PETE DAGOSTINO
Man of a Thousand Songs (and then some)When you read about early 1970s NYC, its often noted, there were suchcolorful and talented characters making music and art Well, one of those isstill around and hes still a character and hes still got talent and cojones outthe wazoo: Pete DAgostino.Cross ZZTop with Iggy Pop, some Elvis, Otis, Hendrix, and Jagger on topand you have Pete DAgostino, an accomplished singer / songwriter /guitarist whose long percolating solo album has finally bubbled out of hispersonal rock laboratory.Like Nikos Kazantzakis who wrote Zorba the Greek at 66 and GrandmaMoses who picked up the paintbrush at 78, Pete is a late bloomer and proudof it, ready to show his petals to the public .Pete has maintained a consistent and impressive artistic presence for over30 years. He appeared in the movie Alligators by Anton Perich (protégé ofAndy Warhol), and was subject of famous painting Tooth of the Hound bylegendary queen of the beatniks, Val Myers. Pete opened for Tiny Tim withband 2-Slick, played guitar for David Arnham at NYCs legendary MaxsKansas City NY, and performed with Ryo Kawasaki (Elvin Jones band), SamAndrews (Janis Joplins lead guitar and band leader), Calvin Brown (RoyAyers, Pharaoh Sanders), and Teruo Nakamuras (Stanley Turrentine) bandRising Sun. 1984-87 he studied acting at Herbert Berghof Studios underWilliam Hickey who said,Peter has an uncanny sense of truthfulness. In1987,Pete sung lead vocal on a remake of Lou Reeds Walk on the Wild Sideproduced by Bobby Nathan.When he appears on stage, the audience appreciates the indisputable rockauthenticity exuded by Pete. His signature rabbit-fur hat, immortalized in theaforementioned painting by Myers, augments his animated stage presence.The hat first appeared in 1974 when Pete entered a pre-James Brownconcert fashion show; practically the only white person at the PhiladelphiaSpectrum, Pete in full ruffled regalia, a Mississippi River Boat crushedvelvet suit- scaled the side of the stage, hung on chains, and tight roped hisway onto the stage ahead of hundreds trying to rush the pageant. He didntwin not one person clapped for him to win whenpointed at by James Browns MC (not even the friend Pete came with) butPete knew he won just for having the chutzpah to get up there and strut thestrut sandwiched between couples in Easter Sunday-best and peacockedpimps.Petes new solo album is gritty, catchy and full of rabblerousing genuine rockand roll. The music rocks hard but with a seasoned subtlety evident inunexpected jazzy chords and imaginative way-out-and-back-again lightninglicks.Not only does Peter strum a mean guitar, but he plays bass, drums,piano, and organ as well. This recording also features drummer John PCooksey (Ashford and Simpson, Talking Heads and Brian Eno). The albumwas co-produced by Tony Smalios, with whom, during the production of thealbum, Pete, who is Italian, had many an argument over the relativecontributions of Ancient Greek vs Roman society. In between these heatedexchanges, more than a smattering of musical moments were caught, andare now ready to be released to the masses, may they beware.
Currently Pete owns and operates B Reel Recording Studio, a fullservice facility in NYC and his Web site, www.petedag.com includes bio,photos, music and videos. He's recently performed in NYC at CBGBs, Don Hills,Kennys Castaways, Hogs and Heffers, Arlene's Grocery, Continental, Snitch Bar and The C-Note.
Pete Dag
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