02/14/23
TODAY is THE day!!! Get your copy of
"Under The Covers"
featuring a duet with Benny & Julio Iglesias Jr.
It's AMAZING!!!
Happy Valentine's Day!
www.facebook.com/JulioJrOfficial/videos/135475773195700
TODAY is THE day!!! Get your copy of
"Under The Covers"
featuring a duet with Benny & Julio Iglesias Jr.
It's AMAZING!!!
Happy Valentine's Day!
www.facebook.com/JulioJrOfficial/videos/135475773195700
Julio Iglesias Jr releases his first single from his forthcoming CD. A duet with Benny Mardones!
JULIO IGLESIAS, JR.
Releases “Into The Night” Duet with Benny Mardones
Announces Under The Covers Album Out February 7th
Set To Perform at The Latin Songwriters Hall Of Fame LA MUSA Awards October 13th at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida
(September 16, 2022) – International recording artist Julio Iglesias, Jr., has released his single “Into The Night,” a duet with Benny Mardones, alongside the announcement of his upcoming album Under The Covers, out February 7, 2023.
PRESS HERE to listen to “Into The Night,” a spellbinding, reimagined version of Mardones’ 1980 hit. The track, recorded with Mardones shortly before his death in 2020, arrives alongside a live performance video showcasing Julio’s soulful vocals and brimming with his irresistible warmth on stage.
Under The Covers finds Julio reinterpreting an eclectic mix of pop songs in the classic sound of big band and swing—a supreme fit for his crooner voice and innate elegance as a song interpreter. Recorded with the legendary, GRAMMY-winning producer Rudy Pérez (Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, and Natalie Cole) and an elite lineup of musicians, Under The Covers’ selection of songs feels like a soundtrack to our lives, evoking good memories and brightening the heart. The album includes lush renditions of Marvin Gaye’s “What's Going On,” Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” Billy Joel’s “Just The Way You Are,” Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven Is A Place On Earth,” Ed Sheeran’s “Shape Of You,” and Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game,” and duets with other special guests including “Careless Whisper” with Jewel, “I’m Too Sexy” with Right Said Fred, and a Stevie Wonder medley with Brian McKnight.
“Into The Night” holds a special significance for Julio. “I first moved to the U.S. from Spain when I was nine years old and I spoke very little English, but I listened to the radio a lot and it actually helped me learn the language. Driving to and from school, we would always listen to the radio and this song was always on. There was not one day that it wasn’t playing. So, to be able to revisit this song and the memories I have with it means so much, and to sing alongside Benny Mardones himself on this song is so special,” shares Julio.
On October 13, Julio will perform at the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame LA MUSA Awards at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. He will be honoring inductee Tony Renis during the star-studded Induction and Special Awards ceremony, performing “Quando Quando Quando” backed by a 35-piece orchestra. The night will also include the inductions of Desmond Child and Rudy Pérez (co-founders of the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame), Juanes, and Johnny Ventura (posthumously) and will be hosted by Emily Estefan and Isabela Merced.
Julio Iglesias, Jr. has lived a life steeped in the transcendent power of music as part of one of the most talented and recognizable families in entertainment. Since first taking the stage with his legendary father as a small child, the Madrid-born artist has turned out global musical projects in a dazzling expanse of genres, toured with icons like Cher, records in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese, and continues to deliver crowd-thrilling performances where he finds unparalleled joy being able to authentically connect with audiences on stage.
As Julio taps into the true heart of his artistry with Under The Covers, he is preparing several other exciting major projects still to be announced.
Under The Covers Tracklist:
1. What’s Going On
2. Careless Whisper (with Jewel)
3. Shape of You
4. Everybody Wants To Rule The World
5. Just The Way You Are
6. Heaven Is A Place On Earth
7. Into The Night (with Benny Mardones)
8. Wicked Game
9. I’m Too Sexy
10. Stevie Wonder medley (with Brian McKnight)
WATCH IT HERE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDu1EPzMea8
Releases “Into The Night” Duet with Benny Mardones
Announces Under The Covers Album Out February 7th
Set To Perform at The Latin Songwriters Hall Of Fame LA MUSA Awards October 13th at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida
(September 16, 2022) – International recording artist Julio Iglesias, Jr., has released his single “Into The Night,” a duet with Benny Mardones, alongside the announcement of his upcoming album Under The Covers, out February 7, 2023.
PRESS HERE to listen to “Into The Night,” a spellbinding, reimagined version of Mardones’ 1980 hit. The track, recorded with Mardones shortly before his death in 2020, arrives alongside a live performance video showcasing Julio’s soulful vocals and brimming with his irresistible warmth on stage.
Under The Covers finds Julio reinterpreting an eclectic mix of pop songs in the classic sound of big band and swing—a supreme fit for his crooner voice and innate elegance as a song interpreter. Recorded with the legendary, GRAMMY-winning producer Rudy Pérez (Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, and Natalie Cole) and an elite lineup of musicians, Under The Covers’ selection of songs feels like a soundtrack to our lives, evoking good memories and brightening the heart. The album includes lush renditions of Marvin Gaye’s “What's Going On,” Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” Billy Joel’s “Just The Way You Are,” Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven Is A Place On Earth,” Ed Sheeran’s “Shape Of You,” and Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game,” and duets with other special guests including “Careless Whisper” with Jewel, “I’m Too Sexy” with Right Said Fred, and a Stevie Wonder medley with Brian McKnight.
“Into The Night” holds a special significance for Julio. “I first moved to the U.S. from Spain when I was nine years old and I spoke very little English, but I listened to the radio a lot and it actually helped me learn the language. Driving to and from school, we would always listen to the radio and this song was always on. There was not one day that it wasn’t playing. So, to be able to revisit this song and the memories I have with it means so much, and to sing alongside Benny Mardones himself on this song is so special,” shares Julio.
On October 13, Julio will perform at the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame LA MUSA Awards at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. He will be honoring inductee Tony Renis during the star-studded Induction and Special Awards ceremony, performing “Quando Quando Quando” backed by a 35-piece orchestra. The night will also include the inductions of Desmond Child and Rudy Pérez (co-founders of the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame), Juanes, and Johnny Ventura (posthumously) and will be hosted by Emily Estefan and Isabela Merced.
Julio Iglesias, Jr. has lived a life steeped in the transcendent power of music as part of one of the most talented and recognizable families in entertainment. Since first taking the stage with his legendary father as a small child, the Madrid-born artist has turned out global musical projects in a dazzling expanse of genres, toured with icons like Cher, records in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese, and continues to deliver crowd-thrilling performances where he finds unparalleled joy being able to authentically connect with audiences on stage.
As Julio taps into the true heart of his artistry with Under The Covers, he is preparing several other exciting major projects still to be announced.
