| Revision as of 01:48, 17 July 2018 editVinylstud97 (talk | contribs)234 edits Undid revision 850628073 by 2600:1700:6A30:31B0:4CFD:AF64:2720:E2D9 (talk) You're just some dumb ass lounge singer who lies to people claiming to have sold millions of records. If you're some kind of million selling recording artist, then why are you so worried about a WIKI page? Stop lying to people, everything I've added to this page is sourced by multiple reputable sources!Tag: Undo← Previous edit | Revision as of 01:55, 17 July 2018 edit undo2600:1700:6a30:31b0:4cfd:af64:2720:e2d9 (talk) Undid revision 850628917 by Vinylstud97 (talk) Alright Noah Schaffer, game's over, I just figured it out. I'll be honest I thought it was you a while back, but now I know for sure!Tags: Undo references removedNext edit → | ||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
| | caption = | | caption = | ||
| | image_size = | | image_size = | ||
| | background = |
| background = Solo_Singer | ||
| | birth_name = | | birth_name = | ||
| | alias = | | alias = | ||
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
| | birth_place = ], United States | | birth_place = ], United States | ||
| | instrument = Vocals | | instrument = Vocals | ||
| | genre = Pop, |
| genre = Pop, Mood Rock | ||
| | occupation = Singer, |
| occupation = Singer, Entrepreneur | ||
| | years_active = |
| years_active = 1968–Present | ||
| | label = ], ], Rapp Records | | label = ], ], Rapp Records | ||
| | associated_acts = | | associated_acts = | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| '''Peter Lemongello''' (born February 11, 1947) is an American singer known for his double album ''Love '76'', the first album to be sold exclusively through television advertising. | '''Peter Lemongello''' (born February 11, 1947) is an American singer from ], best known for his double album ''Love '76'', the first album to be sold exclusively through television advertising selling over 1.8 million copies. | ||
| Lemongello has had many impressive credits including opening for ] and appearing at ] in ] with several appearances on national TV (including 25 times on ]). | |||
| ==Early career== | ==Early career== | ||
| Lemongello spent the first part of his career as a ] singer, with several appearances on national TV, including '']''.<ref>https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1711180/ IMBd Direct</ref> He released his first two records (under the name Pete Lemongello) on the Rare Bird record label to no fanfare. In 1973, he signed to Epic Records. |
Lemongello spent the first part of his career as a ] singer, with several appearances on national TV, including '']''.<ref>https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1711180/ IMBd Direct</ref> He released his first two records (under the name Pete Lemongello) on the Rare Bird record label to no fanfare. In 1973, he signed to Epic Records. There he released one single, released in December of 1973, that failed to chart, and he was subsequently dropped from the label.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/artist/peter-lemongello|title=Peter Lemongello Discography - USA - 45cat|website=www.45cat.com}}</ref> | ||
| ==''Love '76''== | ==''Love '76''== | ||
| Frustrated by his lack of record sales, Lemongello hit upon the idea of creating an album to be sold exclusively on TV. Using a city-by-city marketing strategy, he and his partners began their ''Love ‘76'' advertising campaign with an around-the-dial TV blitz in the New York market starting January 1, 1976, and ran commercials on all six New York channels 70 to 100 times a week. Sales of the ] skyrocketed him to fame in the New York area, and the campaign entered Los Angeles and ]<ref>“The $390,000 Man” Time; Monday, May. 31, 1976</ref> and the album began to sell in the millions, attracting widespread media attention. | Frustrated by his lack of record sales, Lemongello hit upon the idea of creating an album to be sold exclusively on TV. Using a city-by-city marketing strategy, he and his partners began their ''Love ‘76'' advertising campaign with an around-the-dial TV blitz in the New York market starting January 1, 1976, and ran commercials on all six New York channels 70 to 100 times a week. Sales of the ] skyrocketed him to fame in the New York area, and the campaign entered Los Angeles and ]<ref>“The $390,000 Man” Time; Monday, May. 31, 1976</ref> and the album began to sell in the millions, attracting widespread media attention. | ||
