The Tymes, a smooth R&B group from Philadelphia originally on Parkway records, charted with 10 songs, but most of them were minor hits; the exceptions were the cover of Johnny Mathis' "Wonderful! Wonderful!" in 1963, "You Little Trustmaker" from 1974 (after the group, originally an all-male quintet, reorganized by replacing two of its men with two women), and the best of them all, their first one, the dreamy, finger-snapping, doo-wopish "So Much In Love," a million-seller #1 record from 1963.
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"Little Star”, released by The Elegants as a single in 1958, topped the Billboard Hot 100 that year. They adapted the melody of the popular English children’s song, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star", which has often but incorrectly been attributed to a Mozart composition. (In truth, Mozart used the melody of the French folk song “Ah vous dirais-je, Maman”, the familiar melody which we now recognize as “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”, to compose twelve variations for solo piano.) The Elegants faded from view after this hit, although they continue to tour after numerous personnel changes.AlexBrowne said:The Tymes, a smooth R&B group from Philadelphia originally on Parkway records, charted with 10 songs, but most of them were minor hits; the exceptions were the cover of Johnny Mathis' "Wonderful! Wonderful!" in 1963, "You Little Trustmaker" from 1974 (after the group, originally an all-male quintet, reorganized by replacing two of its men with two women), and the best of them all, their first one, the dreamy, finger-snapping, doo-wopish "So Much In Love," a million-seller #1 record from 1963.
The Kingston Trio is often credited with originating the folk music craze of the late '50s and early '60s, and in fact their first and biggest hit, "Tom Dooley," a #1 single in 1958, was a traditional folk song written as "Tom Dula" in the 1860s; later hits, including "M.T.A.," "A Worried Man," and "Reverend Mr. Black" were also based on old folk songs, and their classic "Where Have All The Flowers Gone" was written by folk legend Pete Seeger.
The Chad Mitchell Trio became known for their willingness to perform both serious and satirical songs that criticized current events and news-makers, compared to the typical 'folk music' groups of their time. The original group was formed by William Chad Mitchell, Mike Kobluk and Mike Pugh. Harry Belafonte helped the group start by using them as back-up singers in his May 1960 Carnegie Hall concert, and signed them to his Belafonte Enterprises management firm. After releasing mostly conventional folk songs, the Trio unleashed the then-daring satire "The John Birch Society" (Fighting for the right to fight/The right fight for the Right!), which established their ability to perform more controversial material. Mitchell left the Trio in 1965 to embark on a solo singing career, and he was replaced by a young singer/songwriter named John Denver. The group retained the well-known "Mitchell Trio" name, with Denver writing some of the group's songs, as Mitchell had done. The group went on to release a number of controversial politically oriented songs such as: "Mighty Day" (about the 1900 Galveston, Texas hurricane); "Rum By Gum" (about the Temperance/Prohibition movement); "Lizzie Borden" (a strange satire about the accused axe murderess); "The I Was Not A Nazi Polka"; "The Draft Dodger Rag"; and "Your Friendly, Liberal, Neighborhood Ku-Klux-Klan".AlexBrowne said:The Kingston Trio is often credited with originating the folk music craze of the late '50s and early '60s, and in fact their first and biggest hit, "Tom Dooley," a #1 single in 1958, was a traditional folk song written as "Tom Dula" in the 1860s; later hits, including "M.T.A.," "A Worried Man," and "Reverend Mr. Black" were also based on old folk songs, and their classic "Where Have All The Flowers Gone" was written by folk legend Pete Seeger.
Detroit-born Guy Mitchell was a child performer, sang with Carmen Cavallaro & His Orchestra in the 1940s, and then hit it big in 1950 with his first solo recording "My Heart Cries For You"; he remained successful on the pop chart through the decade with two #1 songs, "Singing The Blues" in 1956, and "Heartaches By The Number" in 1959, and also appeared in several TV series and two movies, Those Redheads From Seattle in 1953 and Red Garters in 1954.
