- Ron Striano was born April 1, 1945 in Paterson, New Jersey, of immigrant Italian parents. He had many musical and media artists in his large Italian family. His introduction to music was at the feet of his maternal grandfather who played guitar and wrote songs, often comedic songs written in both English and Italian, which were played to entertain large gatherings of family every summer at what was referred to as the "family feast." Many other relatives would play together in groups while the family sang and danced all day and into the evening.
Striano's father played mandolin and sang, often songs he had written, accompanied by paternal uncles Pete and Jim, who played harmonica, violin and guitar. Striano became fascinated with the guitar and began taking lessons at age 7 years. While his friends would be out playing sports and "hanging out," Striano was practicing his guitar, often playing himself to sleep at night.
In 1957, at age 12 years, Striano was discovered by Gerry Granahan, a performer, writer, record producer and music industry executive, who immediately brought Striano into the industry. Granahan was putting together a new music industry venture, Caprice Records. According to Granahan's biography: "Over the course of three releases, Gerry assembled the rest of the team, which would take Caprice to the top. It included Canadian-American's Neil Gallagen to handle the distribution; for arrangers, there were longtime associate Arnie Goland and Hutch Davie who also headed up the A&R department; and a young guitarist named Ron Striano to lead the in-house band and act as the contractor for the studio musicians. Striano almost immediately proved himself an invaluable addition to the staff when he brought in one of his classmates, a young girl named Rose Marie Cassili who was a singer and songwriter. Giving her the stage name "Janie Grant," Gerry produced the label's first hit on one of her original compositions. "Triangle" is the record that put Caprice on the map by reaching # 29 in 1961. Things began to snowball quickly for the label. Next up was the vocal trio, The Angels, another Striano discovery. Their recordings of "'Til" and "Cry Baby Cry" became two of the label's biggest hits and are considered two of the finest examples of the "girl group" sound ever recorded."
During this time, Granahan continued to perform and Striano worked initially as his conductor, and eventually became a performing partner on stage. Striano also worked as the conductor and music coordinator for the Angels, as they toured the country, including working in early 1968 at the Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida, with Frank Sinatra.
In 1961, at age 15 years, Striano was signed as a musician, songwriter and performer by Bernie Lowe to Cameo-Parkway Records, at the recommendation of Dave Appel, music, songwriting and record producing legend, where he was given the name, Ronnie Lavelle, and joined the stable of artists including Bobby Rydell, Chubby Checker, the Dovells, the Orlons and numerous other artists. Politics at the label prevented Striano from advancing his career and Striano left there to join another creative team.
In 1963, at age 18 years, Striano signed with FGG Productions and Grand Canyon Music Publishing. He was signed through his production company to Dimension Records by Don Kirshner, who re-named him "Ron Winters" with Striano's first release, his composition, "Snow Girl," a song greatly inspired by Bo Diddley. "Snow Girl" is still found today on Christmas compilations. Striano recorded "Back in the USA" by Chuck Berry, which became a top ten record in Europe, but was only modestly successful in the United States.
In 1964, Striano's next release for Dimension Records, "Red MG," quickly began to climb the charts. British Motor Corporation (BMC), the manufacturer of the iconic MG sports cars, became aware of the record and Striano's producers were contacted by Roland Company, the public relations firm that handled the BMC account. Striano toured the country in a 1964 red MGB provided by BMC and appeared at automobile industry shows where he performed the record and promoted both the record and the car. Banners with Striano's picture and the name of the record appeared in MG dealerships across the country. (Later in life, Striano would go on to acquire and restore cars himself, including the famed Red MG, making them available for television and film productions.) It appeared Striano was going to enjoy success with the record, however, at a crucial point in the promotion of the record, Director of Record Promotion, Danny Davis, called Striano, along with another artist for the label, the very successful Lou Christy, into his office. Danny informed both artists he had been offered a position in Los Angeles with Phil Spector, and was leaving the label. He told Striano, there was no one in place to carry the promotion, and the record would be dead.
