Granati Brothers (Team and Family)
Hermie, Ricky, Joey, David, and Tony Bonomo
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Perseverance, Grit, and Resolution resulting in lifelong achievement.
The Granati Brothers were blessed to be born into a strong Italian family culture where Father and Mother (Herman and Norm) gave them the lifelong values of reverence for God, country, and family. It was at a very young age that they found music and began performing songs for their neighbors and friends. Their father Herman was a dedicated volunteer fireman at the Patterson Twp. Fire Department where every summer the Granati Brothers would perform their music at the Fireman’s Carnival in Patterson Twp.
In 1977 Derek and Ray Shulman of the band “Gentle Giant” discovered the Granati Brothers playing a packed Pittsburgh area club and signed them to a management deal and to A&M Records. In 1979 A&M Records released the “G-Force Album”. Major rock FM stations throughout America and gave rotation airplay to the songs: “Nite”, “You Looked So Good”, “What in the World”, and “It was You”. Fans purchased over 50,000 copies. The Granati Brothers song “Go Crazy” was featured as the opening cut of A&M Records “Propaganda” compilation album that includes the Police, Squeeze, and Joe Jackson.
During a seven-month national tour in 1979 the G’s performed for 250,000 fans appearing with Van Halen, Heart, Peter Frampton, Boston, J Geils, Ian Hunter, the Doobie Brothers, and others. Their highlight of the tour was an appearance before 62,000 fans at the Superdome, New Orleans. In 1981 the Granati Brothers, also known as G-Force toured with Van Halen and performed for over 500,000 fans in 39 cities in the U.S. and Canada appearing at 46 sold out concerts. It was the third largest tour of 1981. Concert fans nominated David Granati for Guitar Player of the Year in the 1981 Guitar Player Magazines Readers Poll.
The band went their separate ways in 1995 and the members pursued independent projects. Joey and David Granati cowrote Aaron Carter’s hit song “Tell Me How to Make You Smile” featured on his million selling debut in 2000. David Granati founded Dave World Productions recording studio. Hermie Granati has performed and recorded with numerous artists including B.E. Taylor and Donnie Iris. Joey Granati has become one of the most recognized performers nationwide in the burgeoning world of Dueling Pianos. The band reunited in 2002 to record their latest independent CD, “The Continuing Adventures of The Granati Brothers”. They opened for David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar, and Van Halen in the next two years.
Ricky Granati began his pursuit of his love of helping others by joining Peter Bennett who was the personal promotional manager for the Rolling Stones, Beatles, Elvis, Bob Dylan. As well as movie stars like Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, and many others. Peter taught Ricky that “Promotion is the name of the game. Without it you go nowhere, no matter who you are.” Ricky stated that “I was blessed to be in his company for eight years” and did some events in Beaver County that were charitable events, one for Lincoln Park as well as the Concert / Benefit for The Steel Workers That Started & Established The Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Ricky was the lead promoter for the event which helped to feed 23,000 steel workers from the Homestead Works in Allegheny County. In 1983 Ricky organized and spearheaded “A Labor Day Extravaganza with KDKA” The City of Pittsburgh – Mellon Foundation at Point Park all Day event.
At this point in their careers, Hermie Granati says, “I’m very thankful to God just to be doing it.”
“I’ve had so many wonderful experiences with so many wonderful people. I still look forward to conquering more mountains,” he adds.
The Granati’s have maintain a close family unit over time and have shown their achievement of the Larry Bruno attributes of Reverence, Integrity, Leadership, Motivation, Teamwork, Discipline, and Communication.
