Sandy Gennaro
Santo Michael Gennaro (born July 3, 1951 in Manhattan, New York) is an American rock drummer. He has recorded and toured with many musical artists including Blackjack, The Monkees, Pat Travers, Cyndi Lauper and Joan Jett. Gennaro teaches drums and has written instructional books. Early years. Born "Santo Gennaro" in Little Italy, (Manhattan's Lower East Side), Gennaro grew up on Staten Island, New York. At the age of 3 he showed interest in a toy drum and later at age 13 he played a friend's snare drum, which prompted him to buy his first drum set . At age 14 he joined his first band "The Black and Blues". Gennaro took private lessons and by 16 he was touring the New York/New Jersey/Pennsylvania circuit, playing high school dances, parties and minor musical events. At 18, Gennaro toured the Midwest playing night clubs and bars in a Cover band. In 1976 Gennaro moved to California and joined rock quartet Blackjack, featuring Michael Bolton, guitarist Bruce Kulick and bassist Jimmy Haslip. Blackjack recorded two albums and toured with Peter Frampton which eventually led Gennaro to record his first hit single with the New York-based singer Benny  Mardones, "Into the Night" and LP Never Run, Never Hide. This was the beginning of Gennaro's association with the Pat Travers Band and afterwards his connection with singer/songwriter Cyndi Lauper, whose debut album She's So Unusual became a multi-platinum hit. Lauper hired Gennaro for the Fun Tour as well as other national and international tours and he appears on the concert video for the singer's single "Money Changes Everything". From here Gennaro went on to record and tour with Bo Diddley, Joan Jett and Johnny Winter. Recording career. Gennaro's recording career includes Blackjack, Pat  Travers, Cyndi Lauper, Robin Gibb, Craaft, Joan Jett, Junkyard Angels, and the Monkees. Professional expansion. Gennaro toured with throughout Europe/UK as the opening band for Queen during mid-1986. He participated on every The Monkees reunion tour from 1987 until the death of Davy Jones in 2012. Gennaro frequently served as a counselor and teacher at David Fishof's Rock and Roll Fantasy Camps since 2007. Gennaro taught at The Collective in New York City for 27 years where he created the Music Business program, teaching private lessons and master classes before moving to Nashville. Gennaro wrote several articles for  Modern Drummer magazine. He is also the creator of "Drum Basics" and "Contemporary Rock Styles for the Drums." His writing is featured in the October 2016 issue of "Drumhead Magazine" (owned by Jonathan Mover) issue #057, page 70 "The Top 10 Straight 8th and 16th note Grooves Every Drummer Should know...And Why" Personal life. On May 12, 1990, Gennaro married Shari Lynn Athey in North Carolina. Gennaro currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where he continues to teach, write, record, perform and travel for music and speaking engagements.