Striano and his producers met to regroup and develop the next direction for him. Striano had been strongly influenced by numerous artists from jazz, rock and classical music. Bo Diddley, who had greatly influenced Striano's writing of "Snow Girl," would inspire the next venture for him and his producers. In 1965, Striano, with his producers Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein and Richard Gottehrer, formed a group, _The Strangeloves_. Striano used the name "Reggie Strange" in this fictitious group that claimed to be from an Australian sheep herding family. Feldman, Goldstein and Gottehrer were presented as brothers, Niles, Giles and Jiles, and Reggie Strange was their cousin. The Stangeloves' recording, "I Want Candy" became a huge success, and has been recorded numerous times over the years by various artists since its first release. Striano didn't receive recognition for his involvement in that project until the early 2000's when a Strangeloves reunion took place on the nationally syndicated Joey Reynolds Show, broadcast from New York City on WOR-AM. Reynolds and Striano had known one another from the early 1960's when Reynolds was beginning his career in radio and Striano was signed to Dimension. Striano became a regular visitor to the show where it was often discussed that in the early years of rock'n'roll: "Nobody got paid! But we all had a great time with the music."
During Striano's time with FGG, the Angels were signed to the production team and enjoyed success with their recording, "My Boyfriend's Back." This creative reunion between Striano and the Angels resulted in Striano again assuming the role of conductor and music coordinator for the group as they toured with their new hit single.
During this same time, from 1964 to 1968, Striano worked as a consultant to The Clay Cole Show, a very successful local television music program out of WPIX-TV, New York City. The show presented popular contemporary and rock'n'roll recording artists, including the Rolling Stones, who made their first USA television appearance on the Clay Cole Show, and Tony Bennett who appeared live with a piano trio, filling a complete show. Striano's responsibilities included writing and producing special recorded music for regularly scheduled televised shows and specials, as well as all creative and production aspects of live, non-televised performances of the Clay Cole Review. Striano became a performing partner with Cole as the review evolved.
In 1968, Striano was reunited with Gerry Granahan, who was now Director of Artists and Repertoire for Paramount Pictures, Dot Records division, New York City. Striano was invited to work as the Assistant Director of A&R. He became a member of a group signed to the label, "Doyle, Dooley and Company," with the very talented songwriter / singer Phil Doyle and singer Pat Dooley. Striano was a huge fan of the New York sports teams, and on October 16,1969, following the New York Mets winning the 1969 World Series, Striano received a call from the Mets and was invited to perform at the party at the Diamond Club as the Mets celebrated their victory. He brought Doyle, Dooley and Company and considers this unique opportunity one of the highlights of his performing career experiences.
Throughout his early career, Striano worked as a musician in the New York City studios. In 1968, while still at Paramount / Dot, Striano formed his own company and continued his work as a studio musician, writer and live performer. During this time he wrote and produced commercials, beginning the craze of 1950's style commercials with his Long Johns Jeans radio jingle. He continued, after leaving Paramount / Dot, to run his own company until 1979. Striano co-wrote, with Julio Guitterez, one of the most successful Spanish songs, "Se Acabo." Striano provided the English lyric with the English name, "Once We Loved." This song enjoyed worldwide success after it was recorded by La Lupe. It was also recorded by numerous artists including Eartha Kitt and Rita Moreno, who chose the song to perform for one of her appearances on the The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962). Striano was a prolific writer who wrote many styles of music, with songs recorded by numerous artists throughout the 60's and 70's.
In 1969, Striano teamed up once again with Gerry Granahan to write and produce the musical score for what would be the final film appearance for Jane Russell. The film was first released in 1970 with the title Cauliflower Cupids (1970) and again in 1975 with the title Cauliflower Cupids (1970). The film co-starred Peter Savage of _Raging Bull_ fame, Lee Meredith, and boxing legends, Rocky Graziano, Jake LaMotta, Willie Pep, Paddy DeMarco, Tony Zale and Petey Scalzo. Striano wrote the music and Striano and Granahan produced and edited the score. One of the highlights of the musical production was a song, "Class and Culture," sung as a duet by Rocky Graziano and Jake LaMotta.