Under The Covers Tracklist:
1. What’s Going On
2. Careless Whisper (with Jewel)
3. Shape of You
4. Everybody Wants To Rule The World
5. Just The Way You Are
6. Heaven Is A Place On Earth
7. Into The Night (with Benny Mardones)
8. Wicked Game
9. I’m Too Sexy
10. Stevie Wonder medley (with Brian McKnight)
WATCH IT HERE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDu1EPzMea8
REST IN PEACE BENNY MARDONES
November 9th 1946 - June 29th 2020
Our hearts are broken.
November 9th 1946 - June 29th 2020
Our hearts are broken.
PRESS RELEASE
Celebrity Obituary News
Los Angeles, CA June 29, 2020
Contact: Joel Diamond, Silver Blue Productions - 818 980-9588 [email protected]
3x CHARTED BILLBOARD RECORD
“INTO THE NIGHT”
BENNY MARDONES DIES AT 73
After Battle with Parkinson’s Disease
I am deeply saddened to announce that Benny Mardones, artist and writer of 3x Billboard Charted Record “INTO THE NIGHT”, has died at 73, says long time friend and record producer, Joel Diamond.
Benny died peacefully at his home in Menifee, CA on June 29, 2020 with his loving wife at his side. He died from complications of Parkinson’s disease. In addition to his wife Jane, Benny is survived by his son Michael and sister Louise. Benny was born Ruben Armand Mardones in Cleveland, Ohio on November 9,1946, and his father, Ruben Mardones, Sr., was from Santiago, Chile.
"I have lost my husband and the love of my life. Not a day went by without Benny telling me how much he loved me. When he knew the end was coming and near coma, he would ask me to come close and struggle to sing “I’ve Got You” (click: https://youtu.be/zfJuJcfTLx4). For the last 12 years he would often surprise me with the most beautiful bouquet of flowers and a note attached saying in Danish “Jeg Elsker Dig” (I Love You)," said Jane.
Benny was raised in Savage, Maryland and later moved to Syracuse, NY, where he became their “Hometown Hero”. He then moved to Woodstock, NY, and most recently for the past 20 years has resided in Southern California. Benny joined the Navy right after high school and fought in the Vietnam War.
Benny Mardones is a name you might not be familiar with, but as soon as you hear the first “signature” chords (click: https://youtu.be/m20bgdHdNk8) of "Into The Night", you will instantly know the song and the artist. He exploded onto the music scene in 1980 and was quickly nicknamed "The Voice," a title earned because of his incredible range as well as his soulful and passionate performances. "Into The Night" has been played over 8 Million times and to this day is still one of the most frequently played rock tunes in America.
Upon hearing the news of Benny's passing, Delilah, radio personality and host of a nightly syndicated show with 8 million listeners, best described Benny: "His voice is like whiskey, smooth but with that edgy bite. But his heart is like a hug from your dearest friend, the kind of hug that holds on and doesn’t let go and pours so much goodness straight into your heart...Benny is one of a kind and his talent and his love has enriched my life and the lives of all my family."
Tommy Mottola, former Chairman & CEO of Sony Music, said: “One of the best voices since Daryl Hall”.
After his most recent recording (click: https://youtu.be/E8ZlsfXuR3c) of "Into The Night 2019", Benny has now been memorialized in the history books of Billboard for having the Same Song, Different Recordings, Different Labels, Different Decades, & Different Centuries charted 3 different times. Also for very the first time there are two Club Remixes of "Into The Night 2019" by iconic Remixers Dirty Werk & Eric Kupper (click: https://youtu.be/sMk7w2JimkQ), all produced by Joel Diamond.
He might have been known by some as a ‘One Hit Wonder’, but how many people can claim a “Three-In-One Hit Wonder?” says Diamond.
As part of his legacy, Benny’s final wish and his ultimate gift was to donate his body after-death to Parkinson’s for advanced medical research and education.
A Memorial Service will be announced in the near future.
(complete story below)
THE STORY
Benny’s long and storied career in music certainly had lots of unexpected peaks and valleys, but through it all, he was always an optimist and a fighter, right to the end. These qualities helped make the throaty singer burst onto the scene and the charts with “Into The Night”, the song he co-wrote with Robert Tepper; which incidentally marks and celebrates 40 years on June 14, 2020, since its first release.
Benny’s life was dramatically changed when he met Jane in 2009 and they married in 2011. Jane was a gift from God right at the time in Benny’s life when he needed it most. She was not only Benny’s loving and devoted partner, care-giver, and best friend, but she was also his “rock”.
As a cocky eleven-year-old, Benny entered the annual Fourth of July talent show in his home town, asking the young back-up group to play "Jailhouse Rock" for him. They said, “What key do you want to do it in?" Mardones recalls that his answer was, “I really don't know”, when in fact, he admitted afterwards, he didn't know anything about music. Well, the back-up group selected their own key and “I went out on stage, grabbed the mike, and started singing, shakin' my leg and swiveling my hips. I brought the house down and won the talent show." Two months later, he was performing regularly with the same back-up group at high school dances and fire halls.
Benny had already developed a taste for the rock and R&B music of the day including Elvis, The Dells and his very favorite singer, Roy Orbison. Orbison was his first rock concert ever, and what an awkward moment he had with his idol. Benny remembers, "I had an extra ticket and my friend asked me if I would sell it for him. I see a guy walking up, a girl on each arm, cat dressed in black...I thought man, that guy looks cool.” I asked him if he needed a ticket and he said, “I believe I already have one,” and he laughed. I continued, “don’t you think that Roy Orbison is the best singer in the world?” The man answered, “I'm sure he'd like to hear that.” “My seat was way up in the balcony for the show, and when this same person that I had just tried to scalp a ticket to walked out on stage, I realized it was Roy Orbison and just about died."
Ironically, later on Benny appeared on a Showtime Tribute to Roy Orbison, alongside such luminaries as Bob Dylan, John Fogerty, Johnny Cash, and K.D. Lang. Elvis Presley's band was the house band for the evening. When Benny walked on stage to sing "Running Scared," few people knew his name as compared to the other names, but by the time he finished the song, not only did everybody know his name but he also received a standing ovation for his performance.
It was 1969 that Benny arrived in New York City from Savage, and his first stop was Mercury Records/MRC Music. He marched into the receptionist and said “I would like to audition for the man in charge!” Joel Diamond, new to the business himself but yet a very astute young head of the Music Publishing division, along with his then assistant Tommy Mottola, were blown away when Benny sang a capella in his office. They offered him a staff writer position, and Joel hooked him up with then staff writer Alan Miles. It was then and there that Mardones honed in on his innate writing skills. He and Alan proceeded to write material for Brenda Lee, Three Dog Night, Main Ingredient, Free, Tommy James and a #1 R&B hit with Barbara Jean English. When Diamond became the head of Sony Music Publishing in 1972, he brought Benny along with him and gave him his a writing room in which he created his own personal audition showcase-stage for many luminaries brought in by Diamond, including Clive Davis.
