The Buckinghams
The Buckinghams | |
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[[Image:|220px|The Buckinghams’ First album cover, 1967]] The Buckinghams’ First album cover, 1967
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Background information | |
Also known as | The Centuries The Pulsations. |
Origin | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
Genre(s) | Rock & Roll |
Years active | 1966 —1970 1975 1980 — present |
Label(s) | USA Record Company Columbia Records |
Website | [http://www.thebuckinghams.com/home.htm |
Members | |
Dennis Tufano (Lead Vocals) Dennis Miccoli (Keyboards) Nicholas Fortune (Bass) Carl Giamarese (Guitar) Jon Jon Paulos (Drums |
The Buckinghams are an American rock band which saw enormous radio popularity in 1967 (see 1967 in music), becoming one of the top-selling rock groups of that year. In 1965, four high school musicians in Chicago, Illinois -- bassist Nick Fortuna, guitarist Carl Giammarese, drummer Jon Poulos, and singer/guitarist Dennis Tufano -- formed a band they called The Centuries. They added keyboardist Dennis Miccolis, changed their name to The Pulsations and landed a job as the house band on a local (WGN-TV) variety show. The show's producer suggested they adopt a more "contemporary" (i.e. British) name, and thanks to the suggestion of a security guard at the television station, The Buckinghams were born (the name is also that of a notable Chicago landmark, Buckingham Fountain).
In early 1966, the band signed their first record contract with local USA Records and released three singles that year ("I'll Go Crazy," "I Call Your Name," and "I've Been Wrong") which received extensive airplay in Chicago. The Buckinghams gained national exposure with their fourth single, "Kind of a Drag," written by the band's longtime songwriter, Jim Holvay. "Kind of a Drag" raced up the local charts then caught fire nationally, eventually spending two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February, 1967. That single's success also led to a hastily-released album of the band's early recordings. This was followed up by a cover of Lloyd Price’s Lawdy Miss Clawdy, but USA Records had a problem with distribution[1].
At about this time, the group's contract with USA Records came to an end, and Miccolis was replaced on keyboards by Marty Grebb. The band members were also introduced to producer James William Guercio, who quickly got them a new contract with Columbia (CBS) Records. Although The Buckinghams had already been using a brass section on many of their earlier recordings, Guercio's brass-rock studio work helped to shape the group's signature sound, and the partnership produced four more Top 10 hits in 1967: "Don't You Care" (#6), "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" (#5), "Hey Baby (They're Playing Our Song)" (#10) and "Susan" (#8), (also written by Jim Holvay).
Don R. Vaughan, Ph.D. in Mass Communication at Mississippi State University and former radio personality, contends that "Back in Love Again," which peaked at number 57 on Billboard's Hot 100 in the summer of 1968, is one of the best songs in all of pop music.
The Buckinghams found themselves disagreeing with Guercio on both creative and financial issues, and so they parted company. Guercio moved on to achieve great success as the producer for Chicago's first 11 albums, as well as for Blood, Sweat & Tears' second album.)
This was really the death knell for the band; a drug bust threw them off track, and the musical landscape changed from 1967 to 1968. Although The Buckinghams released several more singles, and arguably their best album ("In One Ear and Gone Tomorrow"), after the break with Guercio, they were unable to duplicate their 1967 success, and the band dissolved in early 1970.
Early in 1975, the group re-emerged with an album of earlier hits mixed with new material, produced by Guercio[1].
Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna re-formed The Buckinghams in the 1980s, and the band continues to make appearances in various concert venues throughout the U.S., Canada and overseas. In January 2005 they performed at one of President George W. Bush's Inaugural Balls in Washington, DC. They have a 2007 studio CD release, Reaching Back, that includes eight brand new songs and new recordings of some of their top hits. The current line up has performed together for over 20 years.
Former singer Dennis Tufano still makes appearances and sings their classic hits. A recent appearance was at the Caravan of Stars XIV, in Henderson, Tennesse, on November 17th, 2007, where he performed with Dickie Lee, Jimmy Gilmer, Carol Conners (of the Teddy Bears), Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods, Jim Yester (of the Association), Jerry Yester (of the Lovin' Spoonful), Eddie Brigati (of the Young Rascals), and the 1910 Fruitgum Company.
References
- ^ a b Nite, Norm N. (1978). ROCK ON: The Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Rock N' Roll; Volume II. New York, New York: Thomas Y. Crowell, p58. ISBN 0-690-01196-2.