Tony Romeo

Tony Romeo
Born (1938-12-25)December 25, 1938
Origin United States
Died June 23, 1995(1995-06-23) (aged 56)
Genres Pop
Occupation(s) songwriter, singer, producer
Instruments piano
Labels Columbia Records

Tony Romeo (December 25, 1938 June 23, 1995) was an American songwriter.[1] He is famous for writing the No.1 hit "I Think I Love You" by The Partridge Family as well as many other hit records, mostly during the 1960s and 1970s.[2]

Other hits written by Romeo include "Oh Boy (The Mood I'm In)" by both Diana Trask and Brotherhood of Man; "Walking in the Sand," sung by Al Martino, which reached #9 on the Adult Contemporary charts in 1970;[3] "Indian Lake" for The Cowsills;[3][4] and "I'm Gonna Make You Mine" by Lou Christie.[5][6] He wrote songs for The Seekers, The Everly Brothers, Richard Harris[7] and David Cassidy[8] among others.[9] His songs were used in such movies as Rain Man (1988) and Gaby: A True Story (1987).[10] and the TV program The Debbie Reynolds Show (1969–1970).[11] Through colleague Wes Farrell's Pocket Full of Tunes songwriting agency, Romeo additionally created commercial jingles to advertise such products as Breck shampoo, Coty cosmetics' fragrance Muguet de Bois, Pall Mall cigarettes, and Scripto lighters.[12]

Off and on, during the 1960s and 1970s, he attempted to make a name for himself as a singer and recorded solo singles "My Ol' Gin Buddy and Me"/"Mr. Hunkachunk" for Columbia Records in 1966 and "Go Johnny Go"/ "Doctor Recommended Me a Potion" in 1977 for Lifesong Records. Overall, over 150 of his songs were recorded,[13] in addition to working as a record producer. In 1970, he wrote music and lyrics for a musical-theater version of A Dog of Flanders. He also produced the duo, Good & Plenty [2] (cf. Good & Plenty candy). He also wrote and produced the MGM album The Trout on which he performed along with his brother Frank Romeo and Cass Morgan, and the unreleased solo album Moonwagon.

Romeo wrote nine platinum records.[14] His most successful song, "I Think I Love You," was released in November 1970, by Bell Records, the first single released by The Partridge Family. The song hit number one on the U.S. Billboard Pop Singles chart for three weeks: November 15 - December 5, 1970 [15]

During the last fifteen years of his life, Romeo was a resident of Pleasant Valley.[16] He died at home there at age 56 on June 23, 1995. His death was attributed to a heart attack.[1][2] Romeo was survived by his mother Irene Romeo Perrelle of Watervliet, and his brother Frank Romeo of Watervliet.[17]

