Rock singer had window on showbiz in Vegas’ prime

By Jerry Fink

Friday, June 12, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Third Eye Blind guitarist and vocalist Tony Fredianelli’s roots in Las Vegas run deep.

Son of legendary lounge performer Ron Fredianelli, Tony moved to town at age 4 and was quickly immersed in the local entertainment scene.

“Don Rickles would come over, Buddy Hackett,” Fredianelli, 40, says from Cincinnati, where Third Eye Blind was performing. “Rickles was a good friend of my dad. Wrote a couple of songs for him.”

Ron Fredianelli died in Vegas in 2004 at the age of 73 after more than 50 years in show business, most of it as a member of the Gaylords, a musical and stand-up comedy trio that worked with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Shecky Greene, Bill Cosby, Patti Page, Duke Ellington and Frankie Laine.

The Gaylords later became Gaylord and Holiday. Their first release, in December 1952, was “Tell Me You’re Mine,” which became a million-seller.

In 1954 the group released its biggest hits: “From the Vine Came the Grape,” which hit No. 1 on the pop charts; “The Little Shoemaker,” which topped out at No. 2; and “Isle of Capri,” which also reached the top 10.

“I was fortunate to have lot of talent surrounding me when I was growing up,” says Tony Fredianelli. “But Dad probably was the most artistically talented person I’ve ever met. Overall, he played so many different instruments, and there was the sculpting and painting and drawing. His creativity, he could just do anything. It was amazing. He inspired me to try and always remain creative, to keep the edge and not get bored with it.”

Fredianelli’s sister Tiffany is a vocalist with the local band Love Shack. Tony helped form the band.

Fredianelli graduated from Valley High School in 1987, and performed in small clubs throughout the city. He recorded four solo albums.

“I’ve always been a musician,” he says. “It’s kind of like, in my house you play music. It’s kind of what you do. My sister is a harpist. I have a brother who plays guitar and keyboards. None of us has a real job.”

In 1993, while playing in Northern California, he met Stephan Jenkins, a singer and guitarist who recruited Fredianelli to join a band he was forming: Third Eye Blind.

Later known for the hits “Semi-Charmed Life,” “Graduate” and “How’s It Going to Be,” Third Eye Blind performs Friday night at the Hard Rock pool.

Fredianelli left the group in 1995, just before it struck gold.

“I decided to cut out,” he says. “I fell in love with somebody in Las Vegas and got married. The money ran out, so I graciously left and was not there during the crucial years.”

He rejoined the group in 1999 and has been with it ever since. Today he has homes in Las Vegas and San Diego.

Fredianelli recently recruited Las Vegas bassist Abe Millett to join Third Eye Blind.

“I try to help my Las Vegas friends when I can,” he says.

Third Eye Blind is busy touring these days, promoting its latest release, “Ursa Major.” An upcoming release will be “Ursa Minor.”

“It will be the songs that didn’t fit in the collage of ‘Ursa Major,’ ” Fredianelli says.

When he has the time, Fredianelli works on solo projects.

Two that may see some light in the next few months include “Mindfield,” which he describes as an eclectic Beatles kind of sound, and “Diablo Joe,” which is like combining a “Steve Miller Band ’70s record and Parliament-Funkadelic.”