Marty Robbins was a successful C/W singer, having had his own radio show on KTYL, then a TV show on KPHO, both in Phoenix. In addition to a four decade career in country music with many of his tunes reaching the Pop charts, he was an avid race car driver on the NASCAR circuit. His 45 single, "Singing The Blues"/”I Can’t Quit” (Columbia 4-21545, released Aug 1956), did not reach the status of the Guy Mitchell recording. Marty received the first Grammy Award ever awarded for a country song, for his 1959 hit and signature song "El Paso. "El Paso" was also the first song to hit #1 on the pop chart in the 1960s. Robbins was named "Artist of the Decade" (1960-69) by the Academy of Country Music, was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1982, and was given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1998 for his song "El Paso". For his contribution to the recording industry, Robbins has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.AlexBrowne said:Detroit-born Guy Mitchell was a child performer, sang with Carmen Cavallaro & His Orchestra in the 1940s, and then hit it big in 1950 with his first solo recording "My Heart Cries For You"; he remained successful on the pop chart through the decade with two #1 songs, "Singing The Blues" in 1956, and "Heartaches By The Number" in 1959, and also appeared in several TV series and two movies, Those Redheads From Seattle in 1953 and Red Garters in 1954.
"And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die."
One of the most memorable anti-War choruses from the Vietnam War era was this one from the "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag" by Country Joe and the Fish, heard almost exclusively on FM (never Top 40!) stations during the late 1960s, and performed at Woodstock by lead singer/guitarist Joe McDonald; the group had only one song chart, briefly, on the Billboard Hot 100, the psychedelic "Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine," which peaked at #95 in 1967, but could be frequently heard in college dorms accompanied by the whiff of marijuana.
What are we fighting for?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die."
One of the most memorable anti-War choruses from the Vietnam War era was this one from the "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag" by Country Joe and the Fish, heard almost exclusively on FM (never Top 40!) stations during the late 1960s, and performed at Woodstock by lead singer/guitarist Joe McDonald; the group had only one song chart, briefly, on the Billboard Hot 100, the psychedelic "Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine," which peaked at #95 in 1967, but could be frequently heard in college dorms accompanied by the whiff of marijuana.
The Bobbettes was a girl group originally formed in Harlem in 1955, first known as 'The Harlem Queens.' They were discovered while playing a concert at the legendary Apollo Theater's amateur night, and were quickly signed to a contract on the Atlantic Record Label. In 1957, the girls released their first hit single, "Mr. Lee" (Atlantic 1144) which opened with:AlexBrowne said:"And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die."
One of the most memorable anti-War choruses from the Vietnam War era was this one from the "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag" by Country Joe and the Fish, heard almost exclusively on FM (never Top 40!) stations during the late 1960s, and performed at Woodstock by lead singer/guitarist Joe McDonald; the group had only one song chart, briefly, on the Billboard Hot 100, the psychedelic "Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine," which peaked at #95 in 1967, but could be frequently heard in college dorms accompanied by the whiff of marijuana.
"One, two, three, look at Mr. Lee
Three, four, five, look at him jive
Mr. Lee, Mr. Lee
Oh, Mr. Lee
Mr. Lee, Mr. Lee
Oh, Mr. Lee
Mr. Lee"
The Bobbettes were the first female group to have both a Top Ten hit and a number one R&B record.
Peggy Lee -- who was born Norma Jean Egstrom in 1920 in Jamestown, North Dakota, and died in 2002 -- had a legendary career as a jazz and popular singer, from her first hit as vocalist for Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, "I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good" in 1941; to her first #1 with Goodman, "Somebody Else Is Taking My Place" in 1942; to her first solo hit, "Waitin' For The Train To Come In" in 1945; to her tuneful post-War hits co-written with husband Dave Barbour including "It's A Good Day" in 1947; to her biggest hit ever, "Manana (Is Soon Enough For Me)" in 1948; to her signature song, "Fever" in 1958; and finally to her very last hit, arranged and conducted by Randy Newman and #1 on the adult contemporary chart, appropriately titled "Is That All There Is" in 1969...
"...when that final moment comes and I'm breathing my last breath, I'll be saying to myself:
Is that all there is, is that all there is?
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing,
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is..."
"...when that final moment comes and I'm breathing my last breath, I'll be saying to myself:
Is that all there is, is that all there is?
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing,
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is..."
"Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby" is a 1944 Louis Jordan song, released on a single with "G.I. Jive" which reached #1 on both the Billboard pop and R&B charts. The tune has become something of a jazz standard with versions recorded by other artists including Buster Brown. In 1959, Brown recorded the archaic-sounding blues, "Fannie Mae", whose tough harmonica riffs took it into the Top 40, and to #1 on the R&B chart in April 1960. His similar-sounding "Sugar Babe" was his only other R&B hitAlexBrowne said:Peggy Lee -- who was born Norma Jean Egstrom in 1920 in Jamestown, North Dakota, and died in 2002 -- had a legendary career as a jazz and popular singer, from her first hit as vocalist for Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, "I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good" in 1941; to her first #1 with Goodman, "Somebody Else Is Taking My Place" in 1942; to her first solo hit, "Waitin' For The Train To Come In" in 1945; to her tuneful post-War hits co-written with husband Dave Barbour including "It's A Good Day" in 1947; to her biggest hit ever, "Manana (Is Soon Enough For Me)" in 1948; to her signature song, "Fever" in 1958; and finally to her very last hit, arranged and conducted by Randy Newman and #1 on the adult contemporary chart, appropriately titled "Is That All There Is" in 1969...