In 1979, Striano was invited by Shelly Cohen, the music librarian for the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, to join a group of writers who provided the scores for most of the television series produced in Los Angeles, California. Striano had been introduced to Cohen by a close friend and colleague, famed bass player, Jules Ruggiero, who knew Cohen from his work with Doc Severinsen and the Tonight Show Band. Striano was in the process of moving to Los Angeles in 1979 when he was involved in a car accident while on a trip back to New Jersey to tie up loose ends and visit with his fiancé, who was a medical student at Harvard at the time. His severe injuries resulted in a long period of rehabilitation and recovery. His injuries and his time away from the music business resulted in this chapter of his life coming to a close.
Striano's romantic relationship was not able to survive the distance, pressures of medical school for his fiancé, and Striano's focus on recovery. This motor vehicle accident was truly a life-changing event. With the loss of his first career and his plans for marriage, Striano focused on his recovery and rehabilitation, and rebuilding his life. A year after his accident, while his recovery was continuing, Striano returned to school. He had, earlier in his life, attended Julliard and graduated from Farleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey in 1968 with a BFA in Music. A year after his car accident, Striano enrolled back at FDU to complete his undergraduate requirements to apply to graduate school in a clinical psychology program. He received his M.A. in Psychology from FDU in 1983 and his Ph.D. in Psychology in 1988 from California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP).
In 1984, when Striano began his doctorate program at CSPP, he was told to see Dr. Wesley T. Forbes who was a psychologist, professor, vice-president at the university and director of the internship program. This was a surprise reunion for both Striano and Forbes. Forbes is the same Wes Forbes who was one of _The Five Satins_ who recorded arguably the most iconic of all 1950's ballads, "In the Still of the Night." Striano and Forbes had been friends years before in the music business and had worked many of the same shows together. This friendship resumed easily and, the day after Striano completed his doctorate, Forbes served as Best Man at Striano's wedding on the beach in Carmel, California. Forbes' wife, Yvonne, who is now deceased, served as Bride's Maid for Striano's wife, Ruth DeNatale, a fellow student.
Rosemary Clooney, singer and aunt of actor, George Clooney, greatly influenced Striano's choice of his second career. When Striano was working in New York City with Gerry Granahan, Granahan would take Striano for dinner after work, before returning him to his parents' home in New Jersey. Granahan had a close friend, Bill Courtney, lead singer of the Four Esquires, a group that enjoyed five successful single recordings in the late 1950's and later went into music publishing. Courtney had a long relationship with singer, 'Margaret Whiting'. Margaret's best friend was Rosemary Clooney. When all were in town, Striano, Granahan, Courtney, Whiting and Clooney would have dinner together. Striano was 12 years old at the time, and this became his show business family. Clooney had a well-publicized long history of depression and was in psychoanalysis for many years. Striano's conversations with Clooney over the years, about her experiences with her illness and treatment, impressed Striano and sensitized him to this aspect of human life. When the car accident ended his music career, he recalled his conversations with Clooney, and easily gravitated to a career in psychology.
Striano continues to work as a medical psychologist and a forensic specialist in New Jersey. In addition to being licensed in New Jersey, he is licensed in Florida and Arizona. Striano is the author of a book, "Surviving Life," a philosophy of life based on his professional training and his personal experiences, which addresses maximizing the experience of life.
Striano is the husband of clinical psychologist, Dr. Ruth A. DeNatale, and father of actor, Michael Striano, and dancer, Stephanie Striano. Striano and his wife live in Mendham, New Jersey. He enjoys collecting guitars, horticulture, woodworking and automobile restoration. Among his collection is a red MG that he restored, the car he wrote and sang about when he was a teenager. Striano has resumed his creative and performance involvement in entertainment and is currently satisfying a life-long ambition, writing the book and music for a musical comedy.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Vyt Brunner (Graphite Press)
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