| In a |
In a New York Times profile<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E00EFDE1E3DE036A05753C2A9609C946790D6CF|title=New York Times, He Did It His Way, June 20, 1976|last=KORNHEISER|first=TONY|date=June 20, 1976|work=|access-date=|via=}}</ref> he stated, "Look what this country needs is a white, male superstar they can hang their hat on. They want him clean, and they want him now. That's why I'm playing it this way. I can be what they want. I can fill that void." After years of toiling in obscurity, Bob Pascuzzi bankrolled a promotional roll-out meant to generate interest from financial backers that would result in a deal for an album and concerts. To "attract the backers was to rent out Westbury Music Fair for one show, put Lemongello in the spotlight... It cost Lemongello $32,000 for the hall, the musicians, the arrangements and the publicity." With backers in place, the details of assembling the songs and personnel for the album coalesced. "He made the album - one side was completely done in the studio: the other side is a re-mixing of all his old tapes from live shows, even some that were recorded on cheap cassettes," wrote Kornheiser in the New York Times profile. Prophetically, a concert promoter opined: "He drew 2,400 people in New York, which is heavily Italian, where he spent 100 grand into commercials. For 100 grand you gotta get 2,500 curious people. Benny the Horse gets 2,500 curious people. Now he can work lounges the rest of his life. Benny the Horse can work lounges. Big deal... But can he deliver the goods? Can he deliver in Cleveland? In Chicago? In the places where he didn't buy TV time?" It turned out that he could not. And the short promotional blitz did not evolve into a career memorable for the music. Instead, it is a career memorable for its marketing and promotional gambit, which succeeded with a one-time return. | ||
| In the end, Lemongello sold over 1 million, eight hundred thousand copies of "''Love ‘76''" making him the first to ever do so through a television campaign. <ref>http://www.plemongello.com/bio</ref> Lemongello has been credited with single handedly creating, what is now known as, the common day informercial and his accomplishments are still taught to this day in Business and Marketing college course across the country. | |||
| Lemongello claims to have sold 1.8 million copies of ''Love ‘76.'' However, according to Both Sides Now, a well known and trusted record label database, as well as a May 31st, 1976 article in ''Time'' magazine, the album sold 43,000 copies by the end of the commercial's run.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bsnpubs.com/nyc/privatestock/privatestock.html|title=Private Stock Album Discography|website=www.bsnpubs.com|access-date=2018-04-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,947685-1,00.html|title=Television: The $390,000 Man|date=31 May 1976|publisher=|via=content.time.com}}</ref> | |||
| The artist attracted the attention of ], who signed Lemongello in April 1976. By choice, Lemongello ended his self-promotional efforts and released his second album |
The artist attracted the attention of ], who signed Lemongello in April 1976. By choice, Lemongello ended his self-promotional efforts and released his second album ''Do I Love You'' in early 1977. Shortly after it's release, Private Stock Records went out of business and Lemongello concentrated on live performances, appearing at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden and Lincoln Center For The Performing Arts. | ||
| == Kidnapping == | |||
| On January 15th, 1983, Lemongello and his cousin, pro bowler Mike Lemongello, were kidnapped from a construction site. The kidnappers forced Mike to withdraw money from a bank. Once he did this, the two were dumped in the woods. Two weeks after the incident, ], a former pitcher for the ], turned himself in to police.<ref name= People>{{cite web |url= http://people.com/archive/peter-lemongello-fizzled-as-a-torch-singer-but-police-claim-not-as-an-arsonist-vol-18-no-2/ |title= Peter Lemongello Fizzled as a Torch Singer But, Police Claim, Not as An Arsonist |author= David van Biema, Sandra Hinson |date= July 12, 1982 |work= ] |accessdate= July 4, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1982/01/23/sports/lemongello-surrenders-on-kidnapping-charges.html |title= Lemongello Surrenders On Kidnapping Charges |date= January 23, 1982 |author= |work= ] |accessdate= July 3, 2018}}</ref> | |||
