The Drifters

The Drifter's Under the Board Walk

Do you remember where you were the first time you heard the Drifters ?  I can't. I can't remember when I wasn't hearing the Drifters. They were around when I first really got interested in music and it seemed they continued to have hits for years. 

Then when they were no longer making hit after hit, the dj's were playing them as obg's. Now we hear them on XM where they might as well own a couple of the channels. But who's complaining. Hearing a Drifter's hit is like eating at your grandmother's house, always good and always comforting.

The Drifters

Please take the time to listen to a couple of the linked videos. Fan or player, the memories will sweep you away. For the youngun's, here is a good place to learn something about music. Enjoy !

     30 top 100

                                                    16 top 40's 

                                                      6 top 10's

                                                       4 top 5's

                                                        2 #1's

                        Web site      mucho info       Videos

The Fleetwoods

The Fleetwoods

 Remember "puppy love". Remember the first time you and your gal or guy had a special "song" ?  That song you thought belonged to the two of you and no one else ? Do you remember the girl or guy ? Do you remember the song ? 


I can and I can. It's o.k. to remember dumb stuff. It'll help you relate to your children or in my case grand kids. It still happens I'm told.

The Fleetwoods

The Fleetwoods seemed to be singing directly into our confused little heads. Their stories about young love and heartbreak reached into our sensitive little hormone packed hearts.


In reality, we needed someone to sing softly of love and romance. The beat was faster and we were rocking but we little rockers needed that "slow dance" as bad as any generation. The Fleetwoods and the rest of doo-wop groups gave us what we were missing. They were giving us our romantic moments. 

The Fleetwoods

The Fleetwoods brought that to us all the way from Olympia, Washington. As far as I know this was the first northwest coast influence. The rock music seemed to be touching every corner of the U.S. and Europe. Maybe more I don't know. 


Breaking into the business in 1959 they had two Number One hits. Pretty good for their first two efforts. Not bad for two 19's and a 20 year old. They had 8 more hits and seemed to be doing well until Gary was drafted. If that were not enough the next year gave us the British invasion.  It was all downhill from 64.

Mr. Blue by The Fleetwoods

If you get a chance, listen to their a cappella version of "Unchained Melody". It is amazing.  As long as your there, check out the intricate vocal arrangement on Run Around. I had forgotten how much talent these kids had. 


They didn't have a huge number of hits. They didn't last for a gillion years. But damn they were good while they had the chance. That puts them into:


        "The Fan's Hall of Fame"


Y'all enjoy !
    


      Good Info     Web site     Bio    Group HoF   


                   Doo-Wop         Videos

Little Anthony and the Imperials

Little Anthony and the Imperials

Here's one group that seems to have done it all.  They've they won every award and made a living for many years. They may have changed personnel but they're still working. 

Little Anthony and the Imperials

30 Years of recordings. On the road from 1957 until 2011. Fifty four years ! Whew ! Most corporations don't last that long. Here are some notes.


              3 Top 10's


              7 Top 40


              20 Top 100


            Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Little Anthony and the Imperials

           Long Island Hall of Fame


          Vocal Group Hall of Fame


  And now we have welcomed them into the one that really matter's.

         A Fan's Hall of Fame


If you question their value to the music industry click on the video link below. They will solve that mystery for you. I promise.


      Mo Info        Web Site      Videos

Perez Prado

Dapper Prez Prado

This gentleman and his large band sound brings a little Cuban influence to Rock and Roll.  He had a big hit with "Patricia" during the "Year of the Instrumentals" 1958. It went to Number One.

Prez Prado Mambo King

Below please find access links to information and music. Enjoy !




     Mucho Info          Videos  

The Champs

The Champs

Here's what must have been the first Latino Rock influence. This group was an Los Angeles based group of studio musicians working for none other than Gene Autry. I guess we can assume the name of the group might have something to do with Mr. Autry's famous horse.

The Champs

          Mucho Info     Video Tequila   


             La Cucaracha     Limbo Rock


Tequila went to #1 so I have to think the teenagers of 1958 were open to new sounds. Once again the year of the instrumental is in play.

Santo and Johnny

Santo and Johnny

Santo and Johnny Farina were brothers out of New York City. They were the last in the string of instrumental groups to have late fifties hits. This time with a steel guitar sound right out of, of all places, Hawaii by way of Oklahoma. As a result of their work, Santo and Johnny were placed in the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame.

Santo and Johnny

Sleep Walk went to #1 in 1959. They had a few more hits and then we didn't hear much from the brothers. Hawaian steel guitar ? I guess we were open to just about anything in 59. The music received great outside influences during that period. Most of them were from folks doing instrumentals, strangely enough.


    Mucho Info   Sleep Walk    Videos   


To this day, I love their music. Apparently a lot of other folks did as well. Sleep Walk is a highly covered song by some really big names.  

Johnny and the Hurricanes

Johnny and the Hurricanes

Yet another late fifties instrumental hit. According to my sources the group made hits by turning old standards and even a military song into rock and roll. The instrumentals were lead by Johnny Paris's Sax.


I don't care where he got his ideas or inspiration, I liked it. I just wish the boarding school I attended had used his version of reveille.

Johnny and the Hurricanes

Click on the videos below and enjoy a really neat version of "Red River Valley". Johnny turned it into "Red River Rock" and does it rock.  They might not be in the Hall of Fame but they could always tell everyone the Beatles was their opening act. 


Fun music ! Enjoy !!


      Mo Info           Videos