There once was a boy with no cares
who thought life could be lived on a dare
so he made it thus far
with the help of guitars
now he's left with a gut and no hair

So begins the story of Phil Antonucci. Born on June 21,1953 the hottest day
of the year, according to my mom Angela. My father Mario, told me many times
throughout my life, that I needed to be insanguinated. That means a blood transfusion. I think he made that word up, because he's the only one I ever heard use it. My sister JoAnne and cousin Maryanne thought I was so cute, that they dropped me on my head to see if I would bounce. Thus, the uncertainty of the "insanguination".

I started my childhood in a town called Hicksville in a neighborhood filled with Irishmen, and of course I was the only Italian (you could only imagine what that was like). My buddies reminded me every day of my heritage and I was somewhat bullied along the way. Then one fine summer day, my protection moved into the hood, and he was named Bob Garraputo. To say the least, that was the end of the Irish reign of Terror! To this day Bob and I are still really good friends, he is a security guard at Huntington High School. Some things rarely change.

I always wanted to play the organ. After seeing this guy come out of the wall at Radio City Music Hall, playing this huge beast with multi keyboards, I knew it was for me. Until I heard the Beatles, then I knew that was really for me! My aunt Connie (God mother) jumped the gun, before I brought home the appropriate report card, and purchased a $16.99 guitar from TSS on Hempstead turnpike. I was off and running. This thing was awesome. I had no idea what I was doing, but it wasn't long before it became my best friend. God, I loved her for that!
My sister at the time was playing the accordion which she had quite the knack for, we even played some duets. She later decided it wasn't for her and dropped it like an ugly boy friend. Later in her life, she became a very successful actress. I figured there was no need for the accordion. I'm very proud of her, she's never lost her vision.
The guitar became my social ticket to the world. Besides living with it and learning every Beatle song ever written, and excelling quickly, I became an instant success with all my buddies. They called me "The Bomb" (hey Randy Jackson, that was before your time). Years later I realized, the girls seemed to love guitar players too. I'll bet you never heard that before. At the time there were some really good bands in Hicksville. The Lost Souls, which was Billy Joel’s band, The Nightlites, The Other Culture, The Mercenaries and the 4 Teens (featuring Phil Antonucci). Most of these guys were a bit older than me, even the guys in my own band except one. He was called Mike Cummings. Do you know Mike and I played in our first band together when we were 11 years old? I think we told that story one million times. Well that was the band. Our first gig was at the 1964 Worlds Fair on the stage of the New York Pavilion. Pretty cool huh? We had three guitar players and a drummer. At the time we hadn't a clue of the importance of a bass player. Mike and I will always be brothers, I love him as if he was mine, although he has three of his own. We still play together in Those Old Bastards, with a line up of some outstanding musicians.
After an assortment of spin offs, I was commandeered by a band called The Rainmakers. Enter Dave Kopp, stage right. This man had a very big influence on me. Besides being a very close friend, he helped me to the next level in life. We played on The Ted Mack Amateur Hour on CBS in 1967. It was an amazing experience, we were about to be Rock Stars. Didn't happen. Maybe it's because we still didn't have a bass player? Who knows......This band soon evolved into Booby Brooks and Company which had a very good run at the high school dances. This band was the prequel to Rock Bottom Band. These were the days of experimenting and growing up. I wouldn't trade them for a million.

