Sign the NEW Salvation guestbook (click the link below): http://www.anvilbook.com/guestbook.php?denisfromsalvation Check out "Salvation" on YouTube! To check out all of the Salvation videos, just click on the link below. http://www.youtube.com/SalvationSummer75 _____________________________ Salvation was formed in 1969 when New Jersey booking agent Jack Fisher merged 2 bands which were clients of his. A band out of Miami called the Miami Kids was losing their drummer and Jack recommended Arnett. Arnett, from New Jersey, had been working with a band called Max. They were a group which was concentrating on mostly original material with hopes of a recording contract and had already played as the opening group for the Allman Brothers Band. Max broke up after their guitar player quit with little notice. When Jack Fisher Asked Arnett to join the Miami Kids he agreed to do so only if the Kids also hired Max's lead singer Denis Quilligan who was from St. Petersburg, Florida. The Miami Kids then had a new drummer and 2 lead singers Chuck Guy and Denis. They played the entire summer at the Osprey Hotel in Manasquan, New Jersey and were a real hit with the fans. At the end of the summer however several of the band members decided to return to Miami, Florida which meant that Chuck, Denis and Arnett were now looking for a new backup group. They immediately contacted a New Jersey keyboard, guitar and bass player Russ Hope. Russ had been a member of Max. They also hired a New Jersey guitarist Freddie Cole as well as a trumpet and bass man Bobby Jay from New Jersey. It turns out that Denis also played the trombone so the band now had a horn section. Freddie was replaced eventually by the hottest guitar man in the New Jersey area Lenny Molinari. Another member was added at that same time. He was Louie Pietz from New Jersey. Louie was a talented musician who played the saxophone, flute, keyboards and bass guitar. The band was now really set and could play any kind of music and play it like no other band in the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania area. They recorded a song "Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of my life" in 1969 on United Artist from the Broadway show Salvation and decided to rename the band Salvation. The rest is history. Salvation Summer (Their only LP) was released on Poverty label in 1975. They also recorded "Overnight Success" on Elektra label in 1977. Salvation went on to become the hottest band to ever perform in the area. They had a massive fan following and played the Jersey Shore at the Osprey Hotel for a total of 10 summers. There were lines more than a block long trying to squeeze in the see these super talented guys. The also had a similar following at Hunter Mountain ski area in upstate New York. Salvation played Ft. Lauderdale, Florida for spring break every year and had waiting lines there as well. They played at nightclubs all over New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania the rest of each year. They are still legends in the New Jersey area more than 35 years later.
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New for 2009! Salvation Double Album featuring 15 live recordings and 4 studio releases....you are gonna love this album. Order the 2 CD package NOW! $37.50 payable to Denis Quilligan Order Salvation Summer '75 NOW! $22.50 payable to Denis Quilligan Mail check(s) to: Denis Quilligan, 3305 Cherokee Road,
Jonesborough, TN 37659.
Thanks for your loyal support over the many years!
Denis from Salvation _________________________________________ "I remember the early years of Salvation"
by Capt. Denis (aka Denis from Salvation)
In our description (on this page/opposite column) on the formation of Salvation there are many talented musicians and vocalists who were left out for the simplicity sake. The formation and transformation of Salvation is a long story and there was very little room on this page. I want to recognize those guys who were the members of Salvation in the early years in this month's article.
The story begins at the Osprey Hotel, summer 1968: Chuck and his band "the Miami Kids" played in the Osprey Main Bar. They were Ronnie and Robbie Sexton, guitar and bass and Michael Gauthiere on the bass all from Miami, Florida and a drummer who quit at the end of the year. Arnett and I had played as the opening act with the Allman Brothers Band with our band Max but we had a breakup and we were
looking for work. Agent, Jack Fisher asked Arnett to join Chuck's band and he said yes if they would hire me (Denis) as the second lead singer. (Chuck and I (Denis) shared the role of front men/lead singers for more than 5 years).
(Salvation Version 1)
We played the summer of 1969 at the Osprey as the "no name" band.
(Salvation Version 2)
Ronnie and Robbie Sexton decided to return home to Miami at summers end so we hired guitarist, Freddie Cole who was from New Jersey and a member of my high school rock band Tom Price from Florida on the bass. (It was at this time that we recorded the hit song "Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of my life" on United Artists Records. The song was from the Broadway show "Salvation". We decided to pick up on the name and the rest is history.
We played 2 summers at the Osprey with that lineup plus couple additional lead guitarists. We had 2 guitars, organ, bass, drums and 2 front men/lead singers. Phil DiCarlo from New Jersey was a very very talented jazz style guitarist who played a summer with us at the Osprey. The other lead guitarist who played with us was Mike LaFalce who was from Poughkeepsie, New York.
(Salvation Version 3)
We made a major change next. Through the grapevine we got word of an incredible guitarist and vocalist who had formed a band named Sioux. His name was Lenny Molinari. We caught Lenny and his band at Dodds in Orange, New Jersey and we all loved his style. His band was good too. We approached Lenny with an offer for him, his keyboard player Doc LaFalce and bass player Stevie Shirlee to become the new Salvation.
(Salvation Version 4)
We added another talented entertainer shortly after that. His name was Bobby Jay. He replaced Stevie on bass and also brought into the band his trumpet. It was after that I (Denis) became not only a lead singer/front man but a trombone player as well. (I played the trombone in high school and my first rock band.)
Salvation now had a horn section. We played our 5th summer at the Osprey with that band and also began playing at Art Stock's Playpen South in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida for spring break. That became a yearly event for Salvation. We made our last 2 personnel changes after that. (Salvation Version 5) We were looking to free Bobby Jay up from playing bass so that we could do more songs with brass. Instead of hiring a bass player we decided to hire Russ Hope. He was super talented. He played the organ and at the same time played the bass on a synthesizer. He also played the bass and rhythm guitar. Russ had been the keyboard player with Arnett and me (Denis) in our all original band "Max". Shortly after that we hired a 7th member. He and Russ had played together. His name was Louie Pietz. Louie played the saxophone, flute and bass guitar. Louie was also a fantastic song writer and was responsible for our pick hit single "Overnight Success" which we recorded on Elektra Records.
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