Phil Naro
Phil Naro is a Daytime Emmy award-winning performer, and, Internationally acclaimed composer, performer, singer, guitar player, songwriter and producer, well known for his powerful voice and his tremendous four octave range. Naro's career began in his hometown of Rochester, New York at the age of fifteen where he performed in a variety of popular High School bands. Word of his amazing voice quickly spread to the bar bands where he pursued his musical career. In 1980 Naro had a musical opportunity to go Toronto, ON, where he joined the band "Chain Reaction," and released "X-Rated Dream" on the Attic Records label. Following the release of "X-Rated Dream" he then returned to Western New York.
While Naro immersed his talents writing and recording songs with other musicians in Rochester and Buffalo, bass player, Billy Sheehan (www.billysheehan.com,) from Talas was in search of a lead singer for his band. Then late in 1983 he found the voice of the band in Phil Naro. After numerous performances, the band recorded "Live Speed on Ice" at L'Amour in New York City which simultaneously made the top ten charts in both England and Japan. While with Talas Phil Naro enjoyed great success on a unique American heavy metal tour performing with many of the 80's top attractions such Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force, Anthrax, White Lion, Quiet Riot, and Iron Maiden. After his time with Talas, Naro joined with Canadian AOR Coney Hatch, replacing James LaBrie as the band's new charismatic front man. Highlighting his career, Naro was a much sought after lead vocalist, discovered by respected producer Eddie Kramer who had worked with Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and KISS. This discovery resulted in Kramer recommending Naro to Peter Criss (www.petercriss.net,) former KISS drummer, who was preparing his solo career.
At the helm of Criss' solo project two of Naro's songs, "Bad People" and "Blue Moon Over Brooklyn" appeared on Criss' 1995 release, "Cat 1." While he was creating music with Criss, Naro also wrote songs for Lee Aaron's 1989 multi-platinum selling album "Body Rock" and provided his powerful voice in studio work with Grammy winning producer Tom Lord-Alge, known for his work with Billy Joel, The Cure, Steve Winwood, Marilyn Manson and The Rolling Stones.
Naro also appeared on a compilation disc released through Liberty N' Justice Records entitled "Soundtrack Of A Soul" which featured ex-Skid Row member Sebastian Bach, Mark Slaughter, and Joe Cerisano of Trans Siberian Orchestra. From "Soundtrack of A Soul," Naro followed up by fronting a band from NYC and Kivel Records, Tango Down (www.myspace.com/tangodown); he produced Jim Crean's (www.metalworksband.com) new CD "Velvet Crush" for Glass Mountain Music, Phil collaborated and did lead vocals with former Foreigner lead singer Lou Gramm, (www.lougramm.com) on both of the D-Drive albums, "DDrive 1" and "Straight Up The Middle". D Drive will be releasing their new CD, "3-D" in the near future.
Phil Naro is an extraordinary artist. His tremendous talent affinity for music and his extraordinary artistry is continuously demonstrated through his contribution to the music industry.
Phil, along with composers Don Breithaupt and Anthony Vanderburgh, created the theme song for the animated series,'6teen', which won a Daytime Emmy Award for best original song and main title. Whether recording with fellow artists, producing CD's, or singing as a frontman with a band, Phil Naro's love and passion of music are inherent as he continues to prosper in his career.