Biography
In Los Angeles, California, the Mello Cads took shape under David Ponak, a late-night radio-show host, concert promoter, and record-label executive. Ponak had long sought to front his own soft rock-lounge outfit, presenting himself as a jet-setting playboy cad, and he ultimately assembled precisely that ensemble. Local pop musicians joined him, among them keyboardist Brian Kassan of the Wondermints and Chewy Marble, bassist Scott "the Tycoon of Teen" Halper from the Now People, Maple Mars, and Monogroove, drummer Howard Greene, and multi-instrumentalist Probyn Gregory associated with the Wondermints and Brian Wilson. Ponak mounted Mello Cads shows in which he and the group, clad in matching tuxedos and backed by mini-skirted go-go girls, interpreted songs by soft rock songwriters such as Jimmy Webb, Paul Williams, and Burt Bacharach. Rising popularity soon prompted the band to place tracks on various artist compilations. Ponak later crossed paths with Kevin Dotson, professionally known as Linus of Hollywood. Captivated by the kitschy stage presentations, Dotson signed the Mello Cads to his Franklin Castle Recordings label and produced their debut album, Soft as a Rock, issued in May 2002. The concept album incorporated spoken word interludes and drew on soft rock contributions from a new roster of Cads that featured Linus of Hollywood on bass, Probyn Gregory on guitar and trumpet, Nelson Bragg of the Negro Problem and the Now People on drums, and Bob Remstein on keyboards. The record stands out for a guest appearance by Paul Williams, whom Ponak had befriended after organizing a 1998 tribute concert to the songwriter and actor.
Albums