| == Arson == | |||
| Around the same time, Lemongello was accused of masterminding two acts of arson, setting fire to two luxury houses his construction firm were working on near ].<ref name= People/> In April of 1983, he was put on ten years probation for the crime and was ordered to pay $110,000 to reimburse insurance companies.<ref name= EveningIndependent>{{cite web |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=B_ELAAAAIBAJ&sjid=glkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4299,70364&dq=mark+lemongello+kidnapping&hl=en |author= Patti Bridges |title= Men get probation in kidnapping case|work= ] |date= July 16, 1983 |accessdate= July 3, 2018}}</ref> | |||
| == Later career == | == Later career == | ||
| Years later, Lemongello continued his career in ], billed as Branson's "Italian Crooner". Most recently he has adopted ] and appears frequently across the country. | Years later, Lemongello continued his career in ], billed as Branson's "Italian Crooner". Most recently he has adopted ] and appears frequently across the country. | ||
| Today, Lemongello resides in Boca Raton, FL with his wife Karen and his son, Peter Lemongello, Jr. | |||
| Peter, Jr. is also an entertainer and is currently the lead singer of the vocal group ] with original founding member, J.T. Carter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swinginsoiree.com/crests |title=J.T. Carter's Crests |accessdate=2018-04-08}}</ref> The group (with Lemongello) made its national television debut in March, 2018 on ] as part of ]'s "My Music: Doo Wop Generations." The group was featured singing ]' 1959 hit, "The Angels Listened In."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VASmYuq81pI&lc=z22vdxzoxtnzuv5tzacdp432usto4fbetycnvyutle1w03c010c |title=J.T. Carter's Crests with Peter Lemongello, Jr. on PBS |accessdate=2018-04-08}}</ref> | Peter, Jr. is also an entertainer and is currently the lead singer of the vocal group ] with original founding member, J.T. Carter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swinginsoiree.com/crests |title=J.T. Carter's Crests |accessdate=2018-04-08}}</ref> The group (with Lemongello) made its national television debut in March, 2018 on ] as part of ]'s "My Music: Doo Wop Generations." The group was featured singing ]' 1959 hit, "The Angels Listened In."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VASmYuq81pI&lc=z22vdxzoxtnzuv5tzacdp432usto4fbetycnvyutle1w03c010c |title=J.T. Carter's Crests with Peter Lemongello, Jr. on PBS |accessdate=2018-04-08}}</ref> | ||
Revision as of 01:55, 17 July 2018
| Peter Lemongello | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1947-02-11) February 11, 1947 (age 77) North Babylon, New York, United States |
| Genres | Pop, Mood Rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Entrepreneur |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1968–Present |
| Labels | Private Stock Records, Epic Records, Rapp Records |
Peter Lemongello (born February 11, 1947) is an American singer from Jersey City, New Jersey, best known for his double album Love '76, the first album to be sold exclusively through television advertising selling over 1.8 million copies. Lemongello has had many impressive credits including opening for Don Rickles and appearing at The Copacabana in New York City with several appearances on national TV (including 25 times on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson).
Early career
Lemongello spent the first part of his career as a cabaret singer, with several appearances on national TV, including The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He released his first two records (under the name Pete Lemongello) on the Rare Bird record label to no fanfare. In 1973, he signed to Epic Records. There he released one single, released in December of 1973, that failed to chart, and he was subsequently dropped from the label.
Love '76
Frustrated by his lack of record sales, Lemongello hit upon the idea of creating an album to be sold exclusively on TV. Using a city-by-city marketing strategy, he and his partners began their Love ‘76 advertising campaign with an around-the-dial TV blitz in the New York market starting January 1, 1976, and ran commercials on all six New York channels 70 to 100 times a week. Sales of the double album skyrocketed him to fame in the New York area, and the campaign entered Los Angeles and Las Vegas and the album began to sell in the millions, attracting widespread media attention.