Joel produced and got Benny his first record deal with White Whale Records with a Mardones/Miles penned song, “Stand & Be Counted”. Through Diamond, he scored his second record deal, also with Diamond producing, with Columbia Records, where he recorded the classic doo-wop hit “Please Say You Want Me” and later Diamond put Benny together with The Sound Of Philadelphia & arranger Bobby Martin (“Me & Mrs. Jones”, “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”, etc.) and then produced his second single for Columbia, “And Tomorrow Means Another Day We’re Apart”.
It would be several years later after Benny’s first initial round of success, that Benny got a knock on his door and opened it only to find Andrew Loog Oldham (manager and producer of The Rolling Stones) along with Larry Uttal, the president of Private Stock Records. Soon Benny found himself in recording studio with a band including Mick Ronson on guitar, Humble Pie drummer Jerry Shirley, and being produced by Oldham. "These were all guys that I'd paid to see in concert, you know?" Benny said, "Half of me was scared to death and half of me said, well this is what you've always wanted, so toughen up and do it."
Mardones started making a real name for himself as a performer touring with Richie Havens, including an outdoor rally on Wall Street in front of 100,000 people. He caught the eye of concert promoter Ron Delsener who was quite impressed by Benny's voice. A few weeks later he received a call from Delsener to ask him if he could fill in for a last-minute cancellation. Amazingly, Benny soon discovered he was opening for Peter Frampton at Madison Square Garden.
It was in 1980 when Benny starting writing with Robert Tepper and got signed to Polydor, where “Into The Night” was born. Once the record was released, it became an instant radio classic across the country and to this day is one of the most frequently played tunes in radio history. It is estimated that the song has been played more than 8 Million times in the US alone. Benny appeared on The Toni Tennille Show, American Bandstand, & Midnight Special, and Merv Griffin Show, sitting along side and being introduced by Kal Rudman of FMBQ (the bible for radio programmers). A fearless & feisty Benny Mardones presented his challenge to step into the boxing ring with Elvis Costello, who was also breaking big at the time, and Benny said to millions of people watching the show, "There is only one Elvis and if he loses the fight, he has to change his first name to Lou."
A Syracuse radio station heard Benny was living in town at that time and wanted him to do a concert appearance. The promoter called and said “We'll pay you $8,000.” He thought to himself, “What’s happening here? Am I opening for The Beatles?” Just a few days before the show, he casually asked the promoter, “By the way, who am I opening for?” The answer from the promoter was, “Nobody - YOU are the head-liner! Don’t you know that the biggest radio station in Syracuse has been playing ‘Into The Night’ and other cuts from your album? Thank you to Tom Mitchell, Program Director, everybody in Syracuse wants to hear more of your music and see you live and in-person.” Benny stepped onto the stage that night and saw a capacity crowd of 12,000 people and it absolutely overwhelmed him. In the middle of his first song, he broke down and started to cry; he literally had to leave the stage. “The crowd saw my emotional breakdown, and it only inspired them to start chanting my name. From that day on, my tour dates began and ended in Central New York."
Syracuse's adopted son was so grateful for this opportunity that he now felt he had to give something back. He continued to pursue his lifelong commitment to help children’s causes. Mardones and his band, The Hurricanes, raised literally thousands of dollars for children's liver transplant operations, Ronald McDonald House, T.J. Martell Foundation, LA Breast Cancer Awareness, and was presented with an award from the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund of Central New York.
Jerry Kraus, of WOUR radio, the best rock music station in Utica, NY, reminisced that when Benny performed to a sold-out house in Central New York, “It was almost like it was a cult following. He was just the ultimate showman - he could walk into a room and make friends with everybody instantly, had a smile that would light up the room and the gift of gab to go along with it.”
Benny said "It took me a few years after that to come out of the fog and realize that I was hooked on drugs, had blown through my million dollar fortune, alienated everyone that was ever close to me, and had done all the wrong things. But out of all this turmoil, the smoke cleared for a moment, and a little boy was born, my son Michael. I made a pact with the man upstairs and declared, just let me be around to raise this little guy, and I'll never go down that road again.”
In 1989, "Into The Night" was re-released for the second time after a "Where Are They Now?" feature on KZZP played the record and the phones blew up; which led to renewed interest in the song from young listeners hearing it for the first time. The legendary influential program director Scott Shannon, Pirate Radio, added it to his play-list and radio stations across the country followed suit.
"I was in Woodstock living with my son in a friend's attic that I had turned into a little apartment," Benny remembers, "When unbeknownst to me, my original mentor, Joel Diamond, contacted Mike Curb and let him know that there had been a resurgence of “Into The Night” and it might just be a win-win for Curb Records to sign Mardones and re-record his original hit one more time to catch the new wave of radio success. Within days, Benny found himself in Los Angeles cutting an entire album for Curb, with Michael Lloyd producing and Diamond Executive Producing.
As a result of “Into The Night” hitting the charts one more time, it catapulted Benny into the elite stratosphere of becoming one of only eight artists, joining the ranks of Queen, Righteous Brothers, Chubby Checker, The Contours, The Four Seasons, Ben E. King, and Neil Sedaka, to ever ascend to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice with the same song.
It was in 2000 when Benny's life took a dramatic downturn when he was sadly diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Even in spite his illness, he continued to play to sold-out crowds in central New York up until just a few years ago. He was asked to be a guest speaker at Canajoharie High School, upstate NY, where he spoke to students about his experience of bursting into fame after many years of hard work in the music industry. He also spoke about succumbing to drug addiction, his battle to overcome Parkinson’s disease, and the resurrection of his career in upstate New York. He received mulitple standing ovations and concluded with: “Follow your dreams, because this is still a country where you can make your dreams come true.”
Cut to the third & final chapter of “Into The Night”. In 2019, 2x Grammy & Multi Platinum record producer Joel Diamond, stepped back into the role of Benny’s producer and told Benny that he now had the opportunity to create music history by re-cutting “Into The Night” one more time. Diamond knew that to make the charts again, he needed to come at it from a whole new direction. He brought on board music arranger Ted Perlman to do the music for the new and updated ballad version, and Brad LeBeau of ProMotion, to promote Benny’s new Dance Club Remixes by Dirty Werk and Eric Kupper, who have re-mixed 20 #1 Club Hits including Ariana Grande, Diana Ross, Pink, Miley Cirus, and Janet Jackson. This resulted in "Into The Night 2019" charting in Billboard for its third time.
