Passengers (Italian band)
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Founder | Gesualdo "Kim" Arena, Chuck Rolando, Mary Shay Collen, Elwanda Contreras |
| Defunct | 1987 |
| Headquarters | Milan , Italy |
| Products | Pop and italo disco music |
Passengers—also referred to as I Passengers or The Passengers—was an Italian-American ensemble specializing in pop and italo disco, predominantly active during the early 1980s.
History
Established in 1979, the band featured vocalists Gesualdo "Kim" Arena, Chuck Rolando, Mary Shay Collen, and Elwanda Contreras. Under the production guidance of Angelo and Felice Piccaredda, Passengers gained recognition with their 1980 hit "He's Speedy Like Gonzales," which climbed to number ten on Italy's music charts, alongside a rendition of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." Their participation in the Sanremo Music Festival occurred twice: in 1981 with the track "Midnight," which reached 25th place, and again in 1983 performing "Movie Star." The group ultimately dissolved in 1987.
Following the band's dissolution, Chuck Rolando progressed to become CEO and Managing Director of Sony ATV Music Publishing Italy in 1992, overseeing catalogs of prominent artists such as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Leonard Cohen.
Kim Arena died in 2004.
Past members
- Gesualdo "Kim" Arena – vocals
- Chuck Rolando – vocals
- Mary Shay Collen – vocals
- Elwanda Contreras – vocals
Discography
- Albums
- 1979 – Girls Cost Money (Durium, DAI 30334)
- 1980 – Passengers (Durium, DAI 30363)
- 1981 – Casinò (Durium, DAI 30380)
- 1982 – Parade (Durium, LP.S 40159)
- 1983 – Sound Adventure (Durium, DAI 30409)
- 1984 – Buon Compleanno TV (Durium)
- 1985 – New Album (Delta, DEL 8027)