Our road manager for close to 20 years, Franny Lebinski
(May 10, 1963 - January 13, 2009)
Back in a time when alternative & grunge dominated the musical scene and radio airwaves, Connecticut based Secret Smile was embracing a throwback style of 80’s pop/rock, which for better or worse, helped to distinguish the band from most others at the time. This refusal to conform however, quickly established them firmly in the “unconventional for the 90’s†category, and saw them rejected by virtually every major record label (some more than once!). Though unhappy with the industry due to timing, the band continued to press on, releasing their debut album Anatomy in 1994 on the British label SRG, and a second album Brick It! in 1997 on the now defunct J-Bird Records. It was after a show in 1998 however, at the legendary Stone Pony in New Jersey, that the band decided to take a break from each other and from music, while simultaneously riding out the grunge era. Fast- forwarding to present day, thankfully finds the power pop/rock sound of Secret Smile more "mainstream acceptable," and finds the band enjoying their ever-increasing popularity. Since reuniting in 2003, Secret Smile is known throughout Europe as well as the states, selling CD's in twenty-seven (27) different countries spanning five (5) continents.
The melodic and energetic sound of Secret Smile was first heard throughout the northeast area in 1991. Back in 1989, guitarist Ken Barberio and lead vocalist TJ Gabriele became disenchanted with their revolving door of drummers, and with playing cover songs in small bars. They decided to make a go of it as a duo, and began writing and recording original material in the basement of Ken's parents. The earliest person to take an interest in them was John Dubuque (who eventually became Tour Manager for artists such as Shania Twain and Cyndi Lauper). It was John Dubuque who would introduce the boys to AOR legend and former CBS recording artist Jeff Cannata (ArcAngel), with whom Secret Smile would begin a relationship that remains to this day. During those early years, the band’s music (recorded by Cannata) was spotlighted along with interviews on 105.9 FM and 99.1 FM (Connecticut’s highest rated rock station at the time), as well as college radio stations including Fairfield University. They appeared on numerous compilation CD’s on independent labels, both in the United States and Europe, and had the distinction of debuting at the legendary Toad’s Place (one of the top rock clubs in the nation), while opening for major label act Dramarama. It was after this debut at Toad's, that the band soon found themselves sharing the stage with many acts they had seen in concert just a few years earlier, including Meatloaf, Foreigner, Rick Springfield, Bret Michaels, Patty Smyth & Scandal, Starship, Dokken, Winger, Nine Days, LA Guns, Enuff Z’ Nuff, Ratt, White Lion, Steelheart, Kix, Danger Danger, Ted Poley, The Rembrandts, Peter Wolf, Jefferson Starship, Sweet, Tall Stories, Lillian Axe, Dan Reed Network, Tuff, Willie Nile, & Warrant.
..Besides Jeff Cannata, the band’s material has been engineered by Richard Oliver (Rolling Stones, Orleans, Ace Frehley) in New York City, and by guitarist Ken Barberio at his own Eleven Heaven Studios II. Secret Smile was signed to Metal Mayhem Records in the winter of 2003, and has released two (2) albums with them: The Road Less Traveled (2003) and Hurry Up And Wait (2005) which featured the great Ted Poley of Danger Danger, singing backup vocals on two (2) tracks. Their debut album Anatomy (1994) has also been re-issued by Metal Mayhem. The band's lineup has remained intact since 1994 and includes: Ken Barberio (Lead Guitar/Keyboards), TJ Gabriele (Lead Vocals), Bob Ventresca (Drums), Scott Wilson (Guitars), Todd Wilson (Bass)...
"Runaway" Video filmed in 2005 to promote Hurry Up And Wait
