Gary Loizzo formed a band called Gary & The Knight Lites while he was still in high school in 1961.[2] The band recorded a number of songs before the name was changed to The American Breed in 1967.
Loizzo was the lead singer of The American Breed, which had several hit records in 1967-1968, including the million-selling single "
Bend Me, Shape Me", and two other top 40 Billboard singles "Green Light" and "Step out of your Mind" and other top 100 hits.
Recording engineer
Loizzo went on to start his own studio business, initially producing demos in his own garage, before creating a
recording studio called 'Pumpkin Studios' in 1976.[3] He became a two-time
Grammy-nominated recording engineer.[4] He worked with
REO Speedwagon,
Styx,
Bad Company,
Slash,
Survivor,
Liza Minnelli,
Tenacious D,
Nelson, and many others. Loizzo has been the lead recording engineer for albums that have sold over 25 million copies worldwide.
In celebration of the 2005 baseball championship of the
Chicago White Sox, the American Breed issued a CD single entitled "Rock with the Sox". The single was produced by Gary Loizzo.[5]
Death
Loizzo died of pancreatic cancer on January 16, 2016, aged 70.[6]