Psychic Of Rock

Psychic of Rock

Copyright © 2022 by Richi Sonrize.

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-63812-455-9

Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-63812-457-3

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-63812-456-6

All rights reserved. No part in this book may be produced and transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Published by Pen Culture Solutions 10/02/2022

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About the Author

Richi Sonrize was born in Astoria, Queens on January 19, 1949, A Capricorn / Aquarian. His Mother was Mary. His Father was Joseph. 13 is his lucky number being born in 49. He took up the drums around the age of 13. Then music became his passion. His hair fell out completely at the age of three. It came back just in time for him receive his first Holy Communion. His hair fell out again soon after that. It did grow back on his face and chest as a teenager. But to this day it never fully grew back on his head.

One of his first jams sessions was at Larry Di Marzio's house (Larry was to invent the Di Marzio pick up for guitars) and with Gene Simmons of KISS. Turns out years later Gene was recording at the same time as was Richi at Electric Ladyland studios (Jimi Hendrix's studio's.) as Wicked Lester. Gene would go on to become the founding member and leader of KISS.

Richi recorded asSONRIZE for the first time on Friday the 13th at Midnight in Studio A at Electric Lady. They recorded 4 songs. The basic tracks. The overdubs and vocals by sunrise that morning. Four songs in six hours. Wow was that band tight if I may say so myself. Those songs are included on the double album Sonrize.

Richi's band SONRIZE is a Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin Re Alive All as Richi liked to call it. It turned out to be the FIRST TRIBUTE BAND EVER.

How he got his name Sonrize is also revealed in the book. Gene Richi and Larry would become good friends and would hang out in the city together. Gene called Rich one New Years Eve and asked Rich to meet him in the city. Gene told Richi about the of how he came up with the idea for Kiss. On that New Years Eve Gene revealed to Richi the secret for the first time in this book.

Richi was Blessed with Automatic writing. Which was brought on by his Uncle Andy's and his best friends Mikie's deaths. His experience's with his Uncle's death at age 7 proved to him that there is Life after Death. A lot more of Richi Sonrize's life are in this book about growing up in the 60' and 70's. Right up to the present. When I recently received a life saving double transplant. I have to thank my beautiful wife Victoria for receiving a new Liver and Kidney. I would have never gone through it without her by his side.

Also thanks to Dr. Volk and all the amazing Doctors AND Nurses and Staff at the Loma Linda Medical Center. We were able to meet with my donor Emalee's family which I must say was a very emotional experience.

I do hope you'll enjoy my life story.

God Blessings to you and your's.

Richi Sonrize

Contents

About the Author

Dedication

Introduction

Chapter 1Gene’s Secret Plan and My Health problems

Chapter 2WWNF911golf

Chapter 3The Funeral Brother’s Ben Roger & Aids My Brother Ben was gay and so was my stepbrother

Chapter 4The Yankees! Mickey Whitey and Billy

Chapter 5Mikie’s story

Chapter 6Brushes with Death

Chapter 7Los Angeles and SanPedro

Chapter 8San Pedro

Chapter 9The first tribute Tribute band Sonrize Son Talent Agency, Richi Sonrize Owner

Chapter 10Gene’s meeting and his specialsecret

Chapter 11The Troubadour $1 for gas. Robin Williams. Dean Koontz. The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Chapter 12The Teaneck Zoo and The Les Paul

Chapter 13Hearing Jimi Live

Chapter 14Les Paul Guitar continues:

Chapter 15Ralph’s Band

Chapter 16Back to the Zoo

Chapter 17Christmas & Satan

Chapter 18Taxi Driver

Chapter 19More Dog stories

Chapter 20The Wedding

Chapter 21Astoria, The Early Years

Chapter 22PAL

Chapter 23The Golden Glove Final’s

Chapter 24The Date and the end of the Bun Machine

Chapter 25Stealing cars, I should say borrowing them

Chapter 26Softball The Riverside Raiders and TV

Chapter 27Tournament Softball

Chapter 28Padres Baseball

Chapter 29Public Access TV Shows Music Talk 84 & Foxxy Video

Chapter 30Horse race dream comes true at Los Alamitos

Chapter 31Car Race on PCH (Luckily No DUI)

Chapter 32This time a Ticket

Chapter 33Hermosa Pier: Tito Puente’s Band Get’s Stoned

Chapter 34Aforementioned Pot on the hill

Chapter 35Frogs

Chapter 36Almost Busted again!

