Alive N Kickin’ (known originally as
Alive and Kicking) is a
Brooklyn band, led by
singers Pepe Cardona and Sandy Toder, known mainly for their 1970
hit single "Tighter, Tighter" which reached number seven in the
United States Billboard Hot 100 chart. Members of the band included
Bruce Sudano, Woody Wilson (
bass guitar), John Parisio (
guitar),Ron Pell (
drums) and Vito Albano (
drums, live only).
Beginnings
The band originally formed in 1968 in the basement of the original
bassist, Rich Luisi when they were
teenagers. They reached success when they began
recording for
Tommy James on his
label,
Roulette Records.
"Tighter, Tighter"
The major hit for the group was
written and
produced by Tommy James and Bob King and
arranged by Jimmy Wisner. Both James and Alive 'N Kickin' were signed to Roulette Records and James originally considered having his friends record "Crystal Blue Persuasion" but he liked it so much he decided to record it himself, he then wrote "Tighter, Tighter" for them.
