Johnny Gruber (aka "Knock 'Em Alive") grew up in Manhattan back when it was more gritty and grimy. It was a teeming and explosively-charged New York City. Amidst the hubbub of the times, which included the reign of The Son of Sam, the great blackout and the birth of punk, Johnny remembers sitting on the front stoop of his apartment building and tuning into great radio--WPLJ for rock, WKTU for disco--and devouring the sounds that poured from it; no matter the genre, his ears were open. Some of his musical favorites from that time included The Clash, Cheap Trick, Chic and Afrika Bambaataa.

Knock 'Em Alive

Johnny Gruber (aka "Knock 'Em Alive") grew up in Manhattan back when it was more gritty and grimy. It was a teeming and explosively-charged New York City. Amidst the hubbub of the times, which included the reign of The Son of Sam, the great blackout and the birth of punk, Johnny remembers sitting on the front stoop of his apartment building and tuning into great radio--WPLJ for rock, WKTU for disco--and devouring the sounds that poured from it; no matter the genre, his ears were open. Some of his musical favorites from that time included The Clash, Cheap Trick, Chic and Afrika Bambaataa.