The Titans! 1983-1985, Formative

The Titans! -1983 (Sound influenced by Austin, Texas punk/new wave rock scene)

Members:

Ken Geraci- guitar, songwriter, vocals

Dan Geraci-bass, harmonies

Marc Geraci-drums

Kevin Farmer- lead vocals (Daniel Geraci's friend from Westwood high school)

Joel Ziener-rytham guitar

Tony Lovaglia-Keyboards, vocal

Events: 

• Kevin Farmer and Joel Zeiner join the band
• Tony Lovaglia joins the band during the summer (Vince Polombi’s friend from Binghamton, New York)
• TheTitans! made our first club appearance at the Data Gallery 
• opened up for Ty Gavin  (comments from both Ty Gavin and Ken Geraci regarding the band The Next)

Memorable Shows: 

• The Data Gallery, Austin, Texas  USA, (Band Photos) 
• Westwood High School, class of 1983, Melanie Barr’s graduation party
• Westwood graduation party
• Smitty’s Arcade on Lake Creek Parkway, Austin TX (Band Photos)

The Titans! -1984 (Sound became more influenced by pop-metal groups)

Members:

Ken Geraci- guitar, songwriter, vocals

Daniel Geraci-bass, harmonies

Marc Geraci-drums

Steve Snyder-vocals

Leslie Bockoven-vocals 

Events: 

• Kevin Farmer and Joel Ziener both quit the band on the same day
• Leslie Bockhoven brought in (Ken Geraci worked with her at HEB, Austin, Texas)
• Steve Snyder worked with Ken Geraci at Reale’s Pizza  
• Ken was impressed with Steve’s singing along with Frank Sinatra records

Memorable Shows: 

• Smitty’s Arcade on Lake Creek Parkway, Austin TX 
• High school party in Leander, TX

The Titans! -1985 (Sound continued to be influenced by pop-metal groups)

Members:

Ken Geraci- guitar, songwriter, vocals

Daniel Geraci-bass, harmonies

Marc Geraci-drums

Steve Snyder-vocals

Glen Barnes-vocals

Ricky Trevino-keyboards

Events: 

• Recorded first demo tape in a semi professional studio- “Think About our Love Again”
• Added keyboardist Ricky Trevino (Ken Geraci worked with him at HEB)
• Titans ran an ad in the Austin Chronicle and found vocalist Glen Barnes

Memorable Shows: 
 (all in Austin, TX)

• Various high school parties
• 4th of July Anderson Mill Picnic
• Sunrise Subs 

Courtesy Marc Geraci. Visit Marc's Soundcloud page for a selection of original music.

Candido Camero - "MANTECA"

One of my all time favorite conga performances; I watch this one over and over again for inspiration. Enjoy and don't let age stop you from picking up a drum!

First Gold Record

Four years later, at the age of 23, taking my best friends to a George Thorogood concert in my brand new Jaguar XJ6 sedan was certainly a high point for me.  This was 1987, I had received my first gold record in sales, I was making $50,000 a year and I had fully absorbed American materialism, the "Think and Grow Rich" mentality and the "you can (and should) have it all" attitude.   

Gary Geraci with his first Gold record, 1987

I was investing in cassette programs to the likes of Zig Ziglar and other Nightingale Conant "self help" guru programs - for self improvement purposes; to learn how to reign in even greater amounts of material wealth and success for "me, me, me."  I had even hired a certified financial planner at the time whom incidentally, had been thoroughly against the Jaguar acquisition.

Having moved to San Antonio, TX just a year few years earlier, I rented my first apartment next to Churchhill High School, and started buying guitars, amps, and effect pedals again - all on a "door-to-door" salesman's commission income.

I was doing sales training in the field one day with a deeply religious guy name Moses (his real name) and we came across this distraught older gentleman, tearful and obviously overcome by grief having just lost his wife to a terminal illness.  Rather than do our sales pitch, Moses led us to our knees and commenced to offer a prayer to God for the healing of this man's heart and for the well being of his wife's soul.  As strange and awkward as this was for me, I never forgot it nor the look of momentary peace and gratitude that came across this man's face.

Amidst the Catholic sex abuse scandal, the Jimmy Swaggart scandals, Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker debacle of the 80's, etc., I had become thoroughly disgusted and indifferent towards any sort of organized religion whatsoever.  In my ignorance and selfishness I was of the opinion that it was all just one great big money making scam and perhaps even a method of controlling the masses.  "They" weren't going to get any of my money.  Besides, I totally subscribed to doing good for others as one wants them to do onto oneself and I had always "loved my neighbor."  I really thought of myself a good person, loved everyone, and worked hard to make sure everyone loved me. 

