BrooklynDreams

Brooklyn Dreams

    Bruce Sudano, Eddie Hokenson and Joe "Bean" Esposito grew up in Brooklyn during the "doo-wop" era. So it's no surprise that the boys brought their voices together in that classic style.
     Eddie's parents owned a candy store where the boys often practiced while listening to the top hits on the jukebox. By all accounts Bruce was the first to taste a modicum of success. He joined a local group led by singers Pepe Carona and Sandy Toder, who scored a number seven hit in 1970 with "Tighter, Tighter," a song co-written and produced by Tommy James. The group was Alive "N" Kickin' and they failed to have another hit, they disbanded after only one album.
     It seems that during the early 1970's Bruce, Eddie and Joe developed their songwriting skills. The boys continued to perfect their harmonic blend of voices at weekend gigs most notably at the Flatbush Terrace.
     In 1976 another former Brooklynite and childhood friend was making it big on the westcoast. Susan Munao had landed a job with a fledgling record company and encouraged them to make the move to L.A. When they arrived via a beatup V.W. van Susan took them in and began managing their career.
    The company she was now vice president for began hitting it's stride, thanks to it's shift from rock to disco. Casablanca Records was also branching out and began distributing Cecil Holmes' Chocolate City Records and Jimmy Ienner's Millenium Records.
     Susan coaxed Ienner into auditioning the guys. Ienner, already an icon in rock music thanks to his writing and producing skills with major acts Grand Funk Railroad, Three Dog Night and most importantly Eric Carmen and The Raspberries, liked what he heard and signed them to a contract.
     Ienner's friend and former Three Dog Night member Skip Konte was brought in to produce their first album. He aided the boys in the arrangement of all the material they wrote. Recorded between May-July of 1977 those sessions resulted in ten tracks on the simply-titled "Brooklyn Dreams."
     The guys were off to a great start with the 12" single of "Music, Harmony And Rhythm." The album poured on the doo-wop aspect of their great harmonies with songs like "On The Corner," "Sad Eyes" and "Hollywood Circles." A friendship between Donna Summer and the guys developed throught Munao (who managed both). A higher bond with Sudano developed later, whom Summer would eventually marry. But in 1977 she was happy to guest on the album track "Old Fashioned Girl." A second 12" single, "Street Dance" failed to garner any attention and did not help the overall sales of the album.
     1978 saw the careers of the guys shift into high gear. Most of the year was taken up with filming their first movie. The guys were asked to portray The Planotones in "American Hot Wax." The movie was set in 1959 and was the story of Alan Freed portrayed by Tim McIntire. It featured Fran Drescher, Jay Leno and Laraine Newman. It had Eddie, Joe & Bruce performing alongside rock greats Jerry Lee Lewis, Screamin' Jay Hawkins and Chuck Berry. The film was a smash and the guys were lauded for their performance.
     The remainder of the year was spent recording their second album,"Sleepless Nights." The album featured their second 12" single "Street Man" which was a moderate success. Once again Donna was asked to join in for a song. That song was "Heaven Knows." Their version features them singing lead (call) and Donna singing harmony (response). When Donna went into the studio to do her "more" part of "Live & More" she added her version to the "MacArthur Park Suite." The same instrumental track was used but the vocals were switched with her calling and them responding. Both versions were smashes. Their album was produced by Bob Esty who was red-hot at the time and he fully supported their doo-wop vocal approach. He framed it with numbers like "Sleepless Nights/Send Me A Dream," "Fashion For Me" and "First Love." This was by far their best album and the most commercially successful.
     1979 was probably the pinnacle of Brooklyn Dreams' career. A fabulous tour with Donna Summer on the "Summer Nights Dream Tour" was a high point. So too was hosting "The Midnight Special" on ABC-TV. Interviews, television shows and another trip to the studio finished up the year. That year's album, "Joy Ride," once again had a Donna Summer collaboration. "Too Much For The Lady" was a mediocre number held together by Donna's input. The rest of the album, although it was produced by Juergen Koppers, was an uneven event and floundered at the record counter. The highlights were "Daigo," "Hot Lovin' (Summer In The City)" and "Your Love's So Good To Me."
     1980 was the last year for the Dreams. Let's talk about the last album "Won't Let Go." Several reasons contributed to it's quick painless death. First of all the guys produced themselves, secondly they couldn't have a Donna number and third they had changed management to Don E. Branker Organization. This all spelled disaster, not to mention that disco was dead and the musical scene had shifted, doo-wop male groups were just not in vogue. The bright spot was a second film for them. "Hollywood Knights" was another smash movie and though it was their last it was the first for stars Tony Danza and Michelle Pfeiffer. It also starred their old acting friend Fran Drescher.
     The guys disbanded the group after this lackluster year. Bruce married Donna and released a solo album in 1981 "Fugitive Kind." He's been an intergral part of Donna's career since then. Recently he's released a new compact disc in 2003, "Rainy Day Soul."
     Joe released his solo album in 1996, "Treated & Released." He can be heard on the "Flashdance" soundtrack with "Lady, Lady, Lady" from the duet album with Giorgio Moroder "Solitary Men" (1983).
     Eddie has gone on to perform and produce Kenny Vance & The Planotones. All three have continued their writing skills and have made numerous appearances as background singers on countless recordings. To the guys on the corner....we still hear your harmonies....thanks!