Edward Brigati, Jr.

Edward Brigati, Jr. is an American singer and songwriter, best known as the co-lead voice and co-songwriter of the legendary 1960s soul-rock band, The Rascals.

Born on October 22, 1945, in Passaic, New Jersey, Brigati grew up in Garfield. He was mentored into the music industry by his older brother, David. Eddie began his performing career sitting in with bands at a local venue called The Choo Choo Club before making his recording debut on Joey Dee & The Starliters’ single “What Kind Of Love Is This.” He eventually replaced his brother in the Starliters, one of the nation’s first mixed-race musical groups, who sparked a national dance craze with their number-one hit, “The Peppermint Twist.”

In 1965, Brigati teamed up with fellow Starliters Felix Cavaliere and Gene Cornish, alongside drummer Dino Danelli, to form The Rascals (alternately known as The Young Rascals). Signed to Atlantic Records, the group launched a massive hit-making career. Following their first number-one smash, “Good Lovin’,” Brigati and Cavaliere formed a prolific songwriting partnership. Together, they penned iconic chart-toppers and classics including “Groovin’,” “People Got To Be Free,” “A Beautiful Morning,” “How Can I Be Sure,” “Lonely Too Long,” and “A Girl Like You.” David Brigati also contributed significantly to the band’s signature sound as a background vocalist and harmony arranger.

Shortly after The Rascals disbanded in 1970, Eddie reunited with his brother David and New Jersey musician Edwin Kobylarz. This creative alliance spanned several decades, yielding dozens of songs and the 1976 album Lost In The Wilderness, released under the name “Brigati.”

Brigati’s enduring impact on American music has been widely recognized with prestigious industry accolades. In 1997, he was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame (2005) as a member of The Rascals. He was later inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (2009) alongside his songwriting partner, Cavaliere.

In 2012, The Rascals reunited for “Once Upon A Dream,” a critically acclaimed multi-media Broadway and North American tour helmed by Steven Van Zandt. Continuing his commitment to the music community, Van Zandt introduced Brigati to the Rock-It Live Foundation in 2017. Through this New Jersey-based non-profit organization, Brigati mentors and develops the careers of young musicians in live performance.

Today, Brigati remains dedicated to his craft and is currently preparing the gradual release of a vast archive of personal songs and recordings compiled over the past 50 years.