Meanwhile, the feeling of invincibility continued to grow within me; I could do most ANYTHING if I just set my mind to it and kept a positive mental attitude while pursuing it.  I even envisioned a way to get back to Austin and rejoin my brothers who were taking it up a notch now with the band, The Titans!  I would do it by starting my own company, a house cleaning company called Prime Concern Maid Services. 

The ID badge that I would wear on customer visits and inspections.

Record Labels and Contracts

With the success of the '82 Lago show, brothers Ken and Daniel Geraci were now hard at work writing original music and honing their playing and singing talents.   Inspiration was flowing and a sense that this was no longer a hobby prevailed.  The major record labels still signed bands back then and to get signed, a band needed both talent and great "original" material.

Marc Geraci was now 12; the fire for drums burned ever brighter feeding a certain gift and talent for the kit.  He would take it up a notch, drumming twice a week in living room jam sessions that followed.  The vacancy of the rhythm guitar spot I had occupied was filled by several great musicians; mostly high school friends, work mates, etc.

After graduating 13 weeks of grueling military basic training, I too was on top of the world, for a short time anyway.  I found out that I could skip church, listen to what my mother called "devil" music (Black Sabbath), smoke cigarettes, swear with the guys and all sorts of other "fun" things and not be struck by lightning or immediately cursed, so to speak. This new found freedom felt good but, looking back, I was both a product of the American pop culture of the day, impatient for acquiring what amounted to shallow happiness after short-lived happiness and a kid whom had developed a clouded vision of where true freedom really existed.

By the grace of God, my military career was cut short and I was honorably separated from my contract after just seven months of service, unharmed and with my whole life ahead of me.

Discography: The Midnight Sons

The Midnight Sons (Fall 1994-1996) 

• Signs of Life by Ken Geraci
• Last Dance by Ken Geraci
• Little Rider by Ken Geraci
• She Wore Red Lipstick by Daniel Geraci
• Real Love by Ty Gavin
• Maybe I’m Invisible by Mike Runnels
• Hollywood by Ty Gavin
• Share by Ty Gavin
• Mrs. Brown by Daniel Geraci
• You’re All That Matters by Ty Gavin
• Christina by Daniel & Ken Geraci
• She’s So Sick by Ty Gavin
• Risk It All by Ty Gavin
• Wild Child by Ty Gavin
• Blues Is An Empty House by Ty Gavin
• Move Me by Ty Gavin
• Hollywood Doll by Ty Gavin
• Bells of Memphis by Ty Gavin

Courtesy Marc Geraci. Visit Marc's Soundcloud page for a selection of original music.

Discography: Restless Native

Restless Native (Fall 1992-1993) 

• Tear It Down by Daniel & Marc Geraci
• Mrs. Brown by Daniel Geraci
• Silver Moon by David Pearson, Vana, & Daniel Geraci
• August Rain by David Pearson, Vana, & Daniel Geraci
• Flying Blind by David Pearson, Vana, & Daniel Geraci
• Fading Away by David Pearson, Vana, & Daniel Geraci
• Doing Time by David Pearson & Vana
• Breakin The Chain by Vana 
• Wake Up Call by Ken Geraci
• I’m Ready by David Pearson, Vana, & Daniel Geraci
• Walking The Line by David Pearson, Vana, & Daniel Geraci
• Smoldering Embers by Ken Geraci 

Courtesy Marc Geraci. Visit Marc's Soundcloud page for a selection of original music.

Discography: The Titans!

The Titans!  (1982 – 1984) 

• What’s the Matter (late 70’s) by Ken Geraci
• Just a Smile Away (1980) by Ken Geraci
• Let Him Go (1981) by Ken Geraci
• Out of Touch (1981) by Ken Geraci
• My Love Is for You (1982) by Ken Geraci
• Haven’t Got the Time (1982) by Ken Geraci
• What’s Your Reason (1982) by Ken Geraci
• Modern Times (1983) by Ken Geraci
• Dreaming of You (1982) by Ken Geraci
• Nightmare (1982) by Ken Geraci
• Where Has All the Love Gone (1982) by Ken Geraci
• The Last Goodbye (1982) by Ken Geraci
• Maybe I’m Invisible (1982) by Mike Runnels
• Breaking Loose (1982) by Ken Geraci
• Real World (1982) by Ken Geraci
• Slave (1983) by Ken Geraci
• Too Wrong (1983) by Ken Geraci
• Come On Party with Me (1982) by Daniel Geraci
• Good F’ (1982) by Ken & Daniel Geraci
• Secret Admirer (1983) by Ken Geraci
• We Are the Rebels (1984) by Ken Geraci
• Miss Plaza Suite(1983) by Joe Zeiner
• Mad As Hell (1983) by Joe Zeiner 

