 | San Francisco rock singer/songwriter - who should have done way better. Catchy tunes with a rockin' feeling - that might describe his music. The voice reminding of Bruce Springsteen at times. All that talent must have been the reason why many famous Bay Area artists joined Rocky Sullivan on his albums. Rocky Sullivan was born as Anthony Galante in New York in 1948 and that's also the place where he joined his first bands. He started with the doo wop group 'The Visuals' and then went on to play with 'The Braid'. Further information regarding these bands can be found in an interview with Rocky (link underneath) and the discography. When Rocky came to San Francisco he had not only changed his name but also started his solo career and recorded several albums. "Illegal Entry" (1980), a nice enough album which includes the tasty "Everybodies Got A Price", features among others, Nicky Hopkins, Greg Douglass, John Cipollina and Mario Cipollina. The songs on this album were recorded even before Rocky had a record deal during several sessions in 1978 (March, July and October) at the Automat, San Francisco. Except two songs, which were written by John Cipollina, Rocky wrote all songs himself. "Back Up Girl" and "Roxy" had already been released before on San Fransico's Jupiter Records compilation City Lights in 1979. Which also featured the first appearance by Tommy Tutone.
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| In 1982 Rocky released his second album "Internal Affairs" - once again with Mario and John Cipollina plus ex-Clover drummer Micky Shine. Compared to his first record Rocky's second album is full of songs with hit approach. Possibly the best songs he ever recorded. Unfortunately the album didn't get the reception it deserved. All songs on this album were written by Rocky. On his 1986 album "Caught In The Crossfire", which was produced by Barry Flast, Rocky Sullivan used a differen't band including his wife Ilona who provided backing vocals. The album was released on the German label Line Records and all songs were composed by Rocky himself. Although Rocky's musical talent led to believe that he might become somewhat more famous this never happened. This can also be attributed to an auto-immune disease which kept Rocky from making music for a long time.
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Around 2002 Rocky, who had been writing novels once he stopped making music at the end of the 80s, started to write songs again and sang a few songs at the 13th John Cipollina Memorial, May 29, 2002. Rocky Sullivan passed away at the age of 59 on November 25, 2007. He will be missed by fans, friends and family. Hopefully Rocky's music will be re-released sometime in the future as all his wonderful recordings are currently out of print. |
 Rocky Sullivan and John Cipollina 1979 |
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Read more about Rocky in this interview which Rocky contributed to Bay-Area-Bands.com in 2003. | ||
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as Tony Galante with The Visuals (1959-64):
 | The Submarine Race (Poplar Records 1962) | Side A: The Submarine Race Side B: Maybe You First of three singles released on Stan Soifer's Poplar label founded in New York in 1962. | Out of print try eBay GEMM ... |
 | My Juanita (Poplar Records 1963) | Side A: My Juanita Side B: A Boy A Girl And A Dream Second of three singles released on Stan Soifer's Poplar label founded in New York in 1962. | Out of print try eBay GEMM ... |
