THE FRUIT OF HIS LABOR
Raspberries drummer gets his wish

By Steve Palisin

Raspberries drummer Jim Bonfanti wanted one more show with the ol' gang; tonight, at House of Blues, he gets his wish.

Jim Bonfanti whips out his wallet to show a fortune cookie's message from a few years ago: "You will soon be graced with the presence of stardom."

"That's the story," says the drummer from Mentor, the force behind the reunion of the Raspberries.

Bonfanti doesn't see a better time or place for the band's concert tonight that crowns House of Blue Cleveland's grand opening (the venue's first concert was a week ago).

The Cleveland quartet, named after Eric Carmen's music publishing company, Magic Raspberries, rocked with pop hits such as "Go All the Way," "I Wanna Be With You" and "Overnight Sensation" on Capitol Records. The group spent about four years together, last performing in 1973 and breaking up the next year.

"I've always felt it would be a good thing if we could do one show," Bonfanti says of reuniting the group he co-founded with lead singer Carmen, who lives in the Cleveland area, guitarist Wally Bryson of Leroy Township and bassist Dave Smalley of Phoenix.

The idea started with a phone call from Anthony Nicolaidis, the talent buyer from House of Blues Cleveland, who, Bonfanti says, was looking to make the venue's weeklong marquis opening extra memorable.

An independent auto broker, Bonfanti says this project accelerated one person at a time. He first contacted Carmen, who, having played House of Blues sites in Los Angeles and Chicago on the 2000 tour with Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band, was open to the idea.

"He called them two of the best venues they did," Bonfanti says. Bonfanti later won Bryson to the cause.

"I said, 'This is a great opportunity for us," Bonfanti says. "In spite of ourselves, let's have some fun with this."

Smalley has spent the past two summers in Greater Cleveland, Bonfanti says. Two days after arriving this year, Smalley called Bonfanti and, over a subsequent dinner, broached the reunion initiative.

"All of us are in good health, and have friends and family no longer even here," Bonfanti says of his pitch to Smalley. "I got it into his head: Next year, one of us might not even be here. One phone call, and your life can change forever."

Bonfanti realizes how things have changed for the group and the music business in three decades. They're all 55, and Bonfanti's the eldest.

"Music has given us longevity," he says. "We've added to our fan base and developed an additional following. We've been elevated to a level where we never were in the 1970s."

Bryson, who composed the opening guitar solo for "Go All the Way," says, "The band, as is, is very musical and powerful. We're all 30 years better on our instruments and, of course, more mature and stable.

"The rhythm section of Jim and Dave lays a very solid foundation. Eric's ability to orchestrate and voice keyboard string lines is uncanny—just the way I hear 'em in my head. His piano playing is on the same level, almost unbelievable."

A drummer since age 5, Bonfanti didn't own a drum set from 1977 to '92. In '77, he sold the Ludwig kit he used with the group. Like a person trying to quit smoking, he made a clean break.

"I just got to a point where I had enough," Bonfanti recalls. "I told (my wife) Barb, 'I want to quit music.' I sold the drums, because if I didn't, I might not quit."

However, a conversation with Cleveland singer-songwriter Jeff Soukup in 1992 and seeing a concert, put a rock beat back in Bonfanti's heart. It was time to find some drums.

"I looked in The News-Herald Sunday ads and bought a set in Eastlake," Bonfanti says.

They turned out to be a stop-gap solution, however, because Bonfanti developed an itch for getting his hands on a specific set he played with the Raspberries.

"I had specially picked each tom's size, the metal chrome and the wood shell," he says of the drums he used while recording the band's third album, Side 3.

He and Barb drove to Barberton to see the owner, who, citing the memories they held for Bonfanti, simply gave them to him.

"I completely restored them," he says, in "white marine pearl."

For the reunion, the group has added three complimentary musicians on guitars and vocals.

"It doesn't take away at all from what we're doing; it adds a fullness," Bonfanti says.

The extra trio comprises Paul Sidoti, part of Bonfanti's band, Boxer, and Billy Sullivan, both of whom have played with Gary Lewis and the Playboys, and singer Jennifer Lee, who's worked with Michael Stanley.

This souped-up version of the Raspberries began rehearsals about three weeks ago. Bonfanti says he needed to the time to reconnect with the way he used to play drums.

"I need to get the feel of that style," he says. "I played it more aggressive with the Raspberries than now."

Bonfanti and the band marvel at the reunion's appeal. The show sold out in four minutes, another is slated for New Year's Eve, and at least four booking agencies from across the country have inquired about more concerts.

"A lot of things are happening that we had not factored in," Bonfanti says.

The concert will be videotaped for a DVD, "because there's only going to be one first-time show," he says.

Carmen, who wrote most of the songs, says he's most looking forward to playing "Starting Over," the title track of the group's fourth and last album.

"This band plays it so beautifully," he says.

Smalley adds, "Cleveland has always remained special to me, no matter where I've traveled. When I return, to visit family and friends, there's always that flood of musical memories—the Painesville Armory, Finlandia Hall or the Agora, to name a few."

Want proof the Raspberries made their mark? It can be found in a box of crayons, Bonfanti points out. Crayola put out a set with a color to honor each of the 50 states. Ohio's? "Rock 'N' Roll Raspberry," of course.

News-Herald / November 26, 2004