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All Music Guide:
Joe Cerisano began performing professionally at the age of 14 and in the years since, has emerged as one of American music's most sought-after singer/songwriter producers. During his career, the West Virginia native has been a founding member of California '80s rock band Silver Condor (with David Bowie's former guitarist Earl Slick), a studio session singer, a singer for television and radio commercials, and a backing vocalist for Michael Bolton. Cerisano has also sang with Blue Öyster Cult, Gloria Estefan, Placido Domingo, and Richie Havens. In 1990, he and his songwriting partner Marc Blatte began work on Carbon Copy, which they eventually recorded in New York City, New Jersey, and Nashville.
Providing further proof that Joe Cerisano's currency is as vital today as it ever was, in 1999 he contributed vocals to the alternative metal band Korn on their Issues release.
Wikipedia:
Joe Cerisano, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and President of Outta' the Woods Records. He is often referred to as "possibly the most famous anonymous singer in America".
Early life
Cerisano began performing professionally at the age of 14, being underage but still singing local speakeasys where liquor was sold in the dry state of West Virginia. Even before he was old enough to be in these clubs he was singing with a succession of regional bands in the north central West Virginia area. At sixteen he called Dave Coombs who was the leader of the biggest band in West Virginia, The Bonnevilles, who were the darlings of West Virginia University and who would travel out to NJ every summer to play in Somers Point NJ. At seventeen Joe was asked to join The Bonnevilles. It was the summer of 1968 the Bonneville played seven night a week with matinees on Sat and Sun from 3PM to 2AM earning his stripes as a real trouper. Coming home at the end of the summer called for a break. In the spring of 69 Combs called Joe again to possibly start another group which turned out to be Kabosse which eventually morfed into Elderberry Jak. Elderberry Jak secured a record deal with Kenny Roger's brother Leland in Memphis. He later moved to New Jersey and then to California. While in California in 1980, he and guitarist Earl Slick formed the rock band Silver Condor under the Columbia Records label. Silver Condor had the Top 40 hit "You Could Take My Heart Away" in 1981.
Early career
In the late 1970s, Joe Cerisano and his guitarist/co-leader Lee Fink had one of the top original groups in a sea of cover bands in the New Jersey rock club scene. R-Band drew large crowds due to their original songs, which was rare for the time. Playing seven nights a week took its toll on the band so in December 1979, after a call from Earl Slick, Joe left the band to return to California. Six months later Silver Condor was formed, who played all the songs that were written for R-Band. After the breakup of Silver Condor, Joe returned to NYC in 1984.
In the mid-1980s, Cerisano's music career began to evolve into his becoming one of the most successful studio session singers in the United States. His commercial work in television and radio singing includes spots for Coca-Cola, Chrysler/Plymouth, General Electric, Miller Beer, the United States Army, the United States Navy and numerous others.
During this period, Cerisano also did backing vocals on several albums by Michael Bolton, and he was the singer of the 1986 song "Hands Across America". The video was featured on MTV and still is being played on Pop-up Video and VH1.
On their Imaginos album, Blue Öyster Cult featured Cerisano as the lead singer for the song, "The Siege and Investiture of Baron von Frankenstein's Castle at Weisseria". He and Gloria Estefan appeared together on the soundtrack of the 1988 musical, Goya; A Life in Song. In 1998, Cerisano was one of the lead vocalists chosen by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra to be featured on their album, The Christmas Attic and also was one of their featured lead vocalists on their tours from 2000 through 2003.
Cerisano sang backup for the rock band Korn in November 1999, as they introduced their new album, Issues. A concert was staged live in New York City at the Apollo Theatre. Broadcast of this event was carried on more than 100 radio stations around the world, as part of the album's global debut.
In April 2000, Cerisano appeared on West Virginia Mountain Stage at Fairmont State College in Fairmont, West Virginia. Other invited guests on stage that evening included Eric Weissberg, who performed with Cerisano. Mary Black, Mick Moloney, Dee Carstensen and Dave Mallett also entertained the audience. The live performance was taped and later broadcast.
Many other renowned artists have also called upon Cerisano's talent during the span of his career; Felix Cavaliere, Richie Havens, Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson and Jack Scarangella are just a few of them.
