Jim Bonfanti Explained

James Alexander Bonfanti (born December 17, 1948, in Windber, Pennsylvania) is a rock drummer who is best known for having been a member of the band Raspberries.

Career

Bonfanti's music career began in 1965 when he saw The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show,^[1] which eventually led him to join a band called The Mods, later renamed The Choir.^[2] Their recording of "It’s Cold Outside" reached the national charts in 1967. In 1970, Bonfanti, Wally Bryson, Dave Smalley and Eric Carmen formed Raspberries.^[3] Together they produced four albums, eight singles, and a U.S. top ten and gold record for their major hit "Go All the Way".^{[4] [5]}

Following two albums both released in 1972, creative tension came to a head sparked largely by Carmen's creative dominance over the contributions of fellow members. After the release of the Raspberries' third album, Side 3, Smalley and Bonfanti left the Raspberries to form their own band, Dynamite.^[6]

, Bonfanti resides in Mentor, Ohio.^[7]

Notes and References

1. News: Hann. Michael. Cult heroes: Raspberries – 60s-loving progenitors of powerpop. 2016-07-12. The Guardian. 2020-04-14. en-GB. 0261-3077.
2. Web site: Shuffle: The Choir Will Sing Again at the Beachland Ballroom This Weekend. Bhatia. Kabir. www.wksu.org. en. 2020-04-14.
3. Web site: Go All The Way by The Raspberries - Songfacts. Songfacts. www.songfacts.com. en. 2020-04-14.
4. Web site: Go All The Way – The Raspberries – 1972. 2015-12-13. seventies music. en. 2020-04-14.
5. Web site: How Raspberries Crafted a Power Pop Gem on Their First Album. Swanson. Dave. Ultimate Classic Rock. en. 2020-04-14.
6. Book: Hoffmann, Frank. Chronology of American Popular Music, 1900-2000. 2016-05-23. Routledge. 978-1-135-86886-4. en.
7. News: Betsy. Scott. Raspberries drummer Jim Bonfanti of Mentor honored for part in 'Guardians of the Galaxy' album. The News-Herald. 2015-08-28. 2016-12-15. 2016-08-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20160827071111/http://www.news-herald.com/arts-and-entertainment/20150828/raspberries-drummer-jim-bonfanti-of-mentor-honored-for-part-in-guardians-of-the-galaxy-album. dead.