Years active 1977-1985 Active until 1985 | ||
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Past members Gary TurnierEric MatthewBob FormanJay LeonAl LauricellaBill Catalano Origin Queens, New York City, New York, United States (1977) Albums Keep on Dancin', Gangbusters, 12 Inch Classics Members Eric Matthew, Gary R. Turnier, Bob Forman, Jay Leon, Bill Catalano, Rino Minetti, Al Lauricella Similar John Davis and the Monster, Instant Funk, Gino Soccio, Dan Hartman, France Joli | ||
Gary's Gang was an American R&B/pop rock group best known for their U.S. hit "Keep on Dancin'," reaching #41 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978. The song also climbed to #8 in the UK Singles Chart, #14 on the Hot Soul Singles chart in 1978 and also made #1 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart, as did two of the group's other songs: "Do It At the Disco" and "Let's Lovedance Tonight". The latter was later used as the sampling background track to Soulsearcher's 1999 #20 Club Play hit, "Can't Get Enough".
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In the 1980s Gary's Gang enjoyed further U.S. and European success with the 1982 single "Knock Me Out" (#45 UK) and the 1983 hit "Makin' Music", which reached #8 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. Brian Chin of Billboard described "Knock Me Out" to be "midtempoed and very pop, it shares much of the soft-edged production styling and doowoppish vocals of the group's earlier work."
The band
Gary's Gang was the brainchild of Joseph Tucci and Gary Turnier who put the group together when they sold "Keep on Dancin" to Sam Records in Long Island City, states Gary Turnier (Gary's Gang). The song was written, produced and recorded in Tucci's Richmond Hill garage. All vocals were sung by Tucci, who also played all the instruments (except for the drums which were played by Gary Turnier). After Gary Turnier shopped the song to all major labels for several weeks, Sam Records picked up the record for release. Sam Weiss sold the record to Columbia Records a few months later.
The touring group, based in Queens, New York, consisted of Gary Turnier, Eric Matthew aka Joseph Tucci, Al Lauricella, Rino Minetti, Bill Catalano, Bob Forman and Jay Leon.
The song "Keep on Dancin'" was featured on "54, Volume I", the official album from the 1998 Miramax film 54.
Mr. Oizo's song "Patrick122" features a re-working of Gary's Gang's song "Do It At The Disco".
Songs
Keep on Dancin'Keep on Dancin' · 1979
Let's Lovedance TonightKeep on Dancin' · 1979
Knock Me Out1982