The road to a Motown recording contract wasn’t an easy one for The Contours. Berry Gordy wasn’t very impressed following a 3-song audition in 1959 and sent them packing. Hubert Johnson, one of the original members of The Contours thought his cousin, the legendary Jackie Wilson might be able to help the group with some
In a career that has spanned over 35 years and millions of records, the Crickets are unquestionably the American Rock and Roll band. Since the group’s founding in 1957 they have influenced virtually every major rock performer in this country and abroad – from Bruce Springsteen and Dylan to the Rolling Stones and Beatles (whose
The Crystals were one of the most successful girl groups of the 1960s. Barbara Alston , Mary Thomas , Delores “Dee Dee” Kennibrew, Merna Girard and Patricia “Patsy” Wright formed the band in high school under the leadership of Alston’s uncle, Benny Wells. The group soon signed with Phil Spector’s label Philles Records. Spector then
With almost three dozen hit records to her credit, Crystal has come a long way from her roots in the Appalachian coal mining town of Paintsville, Kentucky. The youngest of eight, Crystal was influenced by a wide variety of music. She listened to folk, pop, rock and roll, Broadway show tunes, gospel and country with
The Del-Vikings are a vocal group that came together in a Pittsburgh Air Force Base. When their single “Come Go With Me”, featuring the lead vocals of Norman Wright, in early 1957, it began a 31-week run on the charts, reaching number four on the pop chart and number three on the R&B chart during the
At the height of the British invasion, Denny Laine was one of the most recognizable voices on the entire British music scene. As the lead singer on the Moody Blues’recording of “Go Now” — a worldwide multi-million seller — he stood out in a large pack, and did so splendidly. His soulful, agonized lead vocal performance, coupled with
Dickey Betts, a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, has one of the most distinctive voices in music today. Known as one of the most influential guitar players of all time, Betts has mastered a seamless style of lyrical melody and rhythm — marrying country, jazz, blues, and rock into one unparalleled sound. The
In his sixth decade of hit making, Dickey Lee’s awesome track record includes twenty “BMI” awards, six “Million Performance Awards” and a reputation as one of Nashville’s most consistently creative and soulful writers. Dickey’s place as a major hit recording artist beginning in the early, formative days of rock ‘n’ roll, and he still retains
Emerging from one of the most successful white doo wop groups, Dion hit the scene solo with a string of hits and a spectacular song that defined the restless spirit and a way of life, “The Wanderer”. Singer and songwriter, Dion DiMucci was born July 18, 1939 in the Bronx. He began singing at the age
Billboard magazine notes that with no less than 55 hit singles, which include “Don’t Make Me Over”, “Anyone Who Had A Heart”, “I Say A Little Prayer”. “Do You Know The Way To San Jose”, “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again”, among many other classics, the legendary Dionne Warwick is the second most charted female of
Known all over world over for their romantic interpretations of some of the most beautiful love songs ever written, The Duprees have made a career out of giving new life to old hits. If you take the 1940s Glenn Miller arrangements along with the tunes of Joni James, Frank Sinatra, Jo Stafford, Nat King Cole,
No one need be lonely anymore when soul ballad king, Eddie Holman, is on stage with a great, live show featuring his spectacular million selling gold record “Hey There Lonely Girl” showcasing the full worth of his vocal range. Backed by the Eddie Holman Band, Holman has found the perfect match of musicians to bring out his
Elliot Lurie is a singer and songwriter best known for the hit “Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)”. Recorded by Looking Glass, a band formed at Rutgers University featuring Lurie on vocals and guitar, “Brandy” was released in the summer of 1972. It quickly rose to the top of the charts, selling over a million copies and becoming one
Edison Lighthouse originated in England as an outgrowth of the successful group, The Flying Machine which had a US top 5 hit in November 1969 with “Smile A Little Smile For Me” featuring Les Fradkin on vocals, mellotron, organ and guitar. The producer of that smash hit assembled a new group for a new song
“It’s always been important for me to tune in with what’s going on in music” Evelyn says. She enjoys going to clubs and concerts and being with people who enjoy all types of music. “You have to live a little and explore a lot” the vocalist states. Evelyn always seems to dazzle the audience with
Famous for Latin-flavored dance-pop as well as for adult contemporary ballads, the female vocal trio Exposé enjoyed a great deal of commercial success in the ’80s and early ’90s. Exposé was the creation of Miami-based producer/songwriter Lewis A. Martineé, who assembled the original Exposé lineup in 1984. Although Exposé’s best-known lineup included Jeanette Jurado (born
Born on February 6, 1943, Fabian Forte was actually discovered at the age of 14 sitting on his front steps in Philadelphia, Pa. Soon thousands were to throng to his concerts. Capitalizing on his good looks and ability to excite an audience, Fabian reached dizzying heights of success. At 15, he won the Silver Award
Felix Cavaliere was born Nov. 29, 1942 in Pelham NY. His mother was a pharmacist and his father was a dentist. His mother wanted only the best for her only son, and had dreams of him becoming a classical pianist. To reach this goal, Felix was instructed in piano 3 times a week from the
In 1973, when Florida-born Rick Roberts and his new Colorado based band needed a name, an image that had long stuck in his mind – a woodpile stacked at the edge of a high cliff in Yosemite National Park, then set ablaze and pushed off the cliff as nature lovers from all over watched in
After over a decade of rockin’, FireHouse’s music has taken them all over the world and has produced Gold, Platinum and Multi Platinum records in the United States and abroad. When their first album, FireHouse, was released in 1990, the single, Shake & Tumble, met with impressive radio success. The band then released Don’t Treat Me Bad, which
Five Man Electrical Band is one of Canada’s best loved and hardest working rock and roll bands from the 60s and 70s. Originally formed in Ottawa, Ontario in 1964 as the Staccatos (Rick Belanger, Les Emmerson, Brian Rading & Vern Craig), the group first gained national recognition in 1967, when they recorded an album for
In the late 1960’s Roger Earl & Lonesome Dave Peverett first toured America as members of the seminal British band “Savoy Brown”. Together with guitarist Kim Simmonds, “Savoy Brown” was on the cutting edge of the emerging British blues-rock scene, and they influenced countless musicians on both sides of the “pond”. In 1971, wanting to
From college campuses to supper clubs, fairs to industrial shows, commercials to concert halls, Tokyo’s Latin Quarter to New York’s Copacabana, Glasgow’s Empress Theatre to Notre Dame, Las Vegas’ Sands Hotel to Honolulu Stadium, Okinawa’s Naha Theatre to Manilla’s Aranete Concert Hall… the Four Lads radio, television and live appearances reads like a veritable “who’s
35 girls and not one boy showed up to audition for the annual Hollywood High School talent show in the fall of 1955. The next day the school bulletin pleaded for “any guys out there who can do anything” and a show business story began that sounds a little like an MGM Musical. Unable to
No other popular quartet stayed together with original personnel intact for as long as the legendary Four Tops. And no other group associated with the American 60s sound has succeeded in remaining as fresh, joyful, lively, and timely. The Four Tops created a special magic that continues to delight audiences of all ages and nationalities,
