Felix Cavaliere

Felix Cavaliere was the organist and one of the lead singers in the Young Rascals (later the Rascals), a successful pop/rock group of the mid-'60s. Since the group's demise, he has pursued a solo career. Cavaliere studied classical piano as a child and joined the Stereos in his hometown of Pelham, NY, before attending Syracuse University, where he formed the Escorts. He then moved to New York City and got his professional start as a backup musician for Sandy Scott and later Joey Dee and the Starlighters. Other future members of the Young Rascals also were in the Starlighters, and the group was launched with performances in the New York-metropolitan area during 1965. They were signed to Atlantic Records and began releasing records by the end of the year. From then through 1969, the Rascals were one of the biggest groups in the country, their hits including the Cavaliere-sung "Good Lovin'," "Groovin'," "A Girl Like You," "A Beautiful Morning," and "People Got to Be Free," as they evolved from blue-eyed soul (a term coined to describe them) to pop-psychedelia and jazz fusion. Their fortunes declined thereafter, and they disbanded in 1972. Cavaliere then went solo and has since released several solo albums without matching the group's commercial appeal. He also has participated in oldies shows and Rascals reunions and produced other artists. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide