Biography
Darby Jones appeared poised for major breakthrough by the close of the 1990s, blending ultra-slick vocal harmonies with hook-laden pop/rock melodies. Originally performing as Good Sam Club, the group assumed the name of a 1970s underground porn star shortly before issuing its debut album, Racket on the Seventh Floor, in early 1999. After cultivating a following through energetic New York club performances, the band toured the East Coast in 2000. Just as commercial payoff seemed within reach, Darby Jones entered a turbulent stretch of personnel shifts. Drummer/vocalist Mike Fumento was succeeded by Seth Masarsky, who had previously performed with Melissa Ferrick and New Jersey cover band Soul Mission. Following the exit of founding guitarist/vocalist Frank Stabile, the ensemble persisted as a trio. Its origins reach back to the early 1990s, when Stabile and guitarist/vocalist Nick Cavagnaro first began playing together. They launched the cover band Scrambled Porno in 1993 and continued strengthening their partnership. Once that group disbanded in 1994, Stabile and Cavagnaro shifted focus to original material. After devoting eighteen months to songwriting and refining their vocal harmonies, they played their initial shows as Good Sam Club in 1996. A three-song demo was recorded at Water Studios in Hoboken, NJ, while the band kept evolving. Fumento joined soon after those sessions. Bassist Rob Chojnacki was added in June 1997. Although the plan called for a six-song demo, Good Sam Club returned to the studio in January 1998 with producer/engineer John Seymour, whose credits include albums by the Dave Matthews Band, Weezer, and Santana. Inspired by the results, the members chose to expand the project into a full-length debut. Credited to Darby Jones, the album appeared in early 1999.
Albums