Compositions

TitleYearOriginal artistAlbum
"Ain’t Life Grand"1967Good & PlentyThe World of Good & Plenty
"Anthem"1972Wayne NewtonCan’t You Hear the Song?
"Arizona Two Thoughts"1968The TroutThe Trout
"As Long as There’s You"1973The Partridge FamilyCrossword Puzzle
"Beautiful People"1967Good & PlentyThe World of Good & Plenty
"The Beginning"1968The TroutThe Trout
"Being Together"1972David CassidyCherish
"The Best Way to See America"1971Lou ChristiePaint America Love
"Blessed is the Rain"1969Brooklyn BridgeBrooklyn Bridge
"Blue Canadian Rocky Dream"1972Richard HarrisSlides
"A Brand New Man"1977Tony RomeoMoonwagon [unreleased]
Breck Shampoo[commercial]
"Californie"1966Tomorrow's People[single]
"The Candy Kid"1968The CowsillsThe Mission on the Bowery
"Carnival Girls"1968The TroutThe Trout
"Children Dreamin’"1967Good & PlentyThe World of Good & Plenty
"Come On Joe"1987Jo-El SonnierCome On Joe
"Count on Me"1967Peaches and HerbFor Your Love
"Crazy Billy"1968The TroutThe Trout
"Days of My Life"1968The Seekers[single]
"Dear Mom"1977Tony RomeoMoonwagon [unreleased]
"Didn’t We Love Each Other Good"1977Tony RomeoMoonwagon [unreleased]
"Doctor Recommend Me a Potion"1977Tony RomeoMoonwagon [unreleased]
"A Dog Named Flanders"1970[musical theater]
"Don Junior"1974Jim Ed Brown[single]
"Don't You Ever Give Up On Me, Baby"[songbook: Songs by Tony Romeo]
"The End"1968The TroutThe Trout
"Everybody’s Got a Home but Me"19666/7/8[single]
"Fresh Water"1968The TroutThe Trout
"Get Away Said the Man in the Moon"1977Tony RomeoMoonwagon [unreleased]
"Gin Buddy"1972Richard HarrisSlides
"Go Johnny Go"1977Tony RomeoMoonwagon [unreleased]
"The Good Dr. Jefferson"1967Good & PlentyThe World of Good & Plenty
"Good Mornin’"1974Lou ChristieLou Christie
"The Guy Who Did Me In"1967Good & PlentyThe World of Good & Plenty
"Happy"1970Paul AnkaLife Goes On
"Hello and Goodbye"1969Steve Dworkin, Jerry Valenone
"Hello Hello"1972The Partridge FamilyShopping Bag
"Hold Onto Me"1969Steve Feldman[Tony Romeo demo]
"Home for a Little While"1973Bubba Davis[single]
"Ho Hum"1967Good & PlentyThe World of Good & Plenty
"How I Spent My Summer"1972Richard HarrisSlides
"Hushabye Wee Bobby"1968The TroutThe Trout
"I am a Clown"1973David CassidyCherish
"I’m Coming Home"1972Richard HarrisSlides
"I Can Hear My Heart Begin to Cry"1987Girls Next DoorWhat a Girl Next Door Could Do
"I'd Like to Be with You"1960[published]
"I Don’t Have to Tell You"1972Richard HarrisSlides
"If You Ever Go"1972The Partridge FamilyShopping Bag
"I’ll Never Get Over You"1973The Partridge FamilyBulletin Board
"The Image of You"[songbook: Songs by Tony Romeo]
"I’m Gonna Make You Mine"1968Camel Drivers[single]
"Indian Lake"1968The CowsillsCaptain Sad and His Ship of Fools
"I Played my Part Well"1967Good & PlentyThe World of Good & Plenty
"Isn’t it Hard to Tell the Truth"1973Cassandra MorganIsn't it Hard to Tell the Truth [unreleased]
"I Think I Love You"1970The Partridge FamilyThe Partridge Family Album
"It Means I’m in Love with You"1973The Partridge FamilyCrossword Puzzle
"It's One of Those Nights (Yes Love)"1971The Partridge FamilyShopping Bag
"I Will Watch Over You"1967Peaches and HerbLet’s Fall in Love
"I Would Have Loved You Anyway"1971The Partridge FamilySound Magazine
"I Wouldn't Be Lonely Anymore"1967The Bubble Gum MachineThe Bubble Gum Machine
"Last Night"1972The Partridge FamilyShopping Bag
"Livin’ in a World Of Make Believe"1967Good & PlentyThe World of Good & Plenty
"The Love of a Woman"1967The Bubble Gum MachineThe Bubble Gum Machine
"Mayola"1968Back Street Union[single]
"Milk Train"1968The Everly Brothers[single]
"Montage"1977Tony RomeoMoonwagon [unreleased]
"Morning Rider on the Road"1971The Partridge FamilyUp to Date
"Mr. Hunkachunk"1966Tony Romeo[single]
Muguet de Bois1969Brooklyn Bridge[Coty Cosmetics' fragrance commercial]
"My Christmas Card to You"1971The Partridge FamilyA Partridge Family Christmas Card
"My My My"1977Tony RomeoMoonwagon [unreleased]
"My Ol’ Gin Buddy and Me"1966Tony Romeo[single]
"November Song"1968The TroutThe Trout
"Oh Boy (The Mood I'm In)"1975Diana TraskThe Mood I’m In
"Once Upon a Dusty Road"1972Richard HarrisSlides
"The One and Only Original Sunshine Kid"1975Jimmy Hannan[single]
"One More Mile and Darlin’ I’ll Be Home"1970Kes Wyndham[single]
"Papa je t’amine"1971The CowsillsCaptain Sad and His Ship of Fools
"The Path of Love"1968The CowsillsCaptain Sad and His Ship of Fools
Paul Mall cigarettes: "Longer Yet Milder"1970[commercial]
"The People Theme"1978Sacco [Lou Christie][single]
"Please Uncle John"1977Tony RomeoMoonwagon [unreleased]
"Point Me in the Direction of Albuquerque"1970The Partridge FamilyThe Partridge Family Album
"Poor Baby"1968The CowsillsThe Best of The Cowsills
"Real Good Woman"1971The Changing SceneThe Changing Scene
"Roseanne"/"Dear Bill"1977Tony RomeoMoonwagon [unreleased]
"Roy"1972Richard HarrisSlides
"Saddle the Wind"1974Lou ChristieLou Christie
Scripto Lighters[commercial]
"She is the We of Me"1967Good & PlentyThe World of Good & Plenty
"Sing Me"1973David CassidyDreams Are Nuthin' More Than Wishes
"Ski-Daddle"19666/7/8[single]
"Slides"1972Richard HarrisSlides
"Stay with Me"1960Four Voices[single]
"Stingray's Back in Town"1966Tomorrow's People[single]
"Stop By to Say Hi"/ "Rosanne is that You"1977Tony RomeoMoonwagon [unreleased]
"Summer Days"1971The Partridge FamilySound Magazine
"Sunbeam"1974Lou ChristieLou Christie
"Sunny and Me"1968Good & Plenty[single]
"Sunny Jo"1972Richard HarrisSlides
"Sunrise Highway"1968The TroutThe Trout
"Teddy Bear’s Picnic"1968The TroutThe Trout
"That’ll Be The Day"1971The Partridge FamilyUp to Date
"Theme from People Magazine"1978Lou Christie[CBS TV Series]
"There He Goes"1967Good & PlentyThe World of Good & Plenty
"There’ll Never Be (A We Like You and Me)"1975Lou ChristieLou Christie
"Together We’re Better"1972The Partridge FamilyThe Partridge Family Notebook
"Two Little Clouds Passing By"1975Lou ChristieLou Christie
"Understanding Who I Am"1968The TroutThe Trout
"Wha'cha Gonna Do For Me Now"1967The Bubble Gum MachineThe Bubble Gum Machine
"Waco"1971Lou ChristiePaint America Love
"Walking in the Sand"1970Al Martino[single]
"We Can Never Be Friends"1972David CassidyCherish
"Welcome Me Love"1969Brooklyn BridgeBrooklyn Bridge
"Welcome to the Big Big Apple"1977Tony RomeoMoonwagon [unreleased]
"Wishwater"1969Dr. Wishbone’s Revival[single]
"With a Little Love (Just a Little Love)"1969Debbie Reynolds[Debbie Reynolds 1969-70 TV show opening theme]
"Worse Day I’ve Been To"1968The TroutThe Trout
"Yeah Yeah Yeah"1968The TroutThe Trout
"You are Always on My Mind"1971The Partridge FamilyUp to Date
"You Can’t Hang On"1968The TroutThe Trout
"You Can’t Keep Me"1967Good & PlentyThe World of Good & Plenty
"You Don’t Have to Tell Me"1971The Partridge FamilySound Magazine
"You're All the Woman that I Need"1970Al Martino[promotional single]
"You’re the Rock, You’re the Rebel"1987Girls Next DoorWhat a Girl Next Door Could Do
"Your Kite, My Kite"1968Brooklyn Bridge[single]
"You Were the One"1974Lou ChristieLou Christie

