryson, Dave Smalley and Eric Carmen
formed Raspberries who made four albums, eight singles, many road trips (including Carnegie Hall), national and international success, including a gold record for their major hit "Go All The Way".
Following two albums both released in 1972, creative tension came to a head sparked largely by Carmen's creative dominance over the contributions of fellow members. After the release of the Raspberries' third album, Side 3, Smalley and Bonfanti departed Raspberries to form their own band, Dynamite.
Windber, Pennsylvania
Windber is a borough in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, eight miles south of Johnstown. It was at one time a place of industrial activities which included coal mining, lumbering, and the manufacture of fire brick. In 1897, the community was founded by coal barons Charles and Edward Julius Berwind...
) is a rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
, best known as a member of the band Raspberries
Raspberries (band)
Raspberries is an American power pop/pop rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. They had a run of success in the early 1970s music scene with their crisp pop sound, which Allmusic later described as featuring "exquisitely crafted melodies and achingly gorgeous harmonies." The members were known for their...
.
Bonfanti's music career began in 1965 when he saw The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
on Ed Sullivan
Ed Sullivan
Edward Vincent "Ed" Sullivan was an American entertainment writer and television host, best known as the presenter of the TV variety show The Ed Sullivan Show. The show was broadcast from 1948 to 1971 , which made it one of the longest-running variety shows in U.S...
. That experience eventually led him to join the band The Mods. This band was later renamed The Choir
The Choir (garage rock)
The Choir was a garage rock band largely active in the greater Cleveland area from the mid 1960s into the early 1970s. Originally called The Mods, their largest commercial success came with the release of their first single "It's Cold Outside" in December 1966...
, and their recording of "It’s Cold Outside" reached the national charts in 1967.
In 1970, Jim, Wally Bryson, Dave Smalley and Eric Carmen
Eric Carmen
Eric Howard Carmen is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist.He scored numerous hit songs across the 1970s and 1980s, first as a member of the Raspberries , and then with his solo career, including hits such as "All By Myself", "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again", "She Did It",...
formed Raspberries who made four albums, eight singles, many road trips (including Carnegie Hall), national and international success, including a gold record for their major hit "Go All The Way".
Following two albums both released in 1972, creative tension came to a head sparked largely by Carmen's creative dominance over the contributions of fellow members. After the release of the Raspberries' third album, Side 3, Smalley and Bonfanti departed Raspberries to form their own band, Dynamite.