Smitty’s Arcade on Lake Creek Parkway, Austin TX - 1983 (L to R): Ken Geraci, Tony Lavaglia, Kevin Farmer, Marc Geraci on drums

The Titans!  (1985 – 1987)

• Do It Right (1985) by Daniel Geraci & Brent Preece (1966-2012)
• Sing (1985) by Daniel Geraci
• Fate (1985) by Daniel & Ken Geraci
• Hold On Me (1987) by Daniel Geraci
• Christina (1985) by Daniel & Ken Geraci
• Falling In Love (1987) by Daniel Geraci
• Think About Our Love Again (1985) by Ken Geraci
• Broken Promises (1985) by Ken Geraci
• Twyla (1985) by Ken Geraci
• 2000 Miles Blues (1985) by Ken Geraci

Professional band photo 1 (L to R): Marc Geraci, Daniel Geraci, Leslie Bockhoven, Ken Geraci, Steve Snyder 1985

The Titans! (1988 – 1992)

• This Is Love (1988) by Daniel Geraci
• Is It True (1988) by Ken Geraci
• This Is For Real (1988) by Ken Geraci
• Bye Bye Little Girl (1988) by Daniel & Ken Geraci
• Don’t Do It (1988) by Ken Geraci
• You’ve Got Something I Want (1988) by Ken Geraci
• I’m Not in Love with You (1989) by Daniel Geraci
• No Man’s Land (1989) by Daniel Geraci
• Perfect World (1989) by Daniel Geraci
• On Top of the World (1991) by Daniel Geraci

Black and white promo shoot, left to right Arnaud Matrix (Robin), Marc Geraci, Scott Linhardt, Ken Geraci, Daniel Geraci. 1990 

"Obscure" Songs, The Titans! (1981-1990)

• Makes Me Happy for a While (1984) by Daniel Geraci
• Will I Ever (1984) by Ken Geraci
• Christina (Early – Reggae 1984) by Ken Geraci
• Dancing King (1981) by Gary Geraci
• Too Far from Yesterday (1985) by Ken Geraci
• Too Late, Too Long (1984) by Ken Geraci
• Sixteen Girls After Me (1989) by Ken Geraci
• Some Small Way (1992) by Ken Geraci
• Can’t Stop This Feeling (1990) by Daniel Geraci
• Freedom (1989) by Daniel Geraci
• You Still Love Him (1989) by Ken Geraci

Black and white promo shoot, left to right Omar Madani, Glen Barnes, Daniel Geraci, Ken Geraci, Marc Geraci 1991 

Courtesy Marc Geraci. Visit Marc's Soundcloud page for a selection of original music.

 

 

Making It

Although we didn't have American Idol back then and MTV was still months away from its launch, an unexplainable connection to music had birthed in our souls.  It was fun, especially when it all came together and everybody had their part down.  Without a doubt, playing rock music in the early 80's took one's "coolness" up a notch or two with nearly all the diverse high school "cliques," or so I liked to believe.  

And so for a while, something about playing music together and hearing people come and say "I like that piece you just played" fused it in us all the more that there could really be something to this music thing.   

Yeah, we all wanted to "make it" in those days but for me, the doubts kept sinking in, I really didn't believe that I was good enough to "make it."    Despite having self rated "Music" as the sole "Top 1%" for Activities, Interests, Awards (the Admissions Testing Program of the College Board), I was suffering the gnawing feeling that I would have to do something else of importance with my life very soon.   

Probably after watching the movie Stripes, I had determined rather hastily and naively that a military career was going to be exactly how I was going to "make it."   High school graduation came May 1982 and in July of '82, I was already on my way to Fort Benning, Georgia.   

Gary Geraci, 1982

During my first military leave, I was invited out to one of the Titans earliest shows on record, the famous Lago party.  I remember sitting in for a song or two and singing "Johnny Be Good."  Later that night, the band would introduce an original song that they had just written called  "Good F," a high school "anthem" of sorts among the band's rapidly growing number of fans . 

Smitty’s Arcade on Lake Creek Parkway, Austin TX - 1983