Linear (group)

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title: "Linear (group)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["american-freestyle-music-groups", "musical-groups-from-florida", "musical-groups-established-in-1989"] description: "US musical group" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_(group)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary US musical group ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]

Field	Value
name	Linear
background	group_or_band
origin	Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
genre
years_active	1989–present
label	Atlantic
Futura Records
Raw Records
Hot Records
current_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
::

| name = Linear | image = | alt = | caption = | image_size = | background = group_or_band | alias = | origin = Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. | genre = | years_active = 1989–present | label = Atlantic Futura Records Raw Records Hot Records | associated_acts = | url = | current_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

Linear (pronounced: ; ) is an American freestyle-pop group from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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. 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. 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. 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".

Career

After Pennachio and Tolga Katas finished recording "Sending All My Love," they would release it on their record label, Futura Records.

Atlantic Records re-released the single that charted in the U.S. Top 5 and earned RIAA Platinum certification. A self-titled album and two singles followed. Since then, Pennachio has become a music executive, manager, hit songwriter & producer.

Discography

Studio albums

::data[format=table] | Year | Album details | Positions on parade | | CAN | | USA | |---|---|---|---|---| | 1990 | * Linear* | 37 | 52 | | | 1992 | * Caught in the Middle* | - | - | | | "-" denotes a release that did not make the stop. | | | | | ::

Singles

::data[format=table] | Year | Single | Positions | Certifications | Album | CAN | US | NZ | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1990 | "Sending All My Love" | 20 | 5 | 13 | USA: Gold | Linear | | | "Don't You Come Cryin'" | — | 70 | — | | | | | | "Something Going On" | — | — | — | | | | | | 1992 | "T.L.C." | 43 | 30 | 43 | | Caught in the Middle | | | "Smile If You Like Sex" | — | — | — | | | | | | 1994 | "Let's Go All the Way" | — | — | — | | 12"/CD Single | | | "—" denotes a release that did not make the stop. | | | | | | | | ::

References

References

1. Brittany Spanos et al. [https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/boy-band-songs-greatest-1033317/east-17-house-of-love-1992-147527/ "75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time."] (65: Linear, "TLC" [1992]) ''Rolling Stone.'' 24 July 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2022. ''"These boys did not pronounce their name 'LIN-ear,' as in the basic geometry concept. No, they pronounced it 'lin-EER,' as if to rhyme with 'sheer,' 'chandelier,' 'Billy Shakespeare' or 'song of the year.'"''
2. Monger, Timothy. "Linear {{!}} Biography & History".
3. "Linear - Chart history {{!}} Billboard".
4. Brittany Spanos et al. [https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/boy-band-songs-greatest-1033317/east-17-house-of-love-1992-147527/ "75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time."] (65: Linear, "TLC" [1992]) ''Rolling Stone.'' 24 July 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
5. "Charlie "Steele" Pennachio {{!}} Credits {{!}} AllMusic".
6. "Linear - Linear - Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic.
7. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada".
8. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada".
9. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada".
10. "Linear - Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic.
11. "Archived copy".
12. "RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - November 29, 2014". riaa.com.

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