Synopsis of Pop Music

"Heartbeat, it's a lovebeat,
And a lovebeat, is a good sensation..."

The DeFranco Family was Canada’s answer to America's the Cowsills. Whether they were performing a complex song-and-dance routine on a television show or playing as a band on the international concert circuit, this self-contained musical family could do it all. Along the way, they recorded a handful of hits that transformed them into teen-idol sensations.

The DeFrancos were a musical family, with all the kids playing musical instruments from an early age. Soon, they had their own band and were a hit in their home province of Ontario. The group’s fortunes changed when they found themselves appearing in the pages of Tiger Beat after a family friend sent a photo of the group to the magazine. They soon got a record contract and released their first single, “Heartbeat- It’s A Lovebeat.” This grand, dramatic bubblegum epic featured soaring harmonies, pounding drums, and an exuberant lead vocal from Tony on top. It became a hit and would eventually sell more than 2 million copies.

The DeFranco Family started 1974 with another Top-40 single, the magic-themed “Abra-Ca-Dabra” (not to be confused with the similarly-titled Steve Miller song). They promoted these hits through several appearances on television, including Dinah, The Sonny and Cher Show and The Jack Benny Show. They were also a very popular attraction on American Bandstand, where they appeared no less than nine times over the course of their career. The group had another hit in 1974 with a cover of the Drifters classic, “Save The Last Dance For Me.” By the end of the year, the DeFrancos had done extensive tours of the U.S. and Japan.

The DeFrancos, who had relocated to California by this time, continued to record and tour until 1979. The family members have married and taken on music or film-related work since then. Tony started a production company with his wife and also works as a manager for several artists. He also recently oversaw the release of both DeFranco Family albums on compact disc, ensuring that the exciting bubblegum pop of the DeFranco Family will continue to delight pop fans new and old for a long time to come.

Artist Release History

1973 - Heartbeat, It's a Lovebeat
1974 - Save the Last Dance for Me

Pop Sub Categories

pop

Essential Music Albums

Heartbeat It’s A Lovebeat/ Save The Last Dance For Me (DeFranco)

Band Members

Tony DeFranco vocals, maracas
Benny DeFranco guitar, vocals
Nino DeFranco bass, vocals
Marisa DeFranco keyboards, vocals
Melina DeFranco drums, vocals

Other Pop Music Links