It started in the Greene's basement in Searingtown, NY with 45rpm records, plastic baseball bats , and a toy drum set. The first time the band decided to name itself it made the ill-advised choice of "Tuberculosis." The only song I can remember recorded under that name was "45th St. Progression ". I can't remember the musicians involved. The band wisely changed their name to "White Lightning" and then shortened it to "Wite Lite".
The band began to shape itself in the Big Guy's basement in Boonton, NJ , and then in various studios at the Jersey Shore. It was at this time that the core of the band was formed:
Mike Manchisi - lead guitar (formerly from PMA)
Tommy Greene- bass guitar
Kevin Finnegan- rhythm guitar and political lyrics during Republican administrations
Billy Greene - (previously with the Badbeets)
All four of the band members provided lead and background vocals
Other family members provided contributions: Patty Doyle vocals on "Caroline"( one of my favorites), Frank Manchisi on flute and a thankfullly brief stint on the saxophone, Timmy Doyle on keyboards and comic relief, and the quiet one, who simply goes by the name of "Zach", on Jack Daniels and kick-ass blues vocals.
A music agent by the name of Franky Mann was so impressed with their songs that he had them copyrighted. The highlight of the band's career was probably when Mann used his connections in the television industry to air the song "Train Surfer" on the popular Fox prime-time show, " A Current Affair." But when Mann was unable to deliver with future TV bookings, the band switched an agent known as "The Wizard", who handles all current bookings.
Wite Lite can now be seen playing in St. Louis.
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