"...when that final moment comes and I'm breathing my last breath, I'll be saying to myself:
Is that all there is, is that all there is?
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing,
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is..."
The Walker Bros., a trio from Los Angeles, were neither brothers nor were they anywhere near as popular in the U.S. as they were in England where 10 of their singles charted; in America, they were best known for their versions of the Bachrach-David song "Make It Easy On Yourself," a remake of the Jerry Butler original, and the Crewe-Gaudio song "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)," (#1 on the U.K. chart, but only #13 in the U.S.), a remake of the Frankie Valli original.
The Isley Brothers, from Cincinnati, Ohio, hold the record for being the longest-running charted group in music history. Their early hits, "Shout!", "Twist & Shout"(Top 40 #17, 1962) and "Nobody But Me", laid the groundwork for 1960s rock acts and became soul standards in the process. Founded in 1954, the original members were brothers O'Kelly, Jr., Rudolph, Ronald and Vernon Isley. The group formed their own label (T-Neck Records) in 1964; and in 1965 the Isleys cut their first independent singles on the label, two of which ("Testify" and "Move On Over & Let Me Dance") featured a Seattle guitarist going by the name of Jimmy James. James was also the leading guitarist in the brothers' touring band. After leaving the group, he changed his name back to Jimi Hendrix.AlexBrowne said:The Walker Bros., a trio from Los Angeles, were neither brothers nor were they anywhere near as popular in the U.S. as they were in England where 10 of their singles charted; in America, they were best known for their versions of the Bachrach-David song "Make It Easy On Yourself," a remake of the Jerry Butler original, and the Crewe-Gaudio song "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)," (#1 on the U.K. chart, but only #13 in the U.S.), a remake of the Frankie Valli original.
Gene Autry, Hollywood's first "singing cowboy," recorded the Christmas classic "Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer" with the Pinafores on the Columbia label in 1949, and it became the second biggest selling record in the pre-rock era, trailing only Bing Crosby's "White Christmas"; in the rock era, "Rudolph" versions by Autry (the original single re-released on Autry's Challenge label in 1957), The Melodeers (a doo-wop version in 1960), David Seville and The Chipmunks (1960, 1961, 1962), and The Temptations (1968, 1969, 1970, 1971) have appeared on either Billboard's pop or Christmas Singles chart.
Hey this is fun!!!!
The Staple Singers consisted of lead singer Mavis Staples, her sisters Cleotha and Yvonne, her brother Pervis, and her father Roebuck "Pop" (1915-2000). On the Billboard Hot 100, the group had three top 10 singles, the #1 smashes "I'll Take You There" and "Let's Do It Again" and the #9 "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)," all of which were #1 R&B hits as well. In addition, their 1971 hit "Respect Yourself" has been certified Platinum by the RIAA.
The Staple Singers also had a #2 hit for three weeks on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart in 1973 with "Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas?" (Stax 0084), a track originally recorded in 1970.
The Staple Singers consisted of lead singer Mavis Staples, her sisters Cleotha and Yvonne, her brother Pervis, and her father Roebuck "Pop" (1915-2000). On the Billboard Hot 100, the group had three top 10 singles, the #1 smashes "I'll Take You There" and "Let's Do It Again" and the #9 "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)," all of which were #1 R&B hits as well. In addition, their 1971 hit "Respect Yourself" has been certified Platinum by the RIAA.
The Staple Singers also had a #2 hit for three weeks on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart in 1973 with "Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas?" (Stax 0084), a track originally recorded in 1970.
Aretha Louise Franklin, singer, songwriter, and pianist, is renowned for her soul recordings but is also adept at jazz, rock, blues, pop, gospel, and even opera. She is widely acclaimed for her passionate, soulful vocal style, which is aided by a massive and powerful vocal range. Franklin has had a total of eighteen #1 R&B singles - a record unsurpassed by any other female recording act - and a total of seventeen top ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1967 Franklin issued top ten hits on the Atlantic label such as "Chain Of Fools" (#2), "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (#8), and “Respect” (#1 R&B and Pop). Early in 1968 she won her first two Grammies for "Respect" including the first Grammy given to an artist in the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category.ChrisInMI said:Hey this is fun!!!!
