Larry Santos

Larry Santos (born June 2, 1941, in Oneonta, New York) is an American pop music singer-songwriter. Santos wrote songs for several American pop bands in the 1960s, including the 1963 hit "Candy Girl" for The Four Seasons which reached number 3 on Billboard Hot 100 chart.[1] In the mid-Sixties, he recorded singles as part of a group called The Madisons, and then under his own name. He released three albums in the 1970s and scored one pop hit single, produced by Don Davis, "We Can't Hide it Anymore",[2] which peaked on April 10, 1976, at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3]

From 1976 to 1980 Santos starred in the television show Hot Fudge, a syndicated children's puppet show broadcast from Detroit, Michigan.[4] Santos scored the program's theme music and other songs, and appeared regularly as a live character actor.[5] He and lead puppet Seymour would perform a duet at the piano at the end of each episode.

Additionally, Santos built a successful career writing and singing advertising jingles.[6] Santos's songs have appeared in television commercials for Pan Am, Admiral, Chevrolet, Marathon Oil, and Budweiser among others.[6][7]

Santos' baritone singing voice has been described as "gruff, but warm"[2] and said to bear a very strong resemblance to the voice of Richie Havens.[7][8] His music is considered in the genre of blue-eyed soul.[citation needed]

  1. ^ Bronson, Fred (October 1, 2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (5th ed.). Billboard. p. 125. ISBN 978-0823076772.
  2. ^ a b "Top Album Picks". Billboard Magazine. 89 (42): 92. October 22, 1977.
  3. ^ Jancik, Wayne (January 1998). The Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders. Billboard. p. 507. ISBN 9780823076222.
  4. ^ Kiska, Tim; Gollick, Ed (2010). Detroit Television. Images of America. Arcadia Publishing. p. 66. ISBN 9780738577074.
  5. ^ Woolery, George W. (May 23, 1995). Children's Television, the First Thirty-five Years, 1946-1981: Live, film, and tape series. Scarecrow Press. p. 228. ISBN 978-0810816510.
  6. ^ a b Hall, Claude (September 6, 1969). "Field Productions Offers Client An On-the-Spot Custom Service". Billboard Magazine. Vol. 81, no. 36. p. 38.
  7. ^ a b Damsker, Matt (September 16, 1984). "Richie Havens Sells His Soul". Los Angeles Times. p. Q70.
  8. ^ Colford, Paul D. (October 16, 1985). "FOLK WISDOM; Veteran Richie Havens finds a new medium for the music". Newsday. p. 3. ProQuest 285328859. Retrieved November 22, 2013.