Linear (group)

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Linear (pronounced: /lɪˈnɪər/; lin-EER^[1]) is an American freestyle-pop group from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.^[2]

Key Information

Linear
Origin	Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Genres	Pop dance freestyle
Years active	1989–present
Labels	Atlantic Futura Records Raw Records Hot Records
Members	Charlie Pennachio Wyatt Pauley Raul Prestol
Past members	Joey Restivo Gerald Rappaport Mark Acetelli Ricki Archer Steve Romanello Phil Conneilly Michael Dean Ritchie Napolitano
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The lineup originally consisted of founder, lead vocalist, and main songwriter Charlie Pennachio, bassist and guitar player Wyatt Pauley, percussion player Joey Restivo, drummer Gerald Rappaport, guitarist Phil Conneilly, and backup vocalist/keyboardist Ricki Archer.^[2] In 1990, the band had a hit with the gold single, "Sending All My Love," which was self-released on Futura Records by Pennachio and producer Tolga Katas. After the regional success of the single, founder Charlie Pennachio added the remaining band members Pauley, Restivo, Rappaport, Conneilly and Archer. In January 1990, Linear was signed as a trio after the departure of Rappaport, Conneilly, and Archer by Marc Nathan at Atlantic Records. Linear would achieve three billboard charted songs from 1989 thru 1992 "Sending All My Love" reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1990. The same year, they released their first, self-titled album that also included the hit Don't You Come Cryin , followed in 1992 by their second Caught in the Middle.^[3] They had another hit with the single, "T.L.C.", which reached number 30 and was nearly three decades later named one of Rolling Stone's 75 Greatest Boy Band Songs.^[4] In subsequent years, the lineup would shuffle many times. Pauley took a brief hiatus from Linear to join his other band, Soko, signed to Atco Records. Pennachio would go on to add Mark Acetelli and Michael Dean to replace Pauley. Pauley would return in 1993, while Restivo would depart. Raul Prestol was then added.

Pennachio and Pauley remain as the current members of the original lineup with addition to Raul Prestol. While Restivo performs under "Joey from Linear".^[2]