Also in January 2020, Rudy Perez, 5x Grammy Award winner & Billboard Producer of the Decade, wrote a Spanish lyric and actually performed "Into The Night 2019" as a Spanglish duet with Benny, produced by Perez & Diamond.
Benny is now memorialized in the history books of Billboard Magazine for having the: Same Song, Different Recordings, Different Labels, Different Decades, & Different Centuries charted 3 different times.
"Life has a beginning and an end for all of us, but one thing that will always be said of Benny Mardones is that he definitely squeezed the tube-of-life completely dry", said Joel Diamond.
Celebrity Obituary News
Los Angeles, CA June 29, 2020
Contact: Joel Diamond, Silver Blue Productions - 818 980-9588 [email protected]
3x CHARTED BILLBOARD RECORD
“INTO THE NIGHT”
BENNY MARDONES DIES AT 73
After Battle with Parkinson’s Disease
I am deeply saddened to announce that Benny Mardones, artist and writer of 3x Billboard Charted Record “INTO THE NIGHT”, has died at 73, says long time friend and record producer, Joel Diamond.
Benny died peacefully at his home in Menifee, CA on June 29, 2020 with his loving wife at his side. He died from complications of Parkinson’s disease. In addition to his wife Jane, Benny is survived by his son Michael and sister Louise. Benny was born Ruben Armand Mardones in Cleveland, Ohio on November 9,1946, and his father, Ruben Mardones, Sr., was from Santiago, Chile.
"I have lost my husband and the love of my life. Not a day went by without Benny telling me how much he loved me. When he knew the end was coming and near coma, he would ask me to come close and struggle to sing “I’ve Got You” (click: https://youtu.be/zfJuJcfTLx4). For the last 12 years he would often surprise me with the most beautiful bouquet of flowers and a note attached saying in Danish “Jeg Elsker Dig” (I Love You)," said Jane.
Benny was raised in Savage, Maryland and later moved to Syracuse, NY, where he became their “Hometown Hero”. He then moved to Woodstock, NY, and most recently for the past 20 years has resided in Southern California. Benny joined the Navy right after high school and fought in the Vietnam War.
Benny Mardones is a name you might not be familiar with, but as soon as you hear the first “signature” chords (click: https://youtu.be/m20bgdHdNk8) of "Into The Night", you will instantly know the song and the artist. He exploded onto the music scene in 1980 and was quickly nicknamed "The Voice," a title earned because of his incredible range as well as his soulful and passionate performances. "Into The Night" has been played over 8 Million times and to this day is still one of the most frequently played rock tunes in America.
Upon hearing the news of Benny's passing, Delilah, radio personality and host of a nightly syndicated show with 8 million listeners, best described Benny: "His voice is like whiskey, smooth but with that edgy bite. But his heart is like a hug from your dearest friend, the kind of hug that holds on and doesn’t let go and pours so much goodness straight into your heart...Benny is one of a kind and his talent and his love has enriched my life and the lives of all my family."
Tommy Mottola, former Chairman & CEO of Sony Music, said: “One of the best voices since Daryl Hall”.
After his most recent recording (click: https://youtu.be/E8ZlsfXuR3c) of "Into The Night 2019", Benny has now been memorialized in the history books of Billboard for having the Same Song, Different Recordings, Different Labels, Different Decades, & Different Centuries charted 3 different times. Also for very the first time there are two Club Remixes of "Into The Night 2019" by iconic Remixers Dirty Werk & Eric Kupper (click: https://youtu.be/sMk7w2JimkQ), all produced by Joel Diamond.
He might have been known by some as a ‘One Hit Wonder’, but how many people can claim a “Three-In-One Hit Wonder?” says Diamond.
As part of his legacy, Benny’s final wish and his ultimate gift was to donate his body after-death to Parkinson’s for advanced medical research and education.
A Memorial Service will be announced in the near future.
(complete story below)
THE STORY
Benny’s long and storied career in music certainly had lots of unexpected peaks and valleys, but through it all, he was always an optimist and a fighter, right to the end. These qualities helped make the throaty singer burst onto the scene and the charts with “Into The Night”, the song he co-wrote with Robert Tepper; which incidentally marks and celebrates 40 years on June 14, 2020, since its first release.
Benny’s life was dramatically changed when he met Jane in 2009 and they married in 2011. Jane was a gift from God right at the time in Benny’s life when he needed it most. She was not only Benny’s loving and devoted partner, care-giver, and best friend, but she was also his “rock”.
As a cocky eleven-year-old, Benny entered the annual Fourth of July talent show in his home town, asking the young back-up group to play "Jailhouse Rock" for him. They said, “What key do you want to do it in?" Mardones recalls that his answer was, “I really don't know”, when in fact, he admitted afterwards, he didn't know anything about music. Well, the back-up group selected their own key and “I went out on stage, grabbed the mike, and started singing, shakin' my leg and swiveling my hips. I brought the house down and won the talent show." Two months later, he was performing regularly with the same back-up group at high school dances and fire halls.
Benny had already developed a taste for the rock and R&B music of the day including Elvis, The Dells and his very favorite singer, Roy Orbison. Orbison was his first rock concert ever, and what an awkward moment he had with his idol. Benny remembers, "I had an extra ticket and my friend asked me if I would sell it for him. I see a guy walking up, a girl on each arm, cat dressed in black...I thought man, that guy looks cool.” I asked him if he needed a ticket and he said, “I believe I already have one,” and he laughed. I continued, “don’t you think that Roy Orbison is the best singer in the world?” The man answered, “I'm sure he'd like to hear that.” “My seat was way up in the balcony for the show, and when this same person that I had just tried to scalp a ticket to walked out on stage, I realized it was Roy Orbison and just about died."
Ironically, later on Benny appeared on a Showtime Tribute to Roy Orbison, alongside such luminaries as Bob Dylan, John Fogerty, Johnny Cash, and K.D. Lang. Elvis Presley's band was the house band for the evening. When Benny walked on stage to sing "Running Scared," few people knew his name as compared to the other names, but by the time he finished the song, not only did everybody know his name but he also received a standing ovation for his performance.
It was 1969 that Benny arrived in New York City from Savage, and his first stop was Mercury Records/MRC Music. He marched into the receptionist and said “I would like to audition for the man in charge!” Joel Diamond, new to the business himself but yet a very astute young head of the Music Publishing division, along with his then assistant Tommy Mottola, were blown away when Benny sang a capella in his office. They offered him a staff writer position, and Joel hooked him up with then staff writer Alan Miles. It was then and there that Mardones honed in on his innate writing skills. He and Alan proceeded to write material for Brenda Lee, Three Dog Night, Main Ingredient, Free, Tommy James and a #1 R&B hit with Barbara Jean English. When Diamond became the head of Sony Music Publishing in 1972, he brought Benny along with him and gave him his a writing room in which he created his own personal audition showcase-stage for many luminaries brought in by Diamond, including Clive Davis.