The Staple Singers consisted of lead singer Mavis Staples, her sisters Cleotha and Yvonne, her brother Pervis, and her father Roebuck "Pop" (1915-2000). On the Billboard Hot 100, the group had three top 10 singles, the #1 smashes "I'll Take You There" and "Let's Do It Again" and the #9 "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)," all of which were #1 R&B hits as well. In addition, their 1971 hit "Respect Yourself" has been certified Platinum by the RIAA.
The Staple Singers also had a #2 hit for three weeks on Billboard's Christmas Singles chart in 1973 with "Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas?" (Stax 0084), a track originally recorded in 1970.
Hard to say if Ricky Nelson was foolish, but he had some success singing about fools: "Poor Little Fool" was not only the biggest hit of his career, it was also the first #1 song when Billboard began its Hot 100 chart on August 4, 1958; in 1963 (as the more mature sounding Rick Nelson), he charted with his version of the Johnny Mercer standard "Fools Rush In," which had first been a hit for Glenn Miller & His Orchestra (with Ray Eberle providing the vocal) in 1940.
The Drifters’ recording career on Atlantic Records as “the all-time greatest Atlantic group” lasted from late 1953 to the late ‘60s. During that time, they cut numerous records that stand as milestones of sweet soul music, all the while undergoing bewildering personnel changes. With Clyde McPhatter on lead the Drifters recorded "Money Honey", "Such A Night", "Honey Love", and "White Christmas"(1953/54). Then with Johnny Moore on lead they hit with "Ruby Baby" and "Fools Fall In Love"(1956/57). After a group name change to the ‘New Drifters’ with Ben E. King as lead tenor they were even more successful then the original group, with “There Goes My Baby”, "This Magic Moment", "I Count the Tears", and "Save the Last Dance for Me"(1959/60). King left the group in 1960 and Rudy Lewis took over lead vocals on "Up On the Roof" and "On Broadway"(1962/1963). After the death of Lewis, Johnny Moore (an original group member) took over the lead (again) for the group's final pop hits "Under the Boardwalk" and "Saturday Night At the Movies"(1964).AlexBrowne said:Hard to say if Ricky Nelson was foolish, but he had some success singing about fools: "Poor Little Fool" was not only the biggest hit of his career, it was also the first #1 song when Billboard began its Hot 100 chart on August 4, 1958; in 1963 (as the more mature sounding Rick Nelson), he charted with his version of the Johnny Mercer standard "Fools Rush In," which had first been a hit for Glenn Miller & His Orchestra (with Ray Eberle providing the vocal) in 1940.
After recording a few hard rock hits, including "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)," Kenny Rogers took his group The First Edition in a new direction in 1969 with their recording of "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town"; written by country singer/songwriter Mel Tillis about a disabled and dying Korean War veteran (but based on a true story about a World War II veteran) whose lover is cheating on him, the song hit the charts during the Vietnam War and was interpreted by many listeners as a commentary on the sad state in which many veterans had been left by that later "crazy Asian war."
In March 1962 the British jazz group, Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen, reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with "Midnight In Moscow". "Podmoskovnye Vechera" (Russian: "Подмосковные Вечера", English: "Moscow Nights" or, more correctly, "Evenings of Moscow's Suburbs") is one of the most famous Russian songs outside Russia. Ball’s instrumental rendition of this tune remains popular in dixieland and trumpet circles today.AlexBrowne said:After recording a few hard rock hits, including "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)," Kenny Rogers took his group The First Edition in a new direction in 1969 with their recording of "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town"; written by country singer/songwriter Mel Tillis about a disabled and dying Korean War veteran (but based on a true story about a World War II veteran) whose lover is cheating on him, the song hit the charts during the Vietnam War and was interpreted by many listeners as a commentary on the sad state in which many veterans had been left by that later "crazy Asian war."
The Cyrkle, a quartet of students from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, had two hits during 1966, the Paul Simon composition "Red Rubber Ball" and "Turn-Down Day," and also had several ties to the Beatles: originally called the Rhondells, they were discovered and renamed by Nathan Weiss, the partner of Beatles manager Brian Epstein, who saw them at a gig in Atlantic City; Epstein became their manager; John Lennon suggested the catchy spelling for their new name; and the re-christened "The Cyrkle" became the Fab Four's opening act during their U.S. tour in summer 1966.
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