Gregory Frank Raposo, known professionally as Greg Raposo, is an American rock'n'roll singer and actor. Raposo initially came to fame in the early 2000s as a member of the boy band Dream Street, but has subsequently branched out into a solo career as a rock singer. His self-titled debut solo album Greg Raposo was released in 2003 and charted at #40 on the Independent Albums Chart in its opening week. His follow up 2012 release Loss Love Life was released independently.
Life and career
1985–1992: Early life
When Greg was two years old, he began to develop a fascination with the guitar. When he was six years old, Mrs. Raposo decided that she was tired of having to buy more toy guitars because he kept breaking them, so she bought him his first real guitar and arranged for him to take guitar lessons with a private teacher. He was soon after entered into a talent contest. He won, singing an Elvis Presley song. His aunt entered him on Star Search where he took second place and was referred to a talent agent.
1993–1998: Career beginnings, "The Elvis Kid", and broadway
Raposo was cast in sixteen regional and national commercials for everything from Kit Kat bars to Crest toothpaste. Then at nine, he requested to be allowed to sing and play guitar on-air during a local live recording of a radio show on WPLJ. Deejay Scott Shannon agreed and Greg went on the air. Shannon thought that Greg was very talented and from that day on was crowned as "The Elvis Kid". Greg appeared on WPLJ for three years. "The Elvis Kid" performed everywhere, including with The Jordanaires and DJ Fontana who were Elvis' real backup band. Greg was the only child invited to perform at Graceland for the 20th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death (1997) by Priscilla Presley.
In 1996, Raposo auditioned for 'Broadway on Broadway', an extravaganza of Broadway performers. Greg got the honor of being the opener for the show and sang an original composition in front of fifty-thousand people. After opening for 'Broadway on Broadway', he was cast in an off-Broadway singing group called "The Broadway Kids", with whom he recorded two albums. During his time in The Broadway Kids Greg met Chris Trousdale. In 1998, both boys successfully auditioned for a group called "Boy Wonder". "Boy Wonder" was disbanded for lack of interest from sponsors. Raposo and Trousdale were later reunited for Dream Street.
Raposo was also involved with several charity and anti-substance abuse groups. This included: The Kids for Kids Project, Audrey Hepburn/Children's Fund, Young Plaza Ambassadors Club, Jerry's Kids, and Variety, the Children's Charity. Raposo claims that Kids for Kids was the most fulfilling thing he has ever participated in.
1999–2002: Rise to fame and Dream Street
Originally named 'Boy Wonder' (a name borrowed from the nickname of comic book character Robin from the Batman comics and films), Dream Street was put together by music producers Louis Baldonieri and Brian Lukow. Raposo along with Trousdale were already a shoo-in for the Dream Street auditions since they were the original member of 'Boy Wonder'. After casting two-hundred boys, Jesse McCartney, Frankie J. Galasso, and Matt Ballinger joined the group.
Their eponymous debut album was released on July 10, 2001. It was certified Gold in the US by the RIAA peaking No. 1 on Billboard'''s Independent Albums chart and at No. 37 on the Billboard 200. The songs, "It Happens Every Time" and "I Say Yeah" were frequently played on Radio Disney. The boys soon made appearances to perform on various talk shows and television events including Maury and Ricki Lake.
While the rising success of Dream Street was growing, tensions between the music producers and the boys' parents also arise. This led to a lawsuit that would force the members to disband. The final Dream Street release was the soundtrack album to the 2002 film The Biggest Fan, which starred Trousdale. Raposo has appeared as himself in the film as well.
2002–2004: Solo career, Greg Raposo, and Radio Disney
He performed his first solo concert on October 13, 2002, at The Downtown in Farmingdale, New York. Tickets sold out in less than two hours and a second concert was issued for the same venue, which also sold out. He subsequently performed at several radio station multi-artist shows, solo acts, and as an opening act for several bands.