Chapter 37Summer’s in P.A. Losing my hair again!

Chapter 38The Lang’s. Another close call

Chapter 39The Flight

Chapter 40Play it Straight

Chapter 41Great Drummers Buddy Rich Joe Morello Gene Krupa Elvin Jones, Frank Sinatra, Barney Googles

Chapter 42Drum Lessons from Mr. Morello

Chapter 43Donuts, First Taco’s and Family dinners

Chapter 44Redondo Beach Band & Taco’s

Chapter 45Navy Base Gigs Chuck & The Sands Tribute band

Chapter 46Cigiliano’s & Aunt Jo. Right on Time!

Chapter 47Ivy & Terra

Chapter 48The Fire

Chapter 49More Brushes with Death

Chapter 50Co Dee Bakery:

Chapter 51Super Bowls

Chapter 52Gambling on Super Bowl’s $100 a square

Chapter 53First Concert

Chapter 54Look Alike: Roy & Mikie

Chapter 55My Loves???

Chapter 56Married & Divorced

Chapter 57Long Beach Breakers

Chapter 58911

Chapter 59Epic Resorts

Chapter 60Hi Mom

Chapter 61Baseball Story Mick and Whitey at the Stick!

Chapter 62The Pool at the Zoo

Chapter 63Dark Daze

Chapter 64Legal Drugs

Chapter 65Dr. Volk 4/5 2020 Liver & Kidney Covid-19

Chapter 66A New Start

Addendum

Dedication

To my wife without whom I’d wouldn’t be here right now.

She performed a miracle along with my Doctors and Nurses at Loma Linda Hospital Redlands Ca.

Without all of them, this book would not have been written.

I received a double transplant. A new liver and kidney.

To my children, my friends and family, God Bless you all!

My love forever and a day! I’m been blessed to have you all in my life.

This book is about my life , my loves etc.

Some things I did I’m not proud of.

But these were the 60’s a crazy time.

The Vietnam war, flower children, hippies, the music etc. etc.

I guess you would have had to live through these time’s to truly understand.

I hope when you read this it will give you a better understanding of the times that we lived through.

Lyric’s to a song after a short trip.

Halu Halu Hallucination

Nothing is real Alienation

Mother and Father are just a fixation

Halu Halu Hallucination

Richi Sonrize

Child of the Sixty’s

Introduction

Psychic of Rock and Roll is a memoir written by Richi Sonrize. This book is a collection of his memories and experiences that deal with the challenges and triumphs he had encountered in his life and in the music industry.

The author’s purpose is to entertain the readers and to share some of his memories struggling with getting signed by a label, health problems, marriage, relationships, and the famous people he had the pleasure of meeting and working with.

Readers will read some familiar names, like Gene Simmons, and also get a look into the inner workings of the music industry. The author also included some song lyrics and poems for the readers to enjoy, which is a good break from the narrations.

The book is an entertaining read, especially for those who work in the music industry or anyone who is interested in it.

Chapter 1

Gene’s Secret Plan and My Health problems.

So I get a call late on Dec 30th 1967. It’s Gene (Before KISS) Simmons. Hey Rich what are you doing tomorrow for New Years Eve? Do you want to come into the city? I can meet you down in the Village he says. Friday’s Or CBGB’S or wherever you want. I got these idea’s I want to run by you. It’s got to be kept secret though. I say Gene you know me I can keep a secret. So anyway I say I got no plans Gene. See I was in between girlfriends at the time. So he says ok how about 9PM at CB’s. So we set up the meeting and the rest is history as they like to say.

More on that meeting later.

My health problems started when Vicki and I were getting life insurance. It was needed before you could get get married.