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Various Artists | VISUALS: Submarine Race -- TONY & NORM: I Wonder -- NORMAN, Zack: Hey Doll -- HAVENS: Want You -- SPARKLES: And We Danced (prev. unreleased) -- VISUALS: Maybe You -- NICHOLS, Sherman: I´m Gonna Divorce You -- BELVEDERES: Lost Love -- VINCENT, Stan: Amazon Trail -- SPARKLES: We Got It -- RUSSEL, Rick & DEL-SATINS: My Angel -- WILLIAMS, Colly: My Vow -- VISUALS: My Juanita -- HAVENS: Only Once -- SPARKLES: Where There´s A Will -- MONIQUES: Goin´ Down To Birdland -- ENCHANTONES: My Picture of You -- VISUALS: A Boy, A Girl, And A Dream -- NORMAN, Zack: Giving Up Love -- DEBUTANTES: Memories -- VISUALS & Female Lead: Just For Tonight (prev. unreleased) -- BELVEDERES: Why Do You Treat Me This Way ~ NICHOLES, Sherman: Sticking With You -- VISUALS: Please Don´t Be Mad At Me -- DEBUTANTES: Going Steady ~ ENCHANTONES: We Fell In Love -- MONIQUE: Hey Girl -- RUSELL, Rick & DEL-SATINS: It´s Time To Cry -- VISUALS: Blue (Enough To Cry) -- VISUALS & Female Lead: The Devil (prev. unreleased) -- VISUALS: One Little Kiss (acap. prev. unreleased) -- VISUALS: Murray The K Jingle -- VISUALS: Submarine Race (orig. demo prev. unreleased) |
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with The Braid as Tony Galante:
 | The Braid Moon Over Verrazano (ABC Records 1975) | The Bed Beside You -- It Flows -- Sweet Sweet Virginia -- The Man With The Blues -- Banjo Pickin' Bluegrass Man -- The Love I Turn Away -- Pa Nightmare -- The Singer -- When Your Were Mine -- The Last Time I Saw Caroline -- A Kind Of Lovin' (That Ain't No Good) -- Amos Hardy Musicians: Tony Galante (= Rocky Sullivan), Jim O'Malley, Joe Porcelli, John Porcelli; plus: Richard Crooks, Kenny Laguna, Louie Argese, Donald Brooks, Ken Kosek, Bill Keith, Orlando Rodriguez, Elliot Randal | Out of print try eBay GEMM ... |
as Rocky Sullivan:
 | City Lights, VA (Jupiter Records 1979) | Back Up Girl -- Roxy Musicians: Rocky Sullivan, John Cipollina, Nicky Hopkins, Greg Douglass, Mario Cipollina, Scott Matthews, Jeffrey Cohen Other bands on this compilation album: Tommy Tutone, Fast Floyd, Born Ready, Back Road | Out of print try eBay GEMM ... |
 | Illegal Entry (Jupiter/Rag Baby 1980) | Everybody's Got A Price -- Leave It At That -- Jacknife Lover -- Who's Kiddin' Who -- Watcha Get -- You -- Bring Back The Night -- Back Up Girl -- Bigelow 6-5000 -- Roxy -- Fever Dreams Musicians: Rocky Sullivan, John Cipollina, Greg Douglass, Nicky Hopkins, Mario Cipollina, Mike Varney, Steve Lind, Greg Anton, Scott Matthews, Mac Cridlin, Mark Cummings, Carole Steele, Mark Shaiman, Jeffrey Cohen, Janet Morrison, Jeanette Sartain, Pam Moore Album recorded: March, July and October 1978 | Out of print try eBay GEMM ... |
 | Love Me Just A Little/ Shake Your Shake (Jupiter Records 1980) | Side A: Love Me Just A Little Side B: Shake Your Shake Musicians: Rocky Sullivan, John Cipollina, Greg Douglass, Nicky Hopkins, Mario Cipollina, Marc Nielsen, Trish Robbins, Jill Bergman | Out of print try eBay GEMM ... |
 | Bring Back The Night/ Who's Kiddin' Who (Rag BabyRecords 1981) | Side A: Bring Back The Night Side B: Who's Kiddin' Who Musicians: Rocky Sullivan, John Cipollina, Scott Mathews, Mac Cridlin, Mark Cummings, Carole Steele, Mark Shaiman, Jeffrey Cohen, Janet Morrison, Jeanette Sartain, Pam Moore (Side A); Rocky Sullivan, John Cipollina, Mike Varney, Steve Lind, Greg Anton (Side B) | Out of print try eBay GEMM ... |
 | Internal Affairs (Rag Baby/Line 1982) | Be My Baby -- One Good Reason -- One Of A Kind -- I Was Wrong -- Love Me Just A Little -- Make Me Shake -- San Francisco Blues Again -- Victim Of Circumstance -- Another Heart -- My Baby Musicians: Rocky Sullivan, Mike Varney, John Cipollina, Greg Douglass, Jeff Pilson, Mario Cipollina, Micky Shine, Marc Nielsen, Charles Tapp, Mark Robertson, Nicky Hopkins, Trish Robbins, Jill Bergman | Out of print try eBay GEMM ... |
 | Caught In The Crossfire (Line 1986) | Caught In The Crossfire -- The Year Of The Wolf -- Ain't Lettin' Go -- Operator -- Powerplay --- Takin' Chances -- The Gift -- Now That I Found You -- Fire In The Sky -- Never Again Musicians: Rocky Sullivan, Jim Hodder, James Rolleston, Bob Zuckerman, Joel Jaffe, Barry Flast, Martin Fierro, Dave Meniketti, Doug Adams, Lisa Haley, Bob Amacker, Desda Cordtz, Rahni Raines, Ilona Sullivan | Out of print try eBay GEMM ... |
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