The Illusion were an American hard rock band from Long Island, New York. From the ashes of earlier Long Island, NY bands like The Dell Sonics and The Creations, vocalist John Vinci, lead guitarist Richie Cerniglia, bassist Chuck Alder, multi-instrumentalist Mike Maniscalco and drummer Mike Riccidella came together in The '5' Illusions. While paying their dues on the local scene, they dropped the '5' and became popular enough to cut their first single, My Party for DynoVoice Records, composed and produced by label mate Mitch Ryder. With their reputation growing beyond the local scene, they were offered a contract by hit songwriter and producer Jeff Barry, who had started his own label, Steed Records. The label was also home to Andy Kim and Robin McNamara. The group had one major hit in the U.S. in 1969 with Did You See Her Eyes, which peaked at number 32 on the Billboard charts and at number 1 in some places in New York, as well as three minor hits: Together (peaked at No. 80 on Billboard), Let's Make Each Other Happy (No. 98), and How Does it Feel? (No. 110). Their first album reached No. 69 and stayed 27 weeks in the Billboard album charts. During their existence the band toured extensively throughout the U.S. opening for a who's who of rock royalty, including The Who, The Allman Brothers Band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Chicago and Sly and the Family Stone. After their third album If It's So, drummer Mike Ricciardella left the group after a disagreement over the band's future musical direction.
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