Joel produced and got Benny his first record deal with White Whale Records with a Mardones/Miles penned song, “Stand & Be Counted”. Through Diamond, he scored his second record deal, also with Diamond producing, with Columbia Records, where he recorded the classic doo-wop hit “Please Say You Want Me” and later Diamond put Benny together with The Sound Of Philadelphia & arranger Bobby Martin (“Me & Mrs. Jones”, “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”, etc.) and then produced his second single for Columbia, “And Tomorrow Means Another Day We’re Apart”.
It would be several years later after Benny’s first initial round of success, that Benny got a knock on his door and opened it only to find Andrew Loog Oldham (manager and producer of The Rolling Stones) along with Larry Uttal, the president of Private Stock Records. Soon Benny found himself in recording studio with a band including Mick Ronson on guitar, Humble Pie drummer Jerry Shirley, and being produced by Oldham. "These were all guys that I'd paid to see in concert, you know?" Benny said, "Half of me was scared to death and half of me said, well this is what you've always wanted, so toughen up and do it."
Mardones started making a real name for himself as a performer touring with Richie Havens, including an outdoor rally on Wall Street in front of 100,000 people. He caught the eye of concert promoter Ron Delsener who was quite impressed by Benny's voice. A few weeks later he received a call from Delsener to ask him if he could fill in for a last-minute cancellation. Amazingly, Benny soon discovered he was opening for Peter Frampton at Madison Square Garden.
It was in 1980 when Benny starting writing with Robert Tepper and got signed to Polydor, where “Into The Night” was born. Once the record was released, it became an instant radio classic across the country and to this day is one of the most frequently played tunes in radio history. It is estimated that the song has been played more than 8 Million times in the US alone. Benny appeared on The Toni Tennille Show, American Bandstand, & Midnight Special, and Merv Griffin Show, sitting along side and being introduced by Kal Rudman of FMBQ (the bible for radio programmers). A fearless & feisty Benny Mardones presented his challenge to step into the boxing ring with Elvis Costello, who was also breaking big at the time, and Benny said to millions of people watching the show, "There is only one Elvis and if he loses the fight, he has to change his first name to Lou."
A Syracuse radio station heard Benny was living in town at that time and wanted him to do a concert appearance. The promoter called and said “We'll pay you $8,000.” He thought to himself, “What’s happening here? Am I opening for The Beatles?” Just a few days before the show, he casually asked the promoter, “By the way, who am I opening for?” The answer from the promoter was, “Nobody - YOU are the head-liner! Don’t you know that the biggest radio station in Syracuse has been playing ‘Into The Night’ and other cuts from your album? Thank you to Tom Mitchell, Program Director, everybody in Syracuse wants to hear more of your music and see you live and in-person.” Benny stepped onto the stage that night and saw a capacity crowd of 12,000 people and it absolutely overwhelmed him. In the middle of his first song, he broke down and started to cry; he literally had to leave the stage. “The crowd saw my emotional breakdown, and it only inspired them to start chanting my name. From that day on, my tour dates began and ended in Central New York."
Syracuse's adopted son was so grateful for this opportunity that he now felt he had to give something back. He continued to pursue his lifelong commitment to help children’s causes. Mardones and his band, The Hurricanes, raised literally thousands of dollars for children's liver transplant operations, Ronald McDonald House, T.J. Martell Foundation, LA Breast Cancer Awareness, and was presented with an award from the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund of Central New York.
Jerry Kraus, of WOUR radio, the best rock music station in Utica, NY, reminisced that when Benny performed to a sold-out house in Central New York, “It was almost like it was a cult following. He was just the ultimate showman - he could walk into a room and make friends with everybody instantly, had a smile that would light up the room and the gift of gab to go along with it.”
Benny said "It took me a few years after that to come out of the fog and realize that I was hooked on drugs, had blown through my million dollar fortune, alienated everyone that was ever close to me, and had done all the wrong things. But out of all this turmoil, the smoke cleared for a moment, and a little boy was born, my son Michael. I made a pact with the man upstairs and declared, just let me be around to raise this little guy, and I'll never go down that road again.”
In 1989, "Into The Night" was re-released for the second time after a "Where Are They Now?" feature on KZZP played the record and the phones blew up; which led to renewed interest in the song from young listeners hearing it for the first time. The legendary influential program director Scott Shannon, Pirate Radio, added it to his play-list and radio stations across the country followed suit.
"I was in Woodstock living with my son in a friend's attic that I had turned into a little apartment," Benny remembers, "When unbeknownst to me, my original mentor, Joel Diamond, contacted Mike Curb and let him know that there had been a resurgence of “Into The Night” and it might just be a win-win for Curb Records to sign Mardones and re-record his original hit one more time to catch the new wave of radio success. Within days, Benny found himself in Los Angeles cutting an entire album for Curb, with Michael Lloyd producing and Diamond Executive Producing.
As a result of “Into The Night” hitting the charts one more time, it catapulted Benny into the elite stratosphere of becoming one of only eight artists, joining the ranks of Queen, Righteous Brothers, Chubby Checker, The Contours, The Four Seasons, Ben E. King, and Neil Sedaka, to ever ascend to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice with the same song.
It was in 2000 when Benny's life took a dramatic downturn when he was sadly diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Even in spite his illness, he continued to play to sold-out crowds in central New York up until just a few years ago. He was asked to be a guest speaker at Canajoharie High School, upstate NY, where he spoke to students about his experience of bursting into fame after many years of hard work in the music industry. He also spoke about succumbing to drug addiction, his battle to overcome Parkinson’s disease, and the resurrection of his career in upstate New York. He received mulitple standing ovations and concluded with: “Follow your dreams, because this is still a country where you can make your dreams come true.”
Cut to the third & final chapter of “Into The Night”. In 2019, 2x Grammy & Multi Platinum record producer Joel Diamond, stepped back into the role of Benny’s producer and told Benny that he now had the opportunity to create music history by re-cutting “Into The Night” one more time. Diamond knew that to make the charts again, he needed to come at it from a whole new direction. He brought on board music arranger Ted Perlman to do the music for the new and updated ballad version, and Brad LeBeau of ProMotion, to promote Benny’s new Dance Club Remixes by Dirty Werk and Eric Kupper, who have re-mixed 20 #1 Club Hits including Ariana Grande, Diana Ross, Pink, Miley Cirus, and Janet Jackson. This resulted in "Into The Night 2019" charting in Billboard for its third time.
Also in January 2020, Rudy Perez, 5x Grammy Award winner & Billboard Producer of the Decade, wrote a Spanish lyric and actually performed "Into The Night 2019" as a Spanglish duet with Benny, produced by Perez & Diamond.
