David Cortopassi
David Cortopassi is a multitalented musician whose career in music started at the age of 5 playing the marimba with his sister and brother performing for the USO (United Service Organizations). His love for music and performing continued during his school and college years which included classical training in the art of composition, orchestration, and the creative process. In addition to writing and composing music, Cortopassi plays multiple instruments including: marimba, vibraphone, bass violin, electric bass, 4, 6, & 8 string guitar, mandolin, tenor banjo, and piano. Singing is another of his musical talents even though he’s reluctant to admit it.
In the early 60’s, garage bands were all the rage. While still in high school, rock and roll music captured Cortopassi’s creative soul. Inspired by rock band greats like The Beau Brummels, The Animals, The Beatles, Dave Clark 5, and Paul Revere and the Raiders, (to name just a few) Cortopassi formed his first rock band called the Soul Survivors. They were a 4-piece band who performed 60s cover songs at small gigs and private parties, playing for free and mostly in the garage.
After graduating high school, Cortopassi formed a rock band called This Side Up. Cortopassi was now writing original songs for the band. Two songs, “Lose Yourself” and “Turn Your Head”, were released by Century Records on a 45. The recordings were produced by George Dipaola and engineered by Brian Gardner in Brian’s living room. Only 100 pressings were made making them a collector’s item. Brian Gardner went on to become a world-famous mastering engineer who has been nominated eight times for Grammy Album of The Year.
During the early heyday of the San Francisco psychedelic era, Cortopassi and his band This Side Up came to the attention of Hank Donig, nightclub owner, booking agent, and producer who encouraged Cortopassi to change the band’s name. After considering names like The Gremlins and The Munchkins, (no joke) he picked The Elastik Band. Elastik because the band played a lot of different kinds of music and outrageous originals primarily written by Cortopassi.
Donig and Fred Cohn, owner of Action Records Recording Studio, recorded two of the band’s original songs, “Got A Better Reason” and “Mixed Emotions”, and released them on a 45 in 1967 under DCA Records. Action Records also recorded an entire album of the band’s original songs, but the album was never released. One song, “SPAZZ”, was picked up by ATCO Records and released on a 45, soon became one of the most notorious records ever. Banned in Europe for its content, resulting in the band’s European tour canceled, “SPAZZ” is now a cult favorite sought by collectors worldwide.
In 1968, after the notoriety caused by “SPAZZ”, Cortopassi and The Elastik Band moved from San Francisco to Los Angeles where they were signed to a 7 year recording contract by Russ Regan, President of UNI (Universal) Records. However, under UNI, everything changed. UNI hired orchestras, arrangers, gave the band a new manager (Joey Fischer) and a staff producer (Norman Ratner) who just didn’t compliment the band’s nature, musical style or direction. After releasing a couple of 45s, UNI changed the band’s name to Dangerfield.
Over the course of 2 years, Dangerfield recorded 2 full LPs worth of original music… most of which was never released. Basically, the band was then “shelved” by the record label until they requested to be released from their contract. After lengthy negotiations, UNI released them when the band said they would report non-payment of studio recording fees required by the Musicians Union. Soon after, Dangerfield dissolved. (Cortopassi is currently working on a CD release of the Dangerfield recordings.)
When Dangerfield dissolved in early 1970, Cortopassi, along with Scott Williams, an original member from the band This Side Up, formed a new seven-piece, rock/fusion band called MAX. With smoking guitar, incredibly solid horn charts and a tight, unstoppable bass/rhythm section, this unique band toured extensively. In their 4-year existence, MAX was engineered by the famed Fred Catero, Bill Drescher, Lamont & Reggie Dozier, Elmer “Doc” Siegel, Paul Beaver & Bernie Krause, and Glen Kolotkin. MAX was a most unique gatherings of musicians. They are best known today by the sought-after classic vinyl collector’s album titled “RODAN”.
Following the breakup of MAX in 1974, Cortopassi performed in nightclubs with Williams as a duo called Free & Easy. While playing at the Portofino in Redondo Beach, California, Mitzi Gaynor and her husband Jack Bean saw them and hired them to tour with the Mitzi Gaynor Show. They did 2 tours with Mitzi traveling throughout the USA and Canada.
Between 1975 and the 1980s, Cortopassi formed three different bands experimenting in different genres specifically grouping musicians according to the music direction/style: Rage (Top 40 Rock ‘N Roll), Fourplay (Underground Rock), and The Thuzz (Independent/Alternative).
Today, Cortopassi has his own independent label, Digital Cellars, which has released three solo CDs, “Pharaoh of Mars”, “The Silicon Jungle”, and “Embrace Destiny”. He also released a CD titled “The Elastik Band” that includes most all of that band’s recordings.
Cortopassi will soon to be releasing a limited edition, vinyl 2-LP album titled “BEYOND RODAN” that includes eight additional cuts from the band MAX, never released before.
DISCOGRAPHY
1966 – Lose Yourself / Turn Your Head (Century Records V255 25, vinyl 45RPM)
1967 – Got A Better Reason Now / Mixed Emotions (DCA Records, DM 1033, vinyl 45RPM)
1967 – SPAZZ / Paper Mache (ATCO 6537, vinyl 45RPM)
1968 – I will Still Love You / In a Family Tree (UNI/KAPP Records 965, vinyl 45RPM)
1968 – Tune Smith/In A Family Tree (UNI/KAPP Records 965, vinyl 45RPM)
1969 – Zig Zag Man / Rockpile (Uni/KAAP 2048, vinyl 45RPM)
1974 – Rodan (An unauthorized/bootlegged album, Pandora Records, vinyl 33RPM)
1998 – Pharaoh of Mars (Digital Cellars, DC 3147, CD)
2000 – Silicon Jungle (Digital Cellars, DC 030134-2, CD)
2003 – Embrace Destiny (Digital Cellars, DC 091874-2, CD)
2007 - The Elastik Band (Complete recordings, Digital Cellars, DC 111451-2, CD)