Rainbow Canyon

It was the summer of 1972. Woodstock happened less than three years earlier. Rock and Roll was still basking in the Golden Age that started in 1964. In Cleveland, a band called Rainbow Canyon started rehearsing. The concept of the band was lush vocal five-part harmonies with a driving funky rhythm section playing full throttle. They were to become one of the most popular bands to come out of Cleveland during their era (1972-1975). Originally known as simply “Rainbow”, the band set attendance records at the legendary Cleveland Agora where they gained a reputation for an exciting and animated show. They played concerts, colleges and clubs throughout the Midwest and signed with Capitol Records in 1973. The following year Capitol released the LP “Rollin’ In the Rockies” and the singles “Hot To Hold You” and “Invisible Song”.

Rainbow consisted of Buddy Maver on drums, Gregg Grandillo, on guitar, Billy Hanna on guitar, Chester “Chet” Florence on bass and Norm Cotone, keyboards. Each musician was an accomplished lead singer and contributed to songwriting and arranging. Though in their early twenties, the musicians in Rainbow were well-traveled by the time they formed the band. Buddy Maver played with several recording acts including Bocky and The Visions, Dick Whittington’s Cats and Charade. Billy Hanna also played in Charade and the seminal R&B group, The Blue Eyed Soul and his Aggregation. Gregg Grandillo played with The Originals, Cottonmouth, and Fully Assembled. Chester Florence played with the O’Jays and was later in Mushroom, a psychedelic funk band, with Buddy Maver. Norm Cotone was leader of The Impalas and Pig Iron, a nine-piece horn band.

This is what rock writers said about the band:

“ … Rainbow Canyon is unique in that it is the only rocking band around with five lead singers. The stunning five-part harmonies and elaborate instrumentation are perfect indications that this group is something special … Accomplished performers on stage these five young men combine musical backgrounds of jazz, the classics and rhythm and blues along with their rock strength … Rainbow Canyon is an exciting band to watch …” The Cleveland Press

“ … This Cleveland Quintet is just out with its “Rollin’ in the Rockies” on Capitol Records. It’s very, very good … all in all this is a very professional job.” Jane Scott

“ … Rainbow has devices like their sparkling costumes, their audience rousing lines, and the noisemakers they pass out with the invitation “You’re gonna be the world’s largest rhythm section.” … The group’s magnificent vocals are showcased in “She Said” with an a cappella vocal break … They are madly, wildly, unavoidably enthusiastic … and that enthusiasm bounces off the back walls and comes back and hits you in the head.” Anastasia Pantsios

“ … As a first album “Rollin’ in the Rockies” is, in fact, a coup … there are a number of songs that fall into the category of “Real Good Stuff”… pretty vocals and tasteful arrangements are Rainbow’s strong points … good productions, neat changes and lively instrumental work give them an infectious quality.” Scene Magazine

“One of more popular bands in Ohio and the surrounding area … these Cleveland based performers are presenting some of the most energetic rock music this area has been privileged to hear … They reel around the stage in a sort of well-controlled anarchy. When organ player Norm Cotone steps out in front to sing, it’s as if a bizarre, writhing, madman has taken over the stage … their sets are fast-paced high energy arrangements of songs from their last album … the group expands with some impressive solo work and closes with a medley of 50’s rock classics turned into one huge 70’s boogie rave-up complete with a little get-it-on speech by Billy Hanna delivered with uncommon conviction … one of the best live rock shows this area has seen.” The Cleveland Plain Dealer

Rainbow’s Rock and Roll odyssey touched thousands of people and put smiles on faces. Here’s hoping this anthology will bring back memories of a time gone by for the F.O.R.C.E. (Friends Of Rainbow Canyon Everywhere).

— Carol “CJ” Palladino,
Friends Of Rainbow Canyon Everywhere

Buddy, Gregg, Billy, Chet and Norm

In 2002 a three disc boxed set of CD’S titled “The Rainbow Canyon Anthology” was released. All of the music from the anthology is included in this website. Following are the liner notes from the anthology.

