In Memoriam: Ed Gagliardi
Original Foreigner bassist Ed Gagliardi has passed away after a eight years of battling cancer. He was 62.
Gagliardi was the final member added to create Foreigner in 1976. The native New Yorker was of the American half of the band while the other three members of the sextet were British. Although he was right-handed, Gagliardi played a Rickenbacker bass left-handed, citing Paul McCartney as his biggest influence.
The bassist was featured on Foreigners first two albums, Foreigner and Double Vision, which included the hits “Feels Like the First Time,” “Cold As Ice,” “Hot Blooded,” and “Double Vision.” He was replaced in 1979 by Rick Wills after musical differences with the group. In 1981 he teamed up with former Foreigner keyboardist Al Greenwood to form Spys, which released two albums before disbanding.
Our thoughts are with Gagliardi’s family and friends.
He is second from the Left in this photo
I remember your dad. I was friends with your uncle Bob. My father and your grandfather worked the transit authority.