DDriveDDrive began rocking the Northeast in 2004 when guitarist Don Mancuso (The Lou Gramm Band, Black Sheep, Cheater, and Celtic Fire) put together his second solo recording effort after finishing tracks for singer Phil Naro’s (Talas, Peter Criss & 24K) “Glass Mountain” project. Mancuso and Naro joined forces to write the first self-titled DDrive album. Sin
ger Lou Gramm (The Lou Gramm Band, Foreigner, Black Sheep) heard the demos for the D Drive CD, asked if he could come in as guest vocalist/co-writer, and they obliged! Canadian producer Steve Major rounded out the direction and production.
Released in 2005, the first DDrive CD received critical acclaim and airplay in the US, Australia, and Europe. The band’s signature sound blends strong classic rock roots with a modern edge sound all its own. The first DDrive CD did so well that Mancuso and Naro decided to put together the band’s second release in 2007 entitled "Straight Up The Middle." The new album has received accolades from a rapidly growing legion of D Drive fans, and is in its second pressing. D Drive released a video in summer '08.
3D is the long awaited follow up to “Straight Up The Middle” (2007) and promises to be an album that will be enjoyed fans for generations to come. 3D has great significance as well, not only as our 3rd release but the CD housed in a special edition 3D cover with 3D Glasses and 11 new rocking tracks and featuring some special guests like Long time friend Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big, Talas, David Lee Roth). on the first single Dig Down.
Don Mancuso
High energy. Pure joy. There’s simply no other way to describe Don Mancuso’s guitar style. Mancuso’s acclaimed artistry, versatility and professionalism have earned him the respect of his peers plus the accolades of worldwide audiences.
The Rochester, NY native began playing guitar at the age of six and began playing in earnest when he wa
s a teen. A keen ear and study of the Rochester music scene allowed Mancuso to hone a unique style and an intense stage presence. By age 18, he was playing professionally with the blues-rock band Black Sheep, featuring vocalist Lou Gramm, who would go on to front the ‘80s supergroup Foreigner.
Black Sheep built a solid regional following before touring nationally in support of a host of legendary artists and bands, including Argent, Peter Frampton, Hall & Oats, KISS, Ted Nugent and Procol Harem. Black Sheep released two albums, Black Sheep and Encouraging Words, both of which featured songs penned in part by Mancuso.
When Gramm moved to Foreigner and Black Sheep disbanded, Mancuso explored many options. He studied classical guitar, dabbled in rock/fusion with the band Aurora, and did studio work in New York City with Ian Lloyd of Stories. He also studied piano and voice at the College of Marin in California. After returning to his beloved hometown of Rochester, he began playing with the band, Cheater, which quickly gained recognition in the northeastern U.S. with the 10-inch EP, “Ten Cent Love Affair.”
Over the years Mancuso has worked with a host of other artists including Imaginary Few, Johnny Smoke, Linda Rutherford & Celtic Fire, Steve Robb, Red Heart, Jessica Hamilton and Regi Hendrix.
His continued friendship with Lou Gramm allowed Mancuso to contribute to Gramm’s various solo projects, including Gramm’s successful debut solo album, Ready or Not, which featured the hit single, “Midnight Blue."
Presently Mancuso divides his time between service as the guitarist in The Lou Gramm Band and work on his solo endeavors. His first solo album, Now You See It, was followed up by D:Drive, which featured the talents of Gramm, Phil Naro, Jeff Cosco, Jessica Hamilton, Dave Quick, Joe Lana, Larry Crozier, Brian Egglestein and fellow Lou Gramm Band member Andy Knoll.
While D:Drive began as a solo effort, it metamorphosed into a true band effort by the time the follow-up Straight Up The Middle made its debut in early 2007. Straight Up the Middle featured the nucleus of Mancuso, Naro and Knoll. Gramm lent his voice to background vocals at Mancuso’s request. Originally a self-published effort, Straight up the Middle,
drew the atte
ntion of Chavis Records and subsequently was released on the label in July 2007.
