Felix Cavaliere

Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati shared both lead vocal and songwriting duties for the 1960’s hitmakers The Rascals. From 1965 through 1969, The Rascals were one of the bestselling groups on the pop charts scoring such classic chart entries as “How Can I Be Sure,” “Good Lovin’,” “A Beautiful Morning,” “I’ve Been Lonely Too Long,” “Groovin’,” and “People Got to Be Free.” These hits were marked by such a distinctive mix of R&B and rock, and romance and social consciousness, that in 1997, The Rascals were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Eddie Brigati was born in Garfield, New Jersey. Following in the footsteps of David, a doo wop singer and musician, Eddie knew his destiny was to work in music. When David was drafted in 1963, a teenaged Eddie took his place in Joey Dee & the Starliters, the New York group that made “The Peppermint Twist” a phenomenon. It was in that band that Eddie would meet future Young Rascals Felix Cavaliere and Gene Cornish.

Felix Cavaliere was born in Westchester County, New York. His parents noting musical talent at an early age enrolled him in The Allaire School of Music where he studied classical piano and composition. Felix went to Syracuse University where he majored in Pre Med with a minor in music. Starting a band there, he was offered a record deal with a label in the area and released a single, that he penned called, “The
Syracuse” which became a campus hit. After a brief stint in the Catskills, he was asked to join Joey Dee’s Starliters on a’ European tour.

In 1965, Felix formed The Young Rascals with Eddie Brigati, Dino’ Danelli and Gene Cornish. Felix and Eddie were to becorne the° band’s’ primary’ songwriters and lead singers. All in all they went on to co write seven albums together. Their songs have been recorded by such artists as: Aretha Franklin, Olivia Newton John, Kenny Rankin, Dusty Springfield, David Cassidy, Lulu, Marvin Gaye, Gloria Estefan, Booker T and the MG’s.

After The Rascals split in the early 1970s, Eddie worked closely with his brother, David and the two released an album titled, Lost in the Wilderness, under the name, Brigati, in 1976. Eddie and David later performed at the famed New York Rock & Soul Revue concert in 1991. Eddie resides in New Jersey and continues to perform.

Felix went on to produce albums for Laura Nyro, Jimmy Spheeris, The Deadly Nightshade and others, as well as his own solo efforts. In the past year, his duet album with fellow Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Steve Cropper, Nudge It Up a Notch, received a Grammy nomination. Felix is currently living in Nashville, Tennessee and is preparing for a second album project with Steve Cropper and touring. Felix Cavaliere is the proud father of five children.