The late 70’s and early 80’s was a time like no other for this group of musicians in the Western New York area of the United States of America. As Bob Dylan said many years earlier, “The times they are a changing” There was a chain reaction of three hard working bands. Call it destiny if you will. There was the lounge band, “Chapter III”, with two of the members wanting to rock. There was the rock band “Monarch” that wanted to stretch, and there was the national recording artists “Black Sheep” that had broken up. By 1979, the meeting of these musicians, after many trials and tribulations, became a steadily working band on the east side of Rochester, N.Y.

 “Cheater” is born.

In 1980 Jim Taylor of Mallard Management saw the boys perform. A legendary meeting took place where the boys in the band said,

“you give us the opportunity and we will make you proud.”

Cheater’s market grew steadily throughout the Rochester area and soon into the Buffalo Area and all of Western New York. Other states started hearing the word and within one year of that meeting Cheater was a top drawing band in the northeastern US setting attendance records everywhere they went. Their combination of original music and the great rock songs of the times made them an irresistible draw. The schedule was grueling. 345 shows in one year!

What the boys soon realized was that it wasn’t just the music, it was the crazy antics and the crowd joining in, making every show an event, a personal experience for all, not just a concert.

Another "give us the opportunity..." guy was Lenny Silver of Amherst Records. The release of the “Ten Cent Love Affair Album”, in 1980 on his label was the moment they all waited for.

Cheater sold over 10,000 copies of this self released EP, The Album was only released in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio - USA, yet reports have come from all over the United States and Europe from Cheater fans!
 

Over the years Cheater made great strides for the elusive “Major” recording deal. All along keeping the band alive with incredible reunion concerts and other projects by the members

The band never released its 1983 recordings until 2005 on CD, although avid Cheater fans knew the songs from live performances. Included are the first 4 songs from the original EP.

Jeff Cosco vocals, Don Mancuso guitar (Lou Gramm Band, Black Sheep), Chris Mawdesley guitar, Kevin McKee, bass (The Skycoasters) Blayne Pierce, keyboards, and Ron Rocco drums (Black Sheep) started it all. The 1983 shows and recordings introduced Jimmy Fox, drums (Toronto) to the band. In the early 90's  Mike Gladstone, guitar (Uncle Plum) was brought aboard for reunion shows.

The release of the "Cheater-1983" CD became more than the band could imagine. Internet sales now made Cheater a well known band all over Europe, Australia, Japan, and Italy, as well as the rest of the U.S.!

The Summer of 2007 brought them back together again!

Cheater is back! The great songs you love, The classic Cheater music you love, and the new Cheater music your going to love!

The  members lineup:

Jeff Cosco, Blayne Pierce,  Mike Gladstone
Jimmy Fox, Kevin McKee and Don Mancuso!


Other members of Cheater through the years were: Chris Brake, drums,  Jeff Gilhart, guitar (Backseat Sally), Dave Cohen, drums (Back Seat Sally, Prime Time Funk), Stan Pavelites, guitar and Bobby Dee, guitar. You never know who might show up at a Cheater show! Any past member is welcome!