Vince Santoro

Exposed

Independent

When his older brother took off for college in the early 1960’s, he left behind his drum set (in the rec room). It wasn’t long before 15-year-old Vince Santoro sat down at the drums and began learning to play along with his favorite records. Santoro started performing with popular local and regional DC area bands in high school. As a singing drummer he came to the attention of some national acts that liked his flamboyant style. In 1974, he joined forces with blue eyed soul singer Kathi McDonald, with whom Santoro toured and recorded. From there he began to work with Roy Buchanan and later Edgar Winter. Through his early friendship with guitarist Steuart Smith he was introduced to the Nashville connection and began working with Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, The Eagles, Emmy Lou Harris, Carlene Carter, and many others. Santoro also worked with The Highwaymen: Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Wayon Jennings. Santoro was also the only other featured vocalist on The Cicadas, with Crowell, Smith and Michael Rhodes. He co-wrote several songs on the eclectic Little Vinnie; and spent twenty years performing with Felix Cavaliere of The Rascals, and continues to do so today. While touring with  Rosanne Cash he met guitarist George Marinelli, a founding member of Bruce Hornsby’s Range. Together they enlisted bassist Mark Prentice to form Air Parma and recorded three albums together.

In early 2024, Santoro sent Marinelli a song he had been working on and Marinelli surprised him by suggesting that he produce an album for Santoro.  Thus began the process of sharing his ideas with Marinelli. Santoro also had a lot of support and input from his wife Barbara, with added piano and backing vocals on many of the songs.

With a Rolling Stones type sound, the opening track “I’m Exposed” includes the lyric, “Was sure asking for a heartache, I was not in her league, got  nervous and melted when she was near, I couldn’t speak, was high time I got my nerve up, let the whole world know, I might hit the jackpot, I might join the club where shot-down lovers go…I’m exposed and I don’t care”.

On the ska flavored “Rec Room”, a story of the countless hours spent in the wood-paneled hub, “The band is coming over gonna crank things up. Parents upstairs, they got nowhere to run, they suffer throughout the noise and never complain, go about their business and let us have our fun. Sister says her boy friend is coming by tonight…she’s planning on kissing and romance, it’s only a room but what a groove!”.

“For Adeline”, Santoro’s mother, “Seems everyone she knew is in my living room; together we’re the legacy of love that she left with casseroles and  constant conversation, I can smile a busy smile, the fact she’s gone really  hasn’t hit me yet…a day will come, I’ll turn on the tap and let it run, for Adeline”.  On “Long Slow Rain”, Santoro chimes “Morning came with a pitter-patter drizzling down at daybreak…in a long, slow rain, all my troubles seem to fall away, time don’t mean a thing, in a long slow rain”. “Everything”, “You are an educated man, so you don’t get a pass, thought that you had scruples, then you go and peddle that nonsense…I just can’t digest your word salad…It’s everything, every word of every sentence that you said”.

“I’d Be Dancing”, “Boppin’ down the street to a silent funky beat, no one else  can hear a sound, she got moves that we can’t explain, with no headphones on, it’s all in her brain…maybe I’d be dancin, I’d be dancin’ too”. On “A Too Familiar Sight”, Santoro chants , You don’t have friends, I can see why, your hair’s a total mess, can’t do nothing right, girls get you tongue-tied you act the fool, you’re all alone on a Friday night, another lonely night, a too familiar sight”.

“What’s That Like”, Santoro cries “Warm and cozy in your house at night,  plenty to eat, family beside you, what’s that like?…what’s that like, by the  fireside, safe behind four walls of stone? …just wanna know what it’s like?” On the closer “Shade Tree” Santoro croons “Wanna send my roots down  deep, just like that old shade tree out in the yard…I want to be like that old shade tree, soak up the rain, bend in the breeze, claim my home like an  old shade tree”.

On “Exposed”, drummer, songwriter and vocalist Santoro, is joined in the studio by Marinelli guitars, mandolin, keyboards, and bass; Benny Harrison, keyboards and backing vocals; Jim Hoke, horns; and Jonell Mosser, vocal on one track. Santoro proves himself an infectuous entertainer on this debut recording.

Richard Ludmerer
Contributing Editor/Making A Scene

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