Ed Gagliardi | |
---|---|
Birth name | Edward John Gagliardi |
Born | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | February 13, 1952
Died | May 11, 2014 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | (aged 62)
Genres | Rock |
Occupations | Musician |
Instruments | Bass guitar |
Years active | 1966–2014 |
Spouse(s) | Loretta Gagliardi |
Edward John Gagliardi (February 13, 1952 – May 11, 2014) was an American bass guitarist, best known as the original bass player for the 1970s rock band Foreigner. He was a member of Foreigner from the beginning in 1976. Gagliardi, most notably, played a Fireglo Rickenbacker bass guitar, left-handed even though he was naturally right-handed. It is widely known that he did so out of admiration, and devotion to Paul McCartney (most often self-doctored from right-handed basses, reengineered and played upside down, by Gagliardi himself). Gagliardi was on the albums Foreigner and Double Vision
In 1981, Gagliardi formed the band Spys with former Foreigner keyboardist Al Greenwood,[1] a band that set the tone for much of the 80's synth-rock bands, and received acclaim within the musical community.
Gagliardi died of cancer on May 11, 2014, after battling it for eight years. Friends and family held a private ceremony.[2][3]
References
[edit]- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. USA: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-531373-4.
- ^ "Passings: Ed Gagliardi, Original Bassist For Foreigner (1952 - 2014) ~ VVN Music". Vintagevinylnews.com. 2014-05-12. Archived from the original on 2016-05-13. Retrieved 2016-05-26.
- ^ "Original Foreigner Bassist Ed Gagliardi Dies at 62". Ultimateclassicrock.com. 2014-05-12. Retrieved 2016-05-26.