Cleavage: XOXO

CLEAVAGE was the brain child of “Hollywood Tease” guitarist and songwriter Larry Ganci. In the late 80’s Hollywood Tease was the first hard rock band to be signed to the famous rap label “Sugar Hill Records” and their independent offshoot “Bon Ami Records”. As the record label was going through a transition, Larry started a cover band called “CLEAVAGE” with members of a band he was producing. “CLEAVAGE”, the cover band with Larry Ganci as singer/front man included, Mike Hensinger (bass), Paul Riario (guitar), and Rob Tarantino (drums) soon to be replaced by George Pagonis. This lineup played covers locally for about a year and quickly built a following. Larry, the prolific songwriter, continued to write, engineer and produce original songs in his privately owned rehearsal/recording studio located in Paterson, NJ. Some of these original recordings made with Paul, Mike and Rob are included in these two FNA releases. Larry, having fun and gaining popularity as the front man, turned his sights on making Cleavage an ALL ORIGINAL national hard rock band. Converting from covers to all originals required a personnel change, and thus “Cleavage” with Larry Ganci, Ronnie Parkes, Mike Parkes and Scott “Nazz” was born. They immediately began recording and subsequently released the infamous self titled release “The Demo” to rave reviews. Show attendance quickly increased, and at the same time local Radio stations WSOU (Seton Hall) and WDHA were playing Cleavage regularly. “15 Gets Ya 20” held the #1 Local spot for several weeks in a row on WSOU. Within one year CLEAVAGE became the headliner and local opener for national acts. Cleavage then signed to “Southside Management” and began showcasing at sold out venues such as the famous “China Club” in NYC. Although they drew major label interest, it was the early nineties and the “Seattle sound” became the focus of the Music Industry’s attention. The band decided to go their separate ways but still remain friends to this day. In the months following the disbanding Larry and Scott went on to finish up recording some previously unreleased Cleavage songs with Joe Osso (guitar), Steve Ceragno (guitar).

Where are they now? Larry Ganci owns his own studio and continues to write, record and produce. He has worked with Grammy Award winning engineers and producers on many projects, and also won a Billboard Award for songwriting. “Joan’s Song”, which was used by NJ Governor Christie Whitman for the passing of Joan’s Law, was composed by Larry for the purpose of saving missing and exploited children. (Joan Angela D'Alessandro Memorial Foundation www.joansjoy.org/ Ronnie Parkes is producing and performing nationally and internationally as bassist in the bands, Farcry, Seven Witches and the popular NJ Bon Jovi Tribute Slippery When Wet. Mike Parkes performs locally and is the lead vocalist in the popular Bon Jovi Tribute Slippery When Wet. Paul Riario performs locally and is a staff writer and equipment demonstrator for Guitar World Magazine. Mike Hensinger performs locally. George Pagonis performs locally. Rob Tarantino became head of Rock Promotion at Interscope Records. And Scott Nazz is just waiting for Cleavage to reunite to tear it up again. Honorable Mention Joe Osso Steve Ceragno www.youtube.com/user/misterreality/feed Fly (jammed in studio)