Sal Valentino

Sal Valentino (born Salvatore Willard Spampinato; September 8, 1942) is an American rock musician, singer and songwriter, best known as lead singer of The Beau Brummels, subsequently becoming a songwriter as well. The band released a pair of top 20 U.S. hit singles in 1965, "Laugh, Laugh" and "Just a Little". He later fronted another band, Stoneground, which produced three albums in the early 1970s. After reuniting on numerous occasions with the Beau Brummels, Valentino began a solo career, releasing his latest album, Every Now and Then, in 2008.

Early life Valentino grew up in the North Beach section of San Francisco. Valentino appeared with the band in the 1965 science-fiction/comedy movie Village of the Giants, which was featured in a 1994 episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Valentino also appeared with the band as The Beau Brummelstones on the animated TV sitcom The Flintstones in the season six episode "Shinrock A Go-Go," which originally aired on December 3, 1965.

Although the Beau Brummels' subsequent releases were not as commercially successful as their debut album and its first two singles, the band earned underground credibility with 1967's Triangle and 1968's Bradley's Barn. Critics noted the works as early contributions to the country rock genre. The band, which by 1968 consisted of only Valentino and Elliott, split up.

He later participated in numerous Beau Brummels revivals over the next two decades.

Another album, Come Out Tonight, followed later that year, and his third solo album, Every Now and Then, was released in 2008.

Personal life Disenchanted, he left the music business. For many years, he worked non-musical jobs, including forklift driver and warehouse stockman, finally ending up working as an agent in the Race Form at Northern California race tracks. In 1993, he herniated his back and was forced to go on disability. This was the first time in 15 years he thought of returning to music and singing again.

Discography

With The Beau Brummels

With Stoneground Stoneground (1971) Family Album (1971) Stoneground 3 (1972)

Solo albums Dreamin' Man (2006) Come Out Tonight (2006) Every Now and Then (2008)

Collaborations Positively 12th and K: A Bob Dylan Tribute (by Jackie Greene/Sal Valentino & Friends) (2003)