Larry Santos

Larry Santos (born 2 June 1941, Oneonta, New York) is an American singer-songwriter. Santos wrote songs for several American pop bands in the 1960s, including the 1963 hit "Candy Girl" for The Four Seasons which reached number 3 on Billboard Hot 100 chart.[1] In the mid-Sixties, he recorded singles as part of a group called The Madisons, and then under his own name. He released three albums in the 1970s and scored one pop hit single, produced by Don Davis, "We Can't Hide it Anymore",[2] which peaked on 10 April 1976 at number 36 on Billboard's record chart.[3]

From 1976 to 1980 Santos starred in the television show Hot Fudge, a syndicated children's puppet show broadcast from Detroit, Michigan.[4] Santos scored the program's theme music and other songs, and appeared regularly as a live character actor.[5]

Additionally, Santos built a successful career writing and singing advertising jingles.[6] Santos's songs have appeared in television commercials for Admiral, Chevrolet, Marathon Oil, and Budweiser among others.[6][7]

Santos' baritone singing voice has been described as "gruff, but warm"[2] and said to bear a very strong resemblance to the voice of Richie Havens.[7][8] His music is considered in the genre of blue-eyed soul.

Album discography

References

  1. Bronson, Fred (Oct 1, 2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (5th ed.). Billboard. p. 125. ISBN 978-0823076772.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Top Album Picks". Billboard Magazine 89 (42): 92. October 22, 1977.
  3. Jancik, Wayne (January 1998). The Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders. Billboard. p. 507. ISBN 9780823076222.
  4. Kiska, Tim; Gollick, Ed (2010). Detroit Television. Images of America. Arcadia Publishing. p. 66. ISBN 9780738577074.
  5. Woolery, George W. (May 23, 1995). Children's Television, the First Thirty-five Years, 1946-1981: Live, film, and tape series. Scarecrow Press. p. 228. ISBN 978-0810816510.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Hall, Claude (Sep 6, 1969). "Field Productions Offers Client An On-the-Spot Custom Service" 81 (36). Billboard Magazine. p. 38.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Damsker, Matt (Sep 16, 1984). "Richie Havens Sells His Soul". Los Angeles Times. p. Q70.
  8. Colford, Paul D. (Oct 16, 1985). "FOLK WISDOM; Veteran Richie Havens finds a new medium for the music.". Newsday. p. 3. Retrieved 22 November 2013.

External links

Larry Santos at Allmusic.com