This anthology commemorates the 30th anniversary of the founding of Rainbow Canyon. The three disc boxed set contains all the recorded work of the band. It includes the first album on Capitol, “Rollin’ in the Rockies”, and the second record, the “Lost Album”, which was never released and has never been heard until now. There are over 40 songs including a 16 song live recording taken from two performances at the Cleveland Agora. This limited edition collector’s item also includes a special bonus collage of live action photos.

The Demo
The CD starts with the demo that we sent around to labels trying to get a record deal. Besides “Drinkin” No Wine” and “We Can All Have It Together” there was actually a third song on the demo. The version of “She Said” that appeared on the LP “Rollin’ in the Rockies” was in fact from our demo. These songs got the band signed to Capitol Records.

Rollin’ in the Rockies
Recording at Caribou Ranch was right out of the movies. It was a 3000-acre former dude ranch located between two beautiful mountain ranges in Nederland, Colorado. It was quite a culture shock for a bunch of funk bums from Cleveland. The studio was state of the art for 1973. The band and roadies stayed right on the ranch in new cabins that were furnished with antiques. The engineers were available to record day or night or both. But whatever the recording schedule, work stopped at 6pm and everyone went to the dining hall where a gourmet chef was cooking for band, studio personnel, and visitors. While we were there Elton John’s producer spent two weeks with us scouting the studio. Elton later recorded two albums there. “Hot to Hold You” was the first single off the album “Rollin’ in the Rockies”. “Invisible Song” featuring James Ganger, Tommy Bolin on guitar was later released as the second single. After the album came out Three Dog Night recorded “Take You Down” for their LP produced by Jimmy Ienner. When we were writing these songs we were going for a hit single. As Chester would say, “Write a good hook and hit ‘em over the head with it”. We knew that a hit single was a fast way to break the band nationally. But overall, that first album didn’t really portray the power and raw energy that the band had live.

The “Lost Album”
When we began writing songs for the second album we still wanted a hit single but we wanted a more aggressive feel in general which was more like our stage show. Songs like “High Time”, “Happy Song”, and “Right on The Money” had the five-part harmony but with a high-energy rock feel. “Kind Sir”, and “Lovin’ and Free” were more melodic and lyrically meaningful. “Easy Money” was about the rock and roll life. We used to open our show with the song “Rain”. We pre-recorded the one- minute sound effect intro section. Our soundman would pop the tape in and the band would take the stage in the dark. As the tape ended we started singing and the lights came up all the way. The baby crying during the middle interlude was a tape of my daughter, Holly, which we put in to create a rainy day effect. We always felt that the second album contained some of our best work. It was never released due to “business problems”. We often referred to it as the “Lost album”.

Outtakes, Alternative Versions, Unfinished Business & “Daddy Get Your Baby Out of Jail”
At times we tried different ideas including new arrangements of songs and having different guys sing lead on songs just to experiment with new sounds. “When You Come Around” and “Picture Postcard Lady” were never completed but melodically could have been the strongest that we had. “Daddy Get Your Baby Out of Jail” was a barbershop quartet song that we used in our stage show as a gag tune. We would sing it a cappella whenever someone broke a string. It would give the roadies a minute to bring on a new guitar without any dead air.

Live Recordings
We would be on the road playing colleges and clubs during the week, and then come home to play the Cleveland Agora on Sunday night. It was our only Cleveland gig and we would pack in over a thousand people every night. It was magic … a real concert atmosphere. There was an opening act and then we would play two shows. The people didn’t dance, they just stood on the dance floor and watched. They expected us to entertain them. That made us to try harder to deliver.

The live show was Rainbow’s strongest medium. Everyone in the group was a natural showman, or ham, as Gregg would say. Billy, Gregg, Chet and Norm all had a tremendous ability to spontaneously run around on stage and interact with the crowd and each other. What you can’t see on the CD is Billy whipping the crowd into the frenzy during the finale, or Norm jumping off his Hammond B-3 … Chester making one of his faces while pulling off a blistering syncopated bass riff, or Gregg with his cape on singing with his leg up on the keyboards.

Rainbow always had a lot of fun performing. Anyone who ever saw them live could tell that the band was enjoying it as much as the audience.