Benny is now memorialized in the history books of Billboard Magazine for having the: Same Song, Different Recordings, Different Labels, Different Decades, & Different Centuries charted 3 different times.
"Life has a beginning and an end for all of us, but one thing that will always be said of Benny Mardones is that he definitely squeezed the tube-of-life completely dry", said Joel Diamond.
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY
Geico Local Office Presents Hearts In Our Hands: The Benny Mardones Benefit Concert are on sale now.
PLEASE READ ALL OF THIS CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU CONTINUE: VERY IMPORTANT!
To purchase tickets in including VIP, general admission and event t-shirts to be picked up at the show go to this website:
http://sharkeystickets.com/…/geico-local-office-presents-h…/
If you order a limited edition event t-shirt WITH your tickets it will be available for you to pick up at the merch both on the day of the show guaranteed.
If you want to order a limited edition event shirt TO BE MAILED to you go to this link starting Saturday May 11, 2019. These shirts will be mailed approximately two weeks before the show. There is no guarantee you will have the shirt in time for the show, we will do our best, but there is no guarantee: manicmerch.com/bennymardones.
All ticket prices are minimum donation. You are more than welcome to donate more. 100% of the profits from this show are going to help Benny and Jane cover Benny's rising medical costs include nursing and/or personal support workers, assistive devices such as a wheelchair or walker, and possible home adaptations to prevent future injuries from falls.
Sharkey's is putting a cover up over the parking lot so this show will happen rain or shine.
Please also note the some wonderful people are stepping up to help Benny in his time of need including Lori . Myer at the GEICO Insurance Agent- Syracuse on Erie Boulevard and Douglas Lalone from the The Gem Diner. Please support the people who support Benny. Call Lori for an insurance quote and go visit the Gem for a great meal - let 'em know Benny sent you!
---------------------------------------------------------------
Geico Local Office presents Heart In Our Hands: The Benny MardonesBenefit concert brought to you by the Gem Diner
Sat, July 13th
Sharkey’s
7240 Oswego Rd, Liverpool, NY
5pm-10pm
Featuring :
Benny's Hurricanes
The Todd Hobin Band
Hard Promises
Special guest singers including members of Under The Gun and 3 INCH FURY. More special guests and bands to be announced soon.
Ticket Information
General Admission: $10 donation (tickets will be $15 on the day of the show so buy now to save money!)
Preferred Seating: $40 - seats in the two front rows directly in
front of that stage, the best seats in the house. Less than 100 available.
VIP Section: $30 donation (seats to the right of the stage (as you face the stage) near the boat.
Preferred Seating: $40 - seats in the two front rows directly in
front of that stage, the best seats in the house. Less than 100 available.
VIP Section Table (comes with 4 admissions): $200 - you get a picnic size table in the VIP section to the right of the stage (as you face the stage) that is reserved for you. Only six available.
T-shirt Bundle:
Once you buy a ticket (any level) you can also order a limited edition event shirt: $30 (2X is $35, 3XL is $38) . This guarantees you a shirt and saves you money. The shirts will cost more at the show.
http://sharkeystickets.com/…/geico-local-office-presents-h…/
YOUR TICKET WILL BE EMAILED TO YOU AFTER YOUR PURCHASE. ALTERNATIVELY, YOU MAY PRINT OUT AND BRING YOUR RECEIPT TO THE DOOR FOR ADMISSION.
Geico Local Office Presents Hearts In Our Hands: The Benny Mardones Benefit Concert are on sale now.
PLEASE READ ALL OF THIS CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU CONTINUE: VERY IMPORTANT!
To purchase tickets in including VIP, general admission and event t-shirts to be picked up at the show go to this website:
http://sharkeystickets.com/…/geico-local-office-presents-h…/
If you order a limited edition event t-shirt WITH your tickets it will be available for you to pick up at the merch both on the day of the show guaranteed.
If you want to order a limited edition event shirt TO BE MAILED to you go to this link starting Saturday May 11, 2019. These shirts will be mailed approximately two weeks before the show. There is no guarantee you will have the shirt in time for the show, we will do our best, but there is no guarantee: manicmerch.com/bennymardones.
All ticket prices are minimum donation. You are more than welcome to donate more. 100% of the profits from this show are going to help Benny and Jane cover Benny's rising medical costs include nursing and/or personal support workers, assistive devices such as a wheelchair or walker, and possible home adaptations to prevent future injuries from falls.
Sharkey's is putting a cover up over the parking lot so this show will happen rain or shine.
Please also note the some wonderful people are stepping up to help Benny in his time of need including Lori . Myer at the GEICO Insurance Agent- Syracuse on Erie Boulevard and Douglas Lalone from the The Gem Diner. Please support the people who support Benny. Call Lori for an insurance quote and go visit the Gem for a great meal - let 'em know Benny sent you!
---------------------------------------------------------------
Geico Local Office presents Heart In Our Hands: The Benny MardonesBenefit concert brought to you by the Gem Diner
Sat, July 13th
Sharkey’s
7240 Oswego Rd, Liverpool, NY
5pm-10pm
Featuring :
Benny's Hurricanes
The Todd Hobin Band
Hard Promises
Special guest singers including members of Under The Gun and 3 INCH FURY. More special guests and bands to be announced soon.
Ticket Information
General Admission: $10 donation (tickets will be $15 on the day of the show so buy now to save money!)
Preferred Seating: $40 - seats in the two front rows directly in
front of that stage, the best seats in the house. Less than 100 available.
VIP Section: $30 donation (seats to the right of the stage (as you face the stage) near the boat.
Preferred Seating: $40 - seats in the two front rows directly in
front of that stage, the best seats in the house. Less than 100 available.
VIP Section Table (comes with 4 admissions): $200 - you get a picnic size table in the VIP section to the right of the stage (as you face the stage) that is reserved for you. Only six available.
T-shirt Bundle:
Once you buy a ticket (any level) you can also order a limited edition event shirt: $30 (2X is $35, 3XL is $38) . This guarantees you a shirt and saves you money. The shirts will cost more at the show.
http://sharkeystickets.com/…/geico-local-office-presents-h…/
YOUR TICKET WILL BE EMAILED TO YOU AFTER YOUR PURCHASE. ALTERNATIVELY, YOU MAY PRINT OUT AND BRING YOUR RECEIPT TO THE DOOR FOR ADMISSION.
We are currently looking for video of Benny's last public performance of "Into The Night" from Turning Stone 2017. If you have video that you are willing to share, please e-mail it to [email protected]. Thank you.
UPDATE ON BENNY'S HEALTH
Benny Mardones and his amazing wife, Jane, are in great need of our help.
Benny was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2002 and as the disease progressed, the tremors made the tasks of everyday life difficult. In July Benny underwent DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) surgery to minimize the tremors. Unfortunately complications from these extensive surgeries made his recovery difficult with confusion and the loss of simple skills. While the tremors have minimized, his balance, stability and pain have created numerous other issues.