In a New York Times profile he stated, "Look what this country needs is a white, male superstar they can hang their hat on. They want him clean, and they want him now. That's why I'm playing it this way. I can be what they want. I can fill that void." After years of toiling in obscurity, Bob Pascuzzi bankrolled a promotional roll-out meant to generate interest from financial backers that would result in a deal for an album and concerts. To "attract the backers was to rent out Westbury Music Fair for one show, put Lemongello in the spotlight... It cost Lemongello $32,000 for the hall, the musicians, the arrangements and the publicity." With backers in place, the details of assembling the songs and personnel for the album coalesced. "He made the album - one side was completely done in the studio: the other side is a re-mixing of all his old tapes from live shows, even some that were recorded on cheap cassettes," wrote Kornheiser in the New York Times profile. Prophetically, a concert promoter opined: "He drew 2,400 people in New York, which is heavily Italian, where he spent 100 grand into commercials. For 100 grand you gotta get 2,500 curious people. Benny the Horse gets 2,500 curious people. Now he can work lounges the rest of his life. Benny the Horse can work lounges. Big deal... But can he deliver the goods? Can he deliver in Cleveland? In Chicago? In the places where he didn't buy TV time?" It turned out that he could not. And the short promotional blitz did not evolve into a career memorable for the music. Instead, it is a career memorable for its marketing and promotional gambit, which succeeded with a one-time return.
In the end, Lemongello sold over 1 million, eight hundred thousand copies of "Love ‘76" making him the first to ever do so through a television campaign. Lemongello has been credited with single handedly creating, what is now known as, the common day informercial and his accomplishments are still taught to this day in Business and Marketing college course across the country.
The artist attracted the attention of Private Stock Records, who signed Lemongello in April 1976. By choice, Lemongello ended his self-promotional efforts and released his second album Do I Love You in early 1977. Shortly after it's release, Private Stock Records went out of business and Lemongello concentrated on live performances, appearing at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden and Lincoln Center For The Performing Arts.
Later career
Years later, Lemongello continued his career in Branson, Missouri, billed as Branson's "Italian Crooner". Most recently he has adopted The Great American Songbook and appears frequently across the country.
Today, Lemongello resides in Boca Raton, FL with his wife Karen and his son, Peter Lemongello, Jr.
Peter, Jr. is also an entertainer and is currently the lead singer of the vocal group The Crests with original founding member, J.T. Carter. The group (with Lemongello) made its national television debut in March, 2018 on PBS as part of TJ Lubinsky's "My Music: Doo Wop Generations." The group was featured singing The Crests' 1959 hit, "The Angels Listened In."
In late 2012, Lemongello re-recorded his 1976 song "Can't Get Enough Of You Girl" with producer and songwriter Jimmy Michaels. The re-recording appears on the re-issue of the Michaels album More Things Change.
Parodies
Lemongello was spoofed in the episode of Saturday Night Live that aired May 22, 1976, with Chevy Chase playing a singer named Peter Lemon Mood Ring, who changed colors with every song. Chase reprised the parody in his 1989 film Fletch Lives.
Singer-songwriter Will Dailey released a promotional video in 2009 for his album Torrent, in which he is forced by his managers to make a (fictitious) commercial for Torrent in the style of the Love '76 commercial.
Discography
- Love '76 (1976), Rapp Records
- Do I Love You (1976), Private Stock Records
References
- https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1711180/ IMBd Direct
- "Peter Lemongello Discography - USA - 45cat". www.45cat.com.
- “The $390,000 Man” Time; Monday, May. 31, 1976
- KORNHEISER, TONY (June 20, 1976). "New York Times, He Did It His Way, June 20, 1976".
- http://www.plemongello.com/bio
- "J.T. Carter's Crests". Retrieved 2018-04-08.
- "J.T. Carter's Crests with Peter Lemongello, Jr. on PBS". Retrieved 2018-04-08.
- "SNL Transcripts: Buck Henry: 05/22/76: Peter Lemon Moodring". snltranscripts.jt.org.
- Will Dailey Love '76 parody on YouTube
External links
- The Official Peter Lemongello Website
- "The $390,000 Man"; Time Magazine; May 31, 1976 Retrieved May 9, 2007
- Official Peter Lemongello MySpace Music Page