The 70's brought about a whole new vibe in my career. Realizing my love for the big band sound, I landed a gig with a  band called Feathers, we had horns and everything, even a bass player!  We played a lot of Chicago, BS&T etc.etc. That band had a great run playing many clubs and high school proms. We hooked up with a singing group The New System and that was my first taste of New York City clubs. Boy, we had a lot of laughs with that group of guys, Bob Evans, Ethan Stateman, Peter Krones, Jerry DeJoseph and Bill Fortgang along with an assortment of drummers. I think we used to wear them out. We used to change drummers like underwear. At the end of this run, I stayed with the bands latest drummer and bass player Matt Hardy and Al Pignataro (Rock Bottom) and together with close friend and high school crony Kevin Chorusey, formed the ever-famous Rock and Roll band Astril in 1975 (the pizza band). This band, along with newly acquired Frank Centrone, turned out to be one of the most important segments in my life. This group of friends along with several others, Barbara Laplaca, Joyce Barondess and Tony Centrone, became such a close family, that it still goes on some 30 years later. This was also when I met Howard Stein, my friend and mentor. May we be brothers forever no matter what! This band was great, we played the Hamptons, Wednesday nights at the Beau Brummel (free pizza) and a pretty long stint at My Fathers Place in Roslyn. After one year, the band went away, but the family remained. At around the same time, I auditioned for a guy named Meatloaf. Me and my college buddy Herb Freed (drums) answered an ad in th Village Voice. I had no idea who this guy was, never saw Rock Horror, when I called to change my interview, I mistakingly referred to him as "Meatball". I was suprised they rescheduled me! Well I was invited back twice, but didn't get the gig. Bat out of Hell Tour, oh well, the money sucked anyway. Shortly after that I scored an audition with Billy Joel, had to learn 26 songs because he was in the middle of his Stranger Tour. That was pretty cool, but didn't get that gig either. Russell Javors, rehired. Money sucked anyway!

At around the same time, close friend Howard Stein and I decided it was time to venture out and become business men. Thus, White Cloud Recording Studio. A fine studio at that. Eight tracks, sounded great, recorded many special people such as Gene McDaniels (Roberta Flack songwriter), Russell Javors (Billy Joel backup band)
and Johnny Meastro (Brooklyn Bridge) to name a few. Boy, did we have a great time, lots of late nights, but of course, made very little money.

I slipped in and out of bands for the next few years, played with good friends Gene Sicard and Debbie DelBiondo in Debbie Del and Destiny. Even played great fusion with Gene, Harold King and Gerard Weeks in Lectric Fraction. This was the first version of the now famous band The Trend.

The 80's and 90's brought on the wedding band era. I landed a gig with the very popular Joey Richards Band. Along with Joey LaLuna, Carl Bova, Lou Toplin and Al Koll, we single handedly took the wedding scene by storm. We were kicking ass and taking names. This band was so popular, we mostly played 4 to 5 weddings a weekend. This was the time in my life where I killed the most amount of brain cells. I love these guys and will play music with them in some fashion for the rest of my life! We were in Hog heaven. Playing music on weekends and boating during the week. What could be better? You know it's funny, whenever you ask that question, things always find a way of changing. A few months into this band, things did get better. I met Deidre Charletta. This woman had three affects on me. I grew up, I fell in love and I decided to spend the rest of my life with her. This turned out to be the best gig I ever had. Married life was actually a wonderful, blissful state to be in.
Eventually, the band became Class Act with the additions of Bruce Natale, Charlie DeChant, Jason Chapman, Barry Titone, Jenn Paradine and Debbie DelBiondo.
At around the same time I got into doing television audio and became one of the top 3 audio guys in the region. Mixing shows for WPIX, MSG, FOX Sports NY and the list goes on. I even had a new band The Royal Scam who were just killing the audiences everywhere we played. Here is where I met my dear friend Adam Colombo, an amazing musician. He seems to be able to keep my musical career on track. With incredible admiration for each other, I'm sure we will make music together 'till they put me in the hole! Yes it certainly got better! Deidre has given me two incredible little girls Corina and Alexa, two of the best things I have ever done in my life. They have showed me that I have not yet begun to live.

In 1995 I lost my mom. She was 73. She was much too young. She didn't get to know her granddaughters, but I'm sure she watches over them every day.
I miss her so much.
My father is a rock. He worked his ass off since he was a kid, supporting his mother and ever so proud father, sisters and brother while sacrificing his own childhood.
Yes, there was a depression, but no child should ever be robbed of their youth no matter what the circumstance. He raised my sister and me with love, conviction and undying loyalty. And now he is living his childhood at 83, singing and performing with his buddies. Something he's wanted to do all his life. I'm so proud of Him.
He is my Hero.........

As of now, my family is the most incredible gig I will ever have. My wife is the ultimate bandleader and my children are budding Pop Stars. My Sister is an actress and that is where she should be. My current bands are Beginnings and Those Old Bastards and my production studio is becoming ever so popular.


Tell me, what could be better?

To all my friends and family,
Without you I'd be nothing but a JOKE