Shortly after the surgery, Benny experienced multiple falls including one that dislocated his hip and shattered his pelvic bone. Continued dislocations and several surgeries later, Benny remains bedridden fighting infections and awaits yet another surgery for a complete hip replacement.
Rehab facilities lack the proper and timely attention that Benny deserves and may remain vulnerable to further injuries. It is suggested that a nurse or PSW be hired to insure Benny's safety and facilitate his recovery. Once home personal care will need to be continued with health care nurses and physical therapists. Such care at over $300 daily is cost prohibitive and much will not be covered by any insurance. Although Jane is Benny's angel and has worked tirelessly on his behalf, she is not strong enough to care for him alone as Benny is unable to walk or support his body weight. In addition towheelchairs and other medical devices, Benny's home will need to be adapted to accommodate his lengthy recovery and return some quality to his life.
We all love Benny and he means the world to us. He is a veteran of the US Navy and has given his love and time to innumerable charities including the "Make A Wish" foundation, Parkinson's fundraisers, inspiration for the disabled in Washington DC with the Secretary of Health and many many other local and personal needs of others. He played a pivotal role in raising over $30,000 for the West Genesee Athletic Club by hosting 2 Casino Nights.
Benny has become a hero to many.
Let's show this great talent our love for all he has contributed. We are grateful for any consideration you may provide and please share this link with your friends and contacts including Facebook and Twitter.
Please click on the link below.
Thank you
www.gofundme.com/support-benny-mardones039-medical-costs
Benny Mardones and his amazing wife, Jane, are in great need of our help.
Benny was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2002 and as the disease progressed, the tremors made the tasks of everyday life difficult. In July Benny underwent DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) surgery to minimize the tremors. Unfortunately complications from these extensive surgeries made his recovery difficult with confusion and the loss of simple skills. While the tremors have minimized, his balance, stability and pain have created numerous other issues.
Shortly after the surgery, Benny experienced multiple falls including one that dislocated his hip and shattered his pelvic bone. Continued dislocations and several surgeries later, Benny remains bedridden fighting infections and awaits yet another surgery for a complete hip replacement.
Rehab facilities lack the proper and timely attention that Benny deserves and may remain vulnerable to further injuries. It is suggested that a nurse or PSW be hired to insure Benny's safety and facilitate his recovery. Once home personal care will need to be continued with health care nurses and physical therapists. Such care at over $300 daily is cost prohibitive and much will not be covered by any insurance. Although Jane is Benny's angel and has worked tirelessly on his behalf, she is not strong enough to care for him alone as Benny is unable to walk or support his body weight. In addition towheelchairs and other medical devices, Benny's home will need to be adapted to accommodate his lengthy recovery and return some quality to his life.
We all love Benny and he means the world to us. He is a veteran of the US Navy and has given his love and time to innumerable charities including the "Make A Wish" foundation, Parkinson's fundraisers, inspiration for the disabled in Washington DC with the Secretary of Health and many many other local and personal needs of others. He played a pivotal role in raising over $30,000 for the West Genesee Athletic Club by hosting 2 Casino Nights.
Benny has become a hero to many.
Let's show this great talent our love for all he has contributed. We are grateful for any consideration you may provide and please share this link with your friends and contacts including Facebook and Twitter.
Please click on the link below.
Thank you
www.gofundme.com/support-benny-mardones039-medical-costs
Proudly announcing the NEW RELEASE by Benny Mardones
"Where Angels Fly"
youtu.be/OIofsp8OblU
Available for purchase via
https://bennymardones.hearnow.com
https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/bennymardones12
Also available at iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon!
"Where Angels Fly"
youtu.be/OIofsp8OblU
Available for purchase via
https://bennymardones.hearnow.com
https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/bennymardones12
Also available at iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon!
Benny Mardones to Syracuse:
'I can't believe I have to say goodbye'
www.syracuse.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/12/benny_mardones_to_syracuse_i_cant_believe_i_have_to_say_goodbye.html
'I can't believe I have to say goodbye'
www.syracuse.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/12/benny_mardones_to_syracuse_i_cant_believe_i_have_to_say_goodbye.html
"Timeless" by the amazing Benny Mardones & The Hurricanes is here!
NOW AVAILABLE ON iTunes
"Timeless" is the very first CD recorded with Benny's Syracuse band, the beloved Hurricanes: John Mangicaro, Kim Fetters, Pete Levante, Andy Rudy, Todd Troubetaris & Kevin Farrell.
ORDER YOUR COPY HERE:
https://www.manicmerch.com/bennymardones/?dir=desc&order=created_at
** IMPORTANT **
Please be sure, after choosing the CD that you click on "CD" - beside "Size" - before clicking "Add to Cart". If you have any difficulty with the site, please e-mail [email protected]
Included on this CD:
- songs - old & new - written by Benny Mardones & Robert Tepper, his songwriting partner of "Into The Night" fame. Among others written by the duo, "Looking For The Love" is a song everyone can relate to.
- updated versions of fan favourites "Heart In My Hand" (Mardones-Evans), "Slip Away" & "Remember The Night" (Mardones-Conrad), "I Started A Joke" (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) &, the title track "Timeless" (Mardones-Byron)
- songs written by Benny & the legendary DL Byron, who wrote "Shadows Of The Night" for Pat Benatar
- bonus demos from "Justice" featuring Benny Mardones & DL Byron
The idea for this CD was born when old recordings that were never released were discovered in a storage locker & is a labor of love created for Benny's dedicated fans. It would not have been possible without the support of the many people who supported the Kickstarter Program, many of whom are featured singing background vocals on the heart wrenching song "To My Dad".
"Timeless" proves once again that Benny's voice is his secret weapon and it will drop you to your knees. From beginning to end, this compilation will be the crowning star in your Benny Mardones collection.
NOW AVAILABLE ON iTunes
"Timeless" is the very first CD recorded with Benny's Syracuse band, the beloved Hurricanes: John Mangicaro, Kim Fetters, Pete Levante, Andy Rudy, Todd Troubetaris & Kevin Farrell.
ORDER YOUR COPY HERE:
https://www.manicmerch.com/bennymardones/?dir=desc&order=created_at
** IMPORTANT **
Please be sure, after choosing the CD that you click on "CD" - beside "Size" - before clicking "Add to Cart". If you have any difficulty with the site, please e-mail [email protected]
Included on this CD:
- songs - old & new - written by Benny Mardones & Robert Tepper, his songwriting partner of "Into The Night" fame. Among others written by the duo, "Looking For The Love" is a song everyone can relate to.