The future looks bright for Don Mancuso, who still plays for one reason: sharing his joy with others. “I do this for the love of playing,” he says. “I do this in hopes of making people smile with a momentary distraction from the daily grind.”
He also hopes he can be an inspiration to the next generation of guitarists. “I really feel blessed to have been given these gifts,” he says with a smile. “What else can I say, it makes me feel good to share these gifts with people who appreciate them.” ~by Barbara Laughon
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Phil NaroPhil Naro is a singer-songwriter originally from Rochester, New York. He is best known as the frontman for Billy Sheehan’s Talas in the mid-1980s. His major influence is Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler.
Naro’s first major gig was in 1976 with Rochester band Black Sheep, replacing Lou Gramm who had left to form Foreigner. In 1978, Naro joined the popular Canadian band Chain Reaction, which released two albums and played an intense coast-to-coast tour schedule of 600 shows in two years.
Phil Naro is a Daytime Emmy award-winning performer, and, Internationally acclaimed composer, performer, singer, guitar player, songwriter and producer, well known for his powerful voice and his tremendous four octave range. Naro’s c
areer began in his hometown of Rochester, New York at the age of fifteen where he performed in a variety of popular High School bands. Word of his amazing voice quickly spread to the bar bands where he pursued his musical career.
In 1980 Naro had a musical opportunity to go Toronto, ON, where he joined the band “Chain Reaction,” and released “X-Rated Dream” on the Attic Records label. Following the release of “X-Rated Dream” he then returned to Western New York. While Naro immersed his talents writing and recording songs with other musicians in Rochester and Buffalo, bass player, Billy Sheehan (www.billysheehan.com,) from Talas was in search of a lead singer for his band. Then late in 1983 he found the voice of the band in Phil Naro. After numerous performances, the band recorded “Live Speed on Ice" at L'Amour in New York City which simultaneously made the top ten charts in both England and Japan.
While with Talas Phil Naro enjoyed great success on a unique American
heavy metal tour performing with many of the 80's top attractions such Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force, Anthrax, White Lion, Quiet Riot, and Iron Maiden. After his time with Talas, Naro joined with Canadian AOR Coney Hatch, replacing James LaBrie as the band’s new charismatic front man. Highlighting his career,
Naro also appeared on a compilation disc released through Liberty N' Justice Records entitled "Soundtrack Of A Soul" which featured ex-Skid Row member Sebastian Bach, Mark Slaughter, and Joe Cerisano of Trans Siberian Orchestra. From “Soundtrack of A Soul,” Naro followed up by fronting a band from NYC and Kivel Records, Tango Down (www.myspace.com/tangodown); he produced Jim Crean's (www.metalworksband.com) new CD "Velvet Crush" for Glass Mountain Music, Phil collaborated and did lead vocals with former Foreigner lead singer Lou Gramm,(www.lougramm.com) on both of the D-Drive albums, “DDrive 1” and "Straight Up The Middle". D Drive will be releasing their new CD, "3-D" in June 2010.
Phil Naro is an extraordinary artist. His tremendous talent affinity for music and his extraordinary artistry is continuously demonstrated through his contribution to the music industry. Phil, along with composers Don Breithaupt and Anthony Vanderburgh, created the theme song for t
he animated series,'6teen', which won a Daytime Emmy Award for best original song and main title. Whether recording with fellow artists, producing CD's, or singing as a frontman with a band, Phil Naro’s love and passion of music are inherent as he continues to prosper in his career.
Naro performs and sings the title theme to the animated series,'6Teen'.'6Teen' won a Daytime Emmy award for best original song-main title theme on August 30 2009, along with composers Don Breithaupt and Anthony Vanderburgh.
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Note: Images courtesy of Scott Hamilton (3D cover) and Sheryle & Rob Photography
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