We had to have blood work done. A few weeks later I was called and turned down. Hep C was the problem. Now I did my fair share of drugs growing up on the streets of Queens and NYC as a crazy kid. But I hated needles. So I thought about it and there was this one time this dealer talked me into shooting up coke. Anyway that’s what he told me it was. By the time I got to my car I realized he shot me with heroin. Not Coke! But that one time was it. My luck of course I got hep c from that needle. Of course snorting off mirrors was a possibility too. Anyway so I was Hep c positive. I tried interferon treatment which was the worst year of my life. Then many blood tests. Interpheron blood test came back negative for Hep C. But a few month’s later it was back. So were all the health problems (three hip replacements) taking this so called cure for Hep C brought on. So nothing worked to rid me of it.

Fast forward to 2015 I received a call from my liver Dr’s. office on Tuesday of Thanksgiving week. You’d think she could have waited until Friday. Naw she had to break the news to me two days before the Thanksgiving holiday. Liver Cancer markers showed up in my blood. I had 3 to 5 years max. They could try to treat it but it usually comes back. So I waited until Friday to tell Vicki and the family about it.

I got on the Liver Transplant list and since I had THE BIGC. cancer they move you up the list a lot faster than someone who doesn’t. You have to stay on for a year before you become eligible for a transplant. That was July of 2018. Then you have to wait another 6 months as they keep an eye on it. If it spreads you cannot get the transplant. So Jan 31 2019 I am eligible to receive a liver. In the mean time my kidneys are not doing too well because of all the testing they do. It hurts your kidneys. Yikes!

So now my wife wants me to consider a double transplant.

No way Jose I say. I already have A-fib a weak heart and I just don’t think I’d make it through the surgery. Weeks of arguing ensued between me and Vicki and the family. I said I would meet with Dr. Volk and discuss it with him. In the car before the meeting it got really hairy. Being a thick headed Italian Jerk I just didn’t think I would survive the surgery. I told my wife it’s about the quality of my life. I could live a few more years as I am. I was playing a lot of golf. I looked and felt very healthy. One of the Dr’s agreed with me. I’m 70 years young now, men don’t live that long though my Dad made it to 89. Why put myself through the pain? Just for a couple of more years? Anyway after the meeting they sort of changed my thinking. I did not let Vicki know this. I was still opposed to the double transplant. But I would keep my mind open. So it’s Friday March 22nd I’m at General Old Golf course with my best bud Robert. On the 7th hole I hit 2 lousy shots. The 3rd shot I put on the green 10 feet away from the hole. I need to make it for a par. The phone rings as I’m getting up to the green. I usually don’t answer but I see it’s my wife so I do.

She say’s they have a perfect match a Liver and Kidney. I must be at the hospital by 3pm. I said yes honey ok. She text’s me back, are you sure? I said yes LETS GO FOR IT! By the way I make the par putt!!

After the round I said to Robert that’s probably the last par I’ll make for long time. I explained to him after we finished 9 holes. I had never told Robert or Billy what was happening with my health. After the round I told Robert. The look on his face said it all.

Chapter 2

WWNF911golf

I run a little golf tournament every year to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s association It’s called We Will Never Forget 911 Being from New York it is very close to my heart. My Mom had and died from Alzheimer’s. So WWNF911.org This tourney goes on every year.

Anyway I bring this up because as I’m being wheeled into surgery, I’m signing the release form. If I don’t make it I understand they did their best. Vicki receives a text from the surgeon. Your husband Richard just went into Surgery at 9:11pm.

My Life is WEIRD!

Chapter 3

The Funeral Brother’s Ben Roger & Aids My Brother Ben was gay and so was my stepbrother

Roger. Both died of Aids. Ben was my only real blood brother. He was living in Greenwich Village and was one of the first to die from this terrible disease. Ben’s funeral was in the Village. He worked for Delta airlines and they flew me and my Dad back first class for his funeral.

Growing up I had this recurring dream. For years I was at a funeral. I could not see who it was in the casket or whom it was for. But I remember it was upstairs. I had this dream for years and years from as early as I could remember. So we get to the funeral home in the village and I get this strange feeling. This is the place of my dreams. Sure enough we go inside and it’s upstairs. The reason I never saw who it was is because there is no casket. It is just a picture of my brother. Such a weird set of circumstances.

So we fly back