- updated versions of fan favourites "Heart In My Hand" (Mardones-Evans), "Slip Away" & "Remember The Night" (Mardones-Conrad), "I Started A Joke" (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb) &, the title track "Timeless" (Mardones-Byron)
- songs written by Benny & the legendary DL Byron, who wrote "Shadows Of The Night" for Pat Benatar
- bonus demos from "Justice" featuring Benny Mardones & DL Byron
The idea for this CD was born when old recordings that were never released were discovered in a storage locker & is a labor of love created for Benny's dedicated fans. It would not have been possible without the support of the many people who supported the Kickstarter Program, many of whom are featured singing background vocals on the heart wrenching song "To My Dad".
"Timeless" proves once again that Benny's voice is his secret weapon and it will drop you to your knees. From beginning to end, this compilation will be the crowning star in your Benny Mardones collection.
"Where Angels Fly" - Benny Mardones!
Lyrics: Benny Mardones
Music: Victor Alexeeff
Backup Vocals: M Daniela Torchia
Bass and Guitar: Pierre Karlsson
Drums: Billy Sullivan
Keyboards: Victor Alexeeff
Audio Engineer: Eli Smith
Recorded at Clear Lake Recording Studios, North Hollywood
http://www.cdbaby.com/AlbumDetails.aspx?AlbumID=bennymardones1&_ga=1.86609178.320179845.1440804153#.Ve88otzaEgQ.facebook
Lyrics: Benny Mardones
Music: Victor Alexeeff
Backup Vocals: M Daniela Torchia
Bass and Guitar: Pierre Karlsson
Drums: Billy Sullivan
Keyboards: Victor Alexeeff
Audio Engineer: Eli Smith
Recorded at Clear Lake Recording Studios, North Hollywood
http://www.cdbaby.com/AlbumDetails.aspx?AlbumID=bennymardones1&_ga=1.86609178.320179845.1440804153#.Ve88otzaEgQ.facebook
CHECK OUT MY BRAND NEW SONG: "Where Angels Fly"
http://cdbaby.com/cd/bennymardones1
Lyrics: Benny Mardones
Music: Victor Alexeeff
Backup Vocals: M Daniela Torchia
Bass and Guitar: Pierre Karlsson
Drums: Billy Sullivan
Keyboards: Victor Alexeeff
Audio Engineer: Eli Smith
Recorded at Clear Lake Recording Studios, North Hollywood
Painting by Petra Luna
http://cdbaby.com/cd/bennymardones1
Lyrics: Benny Mardones
Music: Victor Alexeeff
Backup Vocals: M Daniela Torchia
Bass and Guitar: Pierre Karlsson
Drums: Billy Sullivan
Keyboards: Victor Alexeeff
Audio Engineer: Eli Smith
Recorded at Clear Lake Recording Studios, North Hollywood
Painting by Petra Luna
Wednesday, August 28th 2013
The "Timeless" Project is Funded!
Thank you everyone so much for all your love and support. I am completely overwhelmed and humbled. The Hurricanes and I are already hard at work rehearsing and preparing to record what we believe will be an absolutely Timeless release.
Thank you. And stay tuned for some musical magic.
Love, Benny
The "Timeless" Project is Funded!
Thank you everyone so much for all your love and support. I am completely overwhelmed and humbled. The Hurricanes and I are already hard at work rehearsing and preparing to record what we believe will be an absolutely Timeless release.
Thank you. And stay tuned for some musical magic.
Love, Benny
New Full-Length Benny Mardones & The Hurricanes CD In The Works - "Timeless"
Hello Friends, Family and new Friends and Family - and thanks for reading about my new project.
I couldn't be more excited about this new full-length CD. It’s something I have wanted to do for years. I am tentatively calling the CD “Timeless.” I’ll explain that later.
First off, a bit of history. (This part is from my bio, so please excuse the third person writing):
Benny Mardones exploded onto the music scene in 1980 and was quickly nicknamed "The Voice," a title earned because of his incredible range, as well as his soulful and passionate performance of "Into The Night." The song became a radio classic across the country, topped the charts twice (1980 and 1989), and became one of the most frequently played tunes in radio history. It is estimated that the song has been played more than 6,00,000 times in the US alone. And it is still played all over the world to this day.
You can read my full bio on my website… www.BennyMardones.com/bio. I have been releasing records ever since then. I even have an award winning documentary about me that will be released (FINALLY!) later this year.
So what is “Timeless” and why is this so special to me? Before “Into The Night,” I was in a band with an incredibly talented man named DL Byron. Our band was really popular, but we never got a deal. After a few years we went our separate ways but have remained close ever since. D.L. went on to write the song “Shadows Of The Night” for Pat Benatar and won a Grammy for song of the year. I had forgotten about a lot of those songs until a few years ago when I was cleaning out my storage room in Woodstock and found a treasure trove of old reel-to-reel tapes including the demos D.L. and I recorded. I had them transferred by my friend Alan at West West Side Mastering. They actually had to bake the tapes to get them to play. When I heard those old songs I remembered how much I loved them, and how much I wanted the world to hear them.
That is how “Timeless” was born.
My band, The Hurricanes, and I are going in to record some of those amazing songs that DL and I wrote all those years ago.
But those are only some of the songs we will be recording. I have also been writing new material with Robert Tepper, the co-writer of “Into The Night.” The old magic is back and we will record some of the new songs that Bobby and I have been working on.
I am also going to re-record some of the songs I released in the 80s that my fans love but sound really dated. That’s part of the overall goal of “Timeless”. These recordings will sound different than my other releases. It’s going to be all classic sounds, Hammond B-3 organ, big drums and loud guitars.
I am incredibly excited to finally be recording a CD with the Hurricanes in my adopted hometown of Syracuse. This CD is so personal to me that I know it will be amazing.
Why am I using Kickstarter?
I had offers from record labels that would have funded and released this new record. But I wanted to make sure this was the record I wanted to record. It’s the first time I am in charge of my record, and I know that when you finally hear it, you will love it. If you become one of the backers of this project, I plan to take you along on the journey. I will update you with pictures, audio and video from our rehearsals and from the studio. It will give you a glimpse of all the work and fun we put into making an album.
How I will use these funds:
The money we raise will be used to record the album and manufacture all the goodies you see listed on the Kickstarter site. If by chance we raise more money, we will use that to promote this record to radio and press.
The Hurricanes and I are so excited by this project, and we can’t wait for you to hear it. Thank you so much for your support all these years.
For details:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1891948507/benny-mardones-new-full-length-album-timeless
Benny Mardones
Benny's brand new song,
"I've Got You"
Now available via iTunes
Click on the link below
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/ive-got-you/id526199722?i=526199911
"I've Got You"
Now available via iTunes
Click on the link below
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/ive-got-you/id526199722?i=526199911
Photo courtesy of Gene Schroer
