Emmett Peter "Sonny" Geraci (pronounced "Jer-ah-see"; November 22, 1946 – February 5, 2017)[1] was an American singer, best known as lead singer of musical groups The Outsiders and Climax.
Geraci's biggest hit song was "Precious and Few" (first released as a single on July 16, 1971) as lead vocalist for Climax, which reached No. 3 on the Billboard charts.[3] Climax released their debut album, Climax featuring Sonny Geraci, in 1972. Despite the success of the single, Geraci never released another album with Climax and the group disbanded in 1975.[3] A second album of material was almost completed but never released.
In 1983, Geraci assumed the pseudonym Peter Emmett for an MCA project called "The Peter Emmett Story".[4] Intended as a comeback vehicle for Geraci, he was backed in the studio by Donnie Iris's band, The Cruisers. A band called North Coast, pictured on the album sleeve, was put together after the recording had been made with The Cruisers. The band played shows in the Cleveland/Akron area before disbanding a few years later. In 2002, he filled in for his friend Rob Grill as lead vocalist for The Grass Roots and became an honorary member of the band.[5]
After 25 years away from the music industry, Geraci started to perform again and in 2007 toured under the name "Sonny Geraci and The Outsiders".[6] In April 2012, Geraci suffered a brain aneurysm (specifically, a cerebral arteriovenous malformation), requiring intensive care.[7]
