Michael Bellusci
Encyclopedia
Michael Bellusci is a drummer/musician best known for his work with the post 1984 touring company of the Broadway Musical "Beatlemania" and the bands "Get With It" and "Shock".
. As a young child, he played guitar at 8 years old then drums at 10. At a very early age he befriended Kasey Smith
. The two shared an interest in music, as Smith played keyboards, while Bellusci played drums.
Bellusci and Smith played in a cover bands for a number of years, from 1976 to 1980. In 1980, Smith and Bellusci formed the Jazz/Rock/Fusion group Get With It. They had minor success in 1981, but unfortunately the band never received a record deal, despite their following in the New York area. By the end of 1986, Get With It disbanded, and Smith would join Danger Danger
.
In 1987, Bellusci joined up with some local musicians and began playing electronic drums in a house band at a local bar in Bayside, NY named Blossoms. One of those musicians was Mark "Farquar" Vaccacio, who portrayed John Lennon
as an original member of The Broadway Cast of Beatlemania (musical)
. Two other Beatlemania Alumni, Les Fradkin
, who was the original George Harrison
on Broadway and Don Linares, who played Paul McCartney
, did a short run on Broadway before going on the road, also performed regularly with The Conglomowitz. While playing with The Conglomowitz, Bellusci was selected to portray Ringo with the touring cast of the show. He performed with this show for over a decade while also performing as Ringo with a NYC based Beatles Tribute Band, Strawberry Fields
.
Also while playing at Blossoms, Bellusci began playing with a group that would become Wonderous Stories, a Long Island based cover band that plays Prog Rock and many other types of material. Bellusci left the group after a few years to go on the road, but continues to work with this group to this day, as a sub for the new drummer.
Bellusci and Smith reconnected musically in 2006, forming Shock. They reworked their old material, while in Get With It, and recorded new material.
In 2009, Bellusci was approached by Les Fradkin to play drums with the newly reformed version of Edison Lighthouse
for recording and touring.
Bellusci currently plays bass, guitar, ukulele and drums as a freelance musician in the NYC area.
He is playing drums for a George Harrison Tribute program called "Here Comes The Sun", which is a multi media presentation with narration by noted author Joshua Greene
. Other members of the band for Here Comes The Sun include, Tommy Williams, John Montagna and Godfrey Townsend
.
Bellusci can also be seen playing bass in an acoustic duo called "The New Duke & Fred" in NYC and on Long Island.
Bellusci owns and runs his own small recording studio in Queens, NY.
Career
Michael Bellusci grew up in Flushing, Queens, in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. As a young child, he played guitar at 8 years old then drums at 10. At a very early age he befriended Kasey Smith
Kasey Smith
Kasey Smith may refer to:* Kasey Smith, American guitarist with the solo project Romance on a Rocketship* Kasey Smith, American keyboardist who was a member of Danger Danger* Kasey Smith, a member of the band Wonderland...
. The two shared an interest in music, as Smith played keyboards, while Bellusci played drums.
Bellusci and Smith played in a cover bands for a number of years, from 1976 to 1980. In 1980, Smith and Bellusci formed the Jazz/Rock/Fusion group Get With It. They had minor success in 1981, but unfortunately the band never received a record deal, despite their following in the New York area. By the end of 1986, Get With It disbanded, and Smith would join Danger Danger
Danger Danger
Danger Danger is an American glam metal band, formed in 1987 in Queens, New York. Despite enjoying moderate success in the U.S. with their debut album Danger Danger, the band vanished from the radar due to legal problems and changes in its line-up....
.
In 1987, Bellusci joined up with some local musicians and began playing electronic drums in a house band at a local bar in Bayside, NY named Blossoms. One of those musicians was Mark "Farquar" Vaccacio, who portrayed John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
as an original member of The Broadway Cast of Beatlemania (musical)
Beatlemania (musical)
Beatlemania was a Broadway musical revue focused on the music of The Beatles as it related to the events and changing attitudes of the tumultuous Sixties...
. Two other Beatlemania Alumni, Les Fradkin
Les Fradkin
Les Fradkin is a guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, composer and record producer. He is best known for being a member of the original cast of the hit Broadway show Beatlemania...
, who was the original George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
on Broadway and Don Linares, who played Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, did a short run on Broadway before going on the road, also performed regularly with The Conglomowitz. While playing with The Conglomowitz, Bellusci was selected to portray Ringo with the touring cast of the show. He performed with this show for over a decade while also performing as Ringo with a NYC based Beatles Tribute Band, Strawberry Fields
Strawberry Fields
Strawberry Fields may refer to:* "Strawberry Fields Forever", a song by the Beatles* Strawberry Field, the orphanage in Liverpool that inspired the Beatles song* Strawberry Fields , the John Lennon memorial in Central Park, New York....
.
Also while playing at Blossoms, Bellusci began playing with a group that would become Wonderous Stories, a Long Island based cover band that plays Prog Rock and many other types of material. Bellusci left the group after a few years to go on the road, but continues to work with this group to this day, as a sub for the new drummer.
Bellusci and Smith reconnected musically in 2006, forming Shock. They reworked their old material, while in Get With It, and recorded new material.
In 2009, Bellusci was approached by Les Fradkin to play drums with the newly reformed version of Edison Lighthouse
Edison Lighthouse
Edison Lighthouse was a UK pop group, initially a studio-only assemblage that served as a vehicle for session vocalist Tony Burrows and songwriter/record producers Tony Macaulay and Barry Mason, are best known for their 1970 UK chart-topper and million-selling record, "Love Grows ".-Career:The...
for recording and touring.
Bellusci currently plays bass, guitar, ukulele and drums as a freelance musician in the NYC area.
He is playing drums for a George Harrison Tribute program called "Here Comes The Sun", which is a multi media presentation with narration by noted author Joshua Greene
Joshua Greene
Joshua Greene or Josh Greene may refer to:*Joshua Greene , wine critic, publisher and editor-in-chief of Wine & Spirits*Joshua Greene , the winner of the 2002 Morgan Prize*Josh Greene , American conceptual artist...
. Other members of the band for Here Comes The Sun include, Tommy Williams, John Montagna and Godfrey Townsend
Godfrey Townsend
Godfrey Thomas Townsend is an American singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter who has worked extensively with John Entwistle of The Who, Jack Bruce of Cream, and Alan Parsons...
.
Bellusci can also be seen playing bass in an acoustic duo called "The New Duke & Fred" in NYC and on Long Island.
Bellusci owns and runs his own small recording studio in Queens, NY.