The Fleetwoods
The Fleetwoods were a U.S. vocal trio from Olympia, Washington, USA, the particular remains by his two number - one hits of 1959 in memory: Come Softly to Me and Mr. Blue.
- 3.1 Singles
- 3.2 albums
Band History
Two girls and a guy
Barbara Ellis and Gretchen Christopher were born every few days in the same hospital of Olympia and knew each other as children. In the final year of high school, they met again and formed a singing duo. In one sample, they learned the same age Gary Troxel know who should play the trumpet actually for her and her band. Together they wrote the song Come Softly and now called themselves as a group, "Two Girls and a Guy ," meaning " Two girls and a guy ." After they had the song repeatedly argued at the school, they took him a cappella on tape, and gave him the rice promoter Bob Dorff in Seattle. Who found the song so well that it is equal to his own record label - Dolphin Records (later renamed Dolton Records) - it founded.
Come Softly to Me
About six months it took until the recording of the song was finished. Rice Dorff, who produced the single, the title was too suggestive and extended it to Come Softly to Me; also the band name did not please him, and so were out of the three, the " Fleetwood " - named after the telephone exchange, which was responsible for the residential district of the three in Olympia.
The single was released and equal to one airplay hit in Washington and the entire Pacific Northwest. Soon she was also nationally in the charts. On April 11, 1959, the Fleetwoods in New York to perform in Dick Clark Show, where she met Frankie Avalon, who was with the song Venus number one in the charts. Gretchen later recalled: "He kept us out his hand and said, ' Congratulations; Come Softly to Me has just ousted Venus from square one. ' "
In the UK, the original of Come Softly to Me came in at number 6 on the charts; a cover version of Frankie Vaughan & The Kaye Sisters came at the same time at No. 9 In 1972, the New Seekers also with a cover a top 20 hit.
The second number one
The Fleetwoods examined together with Bob Reisdorff a successor for the number -one hit, and rice Dorff was a song by Dewayne Blackwell, which he had originally written for the Platters - Mr. Blue. Rice Dorff was convinced of the hit potential of the song, as opposed to Gary Troxel. Rice Dorff was so sure that he bet with Troxel that the new single would (as well as of Come Softly to Me ) sold more than one million. If it came to Troxel likely two weeks driving his Corvette. On November 16, Mr. Blue was at No. 1; Troxel drove the Corvette and was able to buy one then himself.
In the UK, Mr. Blue of the Fleetwoods could not place; only cover versions of Mike Preston ( 12th place) and David MacBeth ( 18th place) came into the charts.
Mr. Blue and Come Softly to Me were purely two of the few recordings of "white " groups that were listed in the U.S. both in the top ten of the pop charts and in the Top Ten of the Rhythm & Blues charts.
After the great success
Gary Troxel was still at school for the " United States Naval Reserves ," the reserve of the Navy, reported and had to take up his duties there, but during his days off he continued shooting pictures with the two girls. If necessary, however he was later Solo Star Vic Dana ersetzt.Nur still a song could be in the top ten placing ( Tragedy, 1961). Your last hit had the Fleetwoods in 1963 with Jesse BelVins Goodnight My Love, on the first non- Gary Troxel, but Barbara Ellis sang the lead vocals.
1966 parted ways the Fleetwoods. 1971 to 1973 they reappeared together; In 1983, an album called Buried Treasure out with unreleased material. Gary Troxel and Gretchen Christopher went later ( with Cheryl Huggins as a second singer ) continue on tour; Barbara Ellis retired from show business to devote himself to her family.
On March 26, 2005 Gary Troxel was inducted into the Doo - Wop Hall of Fame.
Members
- Gretchen Diane Christopher (* February 29, 1940, Olympia), song
- Barbara Liane Ellis ( born February 20, 1940 Olympia), song
- Gary Robert Troxel ( born November 28, 1939 Olympia), song
Discography
Singles
All published by Dolton Records singles. Year of publication, title ( A-/B-Seite ), U.S. catalog number, the charts in the United States ( U.S.), the United Kingdom (UK)
Albums
All 1959-1966 published in the U.S. albums - Year - Title - U.S. Catalog - producer
After 1966 some albums released yet with compilation of their hits, such as