References

  1. 1 2 "Tony Romeo, songwriter, 56" (obituary), The New York Times, June 26, 1995, page B8.
  2. 1 2 3 Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed November 2010
  3. 1 2 (No author.) "Fayette County Youth Theatre sets two shows," The Valley Independent, July 28, 1970, page 27: This popular story ... has music and lyrics written by Suzanne Buhrer and Tony Romeo. ... Romeo has composed many songs, including Al Martino's hit 'Walking in the Sand,' music for Lou Christie, Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge, and The Cowsills' 'Indian Lake.'
  4. (No author.) "Partridges hit with new ingredient, old family recipe," Charleston Gazette, March 27, 1971, page 8: The Partridges even trade shamelessly in Cowsills-style material. 'I Think I Love You' was written by Tony Romeo, composer of the Cowsills 'Indian Lake.' And Romeo has three songs on the new Partridge album.
  5. Hit parade hall of fame - Lou Christie Archived 2009-01-07 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. (No author.) "Tune In [column]: 'I'm Gonna Make You Mine'," Charleston Gazette (Charleston, West Virginia), Nov. 11, 1969, page 12 (includes full lyrics and chords).
  7. UPI. "Composer, guitarist causes big splash" (headline refers to a David Bowie album), Las Cruces Sun-News, Dec. 20, 1972, page 21: Richard Harris, one of the better singers, continues to come on strong with "Slides" (ABC Dunhill DSX 50133). All but one of the 12 songs, a finale by Harris himself, were written by Tony Romeo, who conceived the album. Among the songs are 'I Don't Have to Tell You,' and 'How I Spent My Summer.'
  8. Joe Davenport. "Records" (review of Cassidy's 1972 album Cherish), San Antonio Express and News, Feb. 20, 1972, Sunday One section, page 21: At first blush you get the impression Cassidy is more at home with Tony Romeo tunes than with others as he sings 'Being Together' and a great 'I Am A Clown,' on which the true qualities of Cassidy's ability comes forward.
  9. Allmusic.com - Tony Romeo songlist
  10. Allmovie.com - Tony Romeo credits
  11. IMDb.com - Tony Romeo page
  12. "Romeo racks up 'de Bois', Billboard magazine, May 17, 1969.
  13. Bapresley.com - Tony Romeo
  14. - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
  15. http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/number%5Bpermanent+dead+link%5D -one-songs-by-year/?y=1970
  16. The Cowsills website
  17. The Sunday Gazette on June 25, 1995
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.