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Dear Family, Friends and Fans, As some of you who dabble in Facebook know from my posts over these past few months, I’m in a new band, ARC, which I am mighty proud of, and if the name triggers the image of a trajectory, we feel it too.
For me “support the music” has always meant coming out to live events. I’ve been fortunate to be blessed by the presence of so many of you over the last 40 — yes, 40! — years. ARC, short for The American Rock Celebration, is a high-octane combination of lead singer Jimmy Kunes, the dynamic Cactus front man and before that Savoy Brown; esteemed bassist Dennis Dunaway, co-founder of the Alice Cooper Band, who co-wrote some of Alice’s biggest hits including, “I’m Eighteen” and “School’s Out” (Alice Cooper will be inducted into the The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year); drummer/percussionist Russ Wilson, who’s been playing with Dennis for years; and yours truly on lead guitar and vocals.
With five songs recorded, we are reaching out to our families, friends and fans for a different kind of support: to find our own “ARC Angels” to help us finance the remaining production of our first record. Toward this end, we are offering the opportunity to buy charter sponsorships in ARC.
There are two ways to participate:
- Become a charter sponsor. For $125, you or your company will be mentioned on the CD and receive an autographed CD.
- Pre-order the CD now. For $35, you will get ARC’s autographed CD when it is released.
Make checks payable to: Lenox Sound Recording Studio, LLC. Put "ARC Angel Sponsor" on memo line.
Mail checks to:
Lenox Sound Recording Studio
P.O. Box 2181
Stamford, CT 06906-0181
We know times are tough for everyone and appreciate your support, whatever form it takes — even if it means that at this time you’d like to be on our mailing list to know when ARC will be next performing live. We plan on releasing 3 EPs and then the full-blown CD with some extra tracks on it.
ARC THANKS YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Contact me @ riffratrec@gmail.com.
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Photos By Dan Morgan
Now She's Gone
About the Band
There’s no faking it. People who love rock can tell when the performing musicians love their music. People can tell when it’s not just a paying gig, but an art form that they’re deeply committed to. When their music is like their family, people can tell. Memorizing the words and the chord changes isn’t enough. Rock music has to come from the heart.
This is the creed of
The American Rock Celebration,
and our followers are true believers in the dedication of the musical movement that’s capturing the nation. Rock lovers can feel the genuine quality of the golden voice of Jimmy Kunes. He obviously loves the music as much as they do. His guitar playing sends the same message, especially as it complements and intertwines with John “Ratso” Gerardi’s perfect guitar tones — guitar tones that a hundred others attempt, but just barely miss, so it’s not just the same. And in rock, a small difference is a monumental difference. People can hear that difference and that’s why they keep coming back to The American Rock Celebration concerts to hear rock songs played with sincere respect and hard-working commitment.
So the vocals and guitars are there but what about the bass and drums? What about the rhythm section, the foundation of the tower of rock? Dennis Dunaway and Russ Wilson handle the driving bottom with the same dedication and feel as the greatest that have ever played rock. They simply love what they do.
Who are these guys?
Dennis Dunaway was a founding member and bassist of the legendary Alice Cooper Band that conceptualized and pioneered theatrical rock shows which have influenced arena productions ever since. Dennis co-wrote several of Alice’s nine top-100 hits including, “I’m Eighteen,” “Under My Wheels,” and “School’s Out.” His distinctive style is a driving force of The American Rock Celebration.
The vocal style of Jimmy Kunes resonates with American blues and packs the soulful punch that is demanded in hard, electrified rock. Jimmy has toured internationally with Savoy Brown, The Kim Simmonds Band, and Cactus. He has worked with many amazing artists including, Simon Kirke, Steve Gorman, and Robert Kearns. Jimmy has two solo albums: "Love Train" Slow Moving Vehicle and "Jimmy Kunes Band" Gate Of All Saints.
On stage with The American Rock Celebration, Jimmy’s charismatic force connects with audiences in an exciting way.
Guitar-master John “Ratso” Gerardi is another stellar performer, songwriter, and recording artist for The American Rock Celebration. Ratso has recorded with Diana Ross and shared the stage trading blistering licks with guitar legends Rick Derringer and Matt “Guitar” Murphy. He even got an offer to play guitar for Ozzy Osbourne but chose to follow his own career, which led to the popular Ratso’s Full Blown Blues Band. Always being true to blues-rooted rock, Ratso’s delivery is smooth, yet his guitar playing can get as gritty and down and dirty as it gets.
Russ Wilson hammers his drums with physical conviction and cerebral style. If a song calls for simplicity, he’ll make you feel like a bird sailing on the wind. If a song calls for sophistication, you’ll feel like you’re sipping champagne at the Waldorf Astoria. And if a song calls for unabashed primal pounding, don’t let the mild-mannered gent fool you. You’ll get the fiery power of a well-oiled runaway locomotive. Russ genuinely loves to play, and because of that, he delivers all that’s great about music directly to the heart of the listener. He brings it home in the great spirit of
The American Rock Celebration.
COME OUT AND SEE US!
www.RatsoMusic.com | www.LenoxSound.com | www.LSOM.info
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