There always seemed to be a carload of people from Toledo who followed us to Cleveland. You’ll hear us greet them over the mic on the CD. These two shows feature songs that we did early on in clubs. We picked material that the people wanted to hear … Rock and Roll, funky covers, and originals. During the live broadcast celebrating our one-year birthday. Our roadie, Kevin Dugan, jumped on stage to deliver a gushing tribute to the band. We left it in. Kevin was 19 at the time and already a professional road dog. He’s still on the road and has spent the last 20 years with Van Halen.

Then, of course, there was Rock One, the finale. Every night Billy Hanna masterfully had the crowd in the palm of his hand during this audience participation medley. He could get ‘em to do just about anything. The crowd reaction never ceased to amaze me. The vibe, the energy, the madness … it was a magical time.

— Buddy Maver

Introduction

Hot to Hold You, Lead Vocal: Chester Florence

Take You Down, Lead Vocal: Buddy Maver

Hanover Square, Lead Vocal: Billy Hanna

Old Rock n Roll, Lead Vocal: Chester Florence

Feelin’ All Right Tonight, Lead Vocal: Chester Florence

Suzy, Lead Vocal: Billy Hanna

Taste of the Good Life, Lead Vocal: Buddy Maver

She Said, Lead Vocal: Everybody

The Invisible Song, Lead Vocal: Gregg Grandillo

Mister Dream, Lead Vocal: Norm Cotone

Introduction

High Time, Lead Vocal: Gregg Grandillo

Blue Jean Fun Machine, Lead Vocal: Buddy Maver

Kind Sir, Lead Vocal: Gregg Grandillo

Happy Song, Lead Vocal: Gregg Grandillo

Lovin’ and Free, Lead Vocal: Buddy Maver

Bye Bye Baby, Lead Vocal: Chester Florence

Easy Money, Lead Vocal: Gregg Grandillo

State of Mind, Lead Vocal: Gregg Grandillo

Rain, Lead Vocal: Billy Hanna

Introduction

Lovin’ and Free, Lead Vocal: Gregg Grandillo

Right on the Money, Lead Vocal: Norm Cotone

When You Come Around, Lead Vocal: Norm Cotone

Picture Postcard Baby, Lead Vocal: Buddy Maver

Daddy Get Your Baby Out of Jail, Lead Vocal: Everybody

Introduction

Rock n Roll Medley #2, Lead Vocals: G. Grandillo – “Roll Over Beethoven” C. Florence -“Slippin and Slidin” Everybody – Johnny B Goode”

Madness, Lead Vocal: Billy Hanna

Kickback Man, Lead Vocal: Chester Florence

Walk Away, Lead Vocal: Norm Cotone

Jumpin Jack Flash, Lead Vocal: Buddy Maver

We Can All Have It Together, Lead Vocal: Buddy Maver

Easy Livin, Lead Vocal: Gregg Grandillo

Drinkin’ No Wine, Lead Vocal: Gregg Grandillo

Them Changes, Lead Vocal: Chester Florence

Sgt Pepper Medley, Lead Vocals: Buddy Maver -“Sgt. Pepper” Billy Hanna – “Lovely Rita” Norm Cotone -“It’s Getting Better”

Introduction

She Said, Lead Vocals: Billy Hanna and Chester Florence”

Midnight Rider, Lead Vocal: Gregg Grandillo

Keven Dugan Announcement

Rock And Roll Medley #1, Lead Vocals: Buddy Maver -“Great Balls of Fire” Gregg Grandillo -“Long Tall Sally” Billy Hanna -“Whole Lotta Shakin'”

RAINBOW CANYON

In the summer of 1975, the band decided to move to Los Angeles but not all the members wanted to go. After some discussion, we slimmed down the group to a 4 piece by adding old bandmate, Jay Mohler on bass and legendary Cleveland guy, Donny Baker on guitar plus Norm Cotone on keyboards and myself on drums. We went by caravan to L.A. (which was a movie in itself). Everybody got apartments in Hollywood and my family and I got a house in Redondo Beach.

We spent the next year playing all over California trying to keep the rock and roll dream alive. In June of 1976 we played the Viper Room on Sunset Strip. The band was sounding good but things were getting tight. When we found out that my family had a third baby on the way, things got tighter. Then I got a phone call from Hank LoConti that changed everything.

Hank made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. And so began a whole new phase of my music adventure.