Joey Powers
| Joey Powers | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Joseph S. Ruggiero |
| Also known as | Joey Rogers |
| Born |
December 7, 1934 Washington, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | January 20, 2017 (aged 82) Washington, Pennsylvania |
| Genres | Pop music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, record producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | Mid-1950s–early 1970s (as performer) |
| Labels | Nu-Clear, ABC, RCA, Amy |
Joseph S. "Joe" Ruggiero (December 7, 1934 – January 20, 2017), who performed as Joey Powers, was an American former pop singer and songwriter whose record "Midnight Mary" reached no.10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early January 1964. Powers had no further hits and is known as a "one hit wonder". He later became a booking agent, recording studio owner, record producer, and church leader.
He was born in Washington, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Washington High School in 1953 and at one time played in a band with Bobby Vinton. He won a wrestling scholarship to Ohio State University before returning to Pennsylvania, where he recorded three singles for the Nu-Clear and ABC labels under the name Joey Rogers in 1958. However, none were successful.
In 1959 he moved to New York City and, through an introduction by family friend Perry Como, secured a job at NBC. His singing was heard by songwriter and record producer Paul Vance, who signed him to RCA Records and changed his name to Joey Powers so as to avoid confusion with the singer Jimmy Rodgers. He released several singles produced by Vance, but again without success, and he returned to Ohio State University to complete his degree and work as a wrestling coach.
However, after ending his contract with Vance in 1963, one of his demo recordings, "Midnight Mary", was heard by Paul Simon (then known as Jerry Landis), who recommended it to record label owner Larry Uttal. The song was written by Artie Wayne and Ben Raleigh, originally for the Everly Brothers who turned it down. Released as a single by Amy Records, Powers' recording rose up the national charts, entering the Hot 100's top 40 at no.36 on Powers' 29th birthday and reaching no.10 at the start of 1964. Lorna Dune's nearly note-for-note answer record "Midnight Joey" followed soon after.
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