Even after the official announcement on Sunday night, Mike Bonafede couldn’t quite believe it: his 1970s rock band, Black Sheep, had made it into the prestigious Rochester Music Hall of Fame.
Bonafede, who played drums for the Rochester-based band, looked back on their journey, which included two albums and opening for major acts like Kiss, Aerosmith, Hall & Oates, and Peter Frampton.
A longtime Albion resident, Bonafede shared his thoughts with The Daily News shortly after Black Sheep performed at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre in downtown Rochester. The group, featuring lead singer Lou Gramm (famous for his later success with Foreigner), guitarist Don Mancuso, keyboardist Larry Crozier, and Bonafede, performed three songs during the ceremony.
“I’m humbled,” Bonafede said. “Especially tonight, seeing such a range of talent. It’s hard to believe we’re now part of that group. When you look at all the inductees over the years — 74 in total — it’s unbelievable.”
Reflecting on the band’s past, Bonafede said it was a pleasure to relive the memories from their early 20s, but the most rewarding part for him was the lasting friendship among the bandmates.
“I’m happy to have been part of it, but what’s even better is that we’re all still good friends today,” he said. “Our bond has stood the test of time, even though we’ve all gone our separate ways.”
Regarding their performance, which closed the three-hour ceremony, Bonafede said, “I think we had a lot of energy.” He noted the challenge of limited rehearsal time due to Gramm’s busy touring schedule but felt the performance was strong.
“We didn’t have much time to rehearse, but I think it was solid,” he said. “We set up quickly, and everyone seemed happy. When the guys looked around at each other, they were all smiling.”
Three other former Black Sheep members were also inducted into the Hall of Fame: Ron Rocco, who drummed on the group’s debut album; bassist Bruce Turgon; and guitarist Richard Grammatico, Lou Gramm’s brother.
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