This American garage rock and sunshine pop band formed in Hinsdale, Illinois (a western suburb of Chicago) in 1966. They were the first Chicago rock group to sign with Columbia Records, blazing a trail for other iconic local acts like The Buckinghams, The Ides of March, and The New Colony Six.
Singer Tom “Toad” Doody was highly praised for his distinct, beautiful vocal range, while Jim “J.C. Hooke” Pilster – who was born without a left hand – wore a hook and served as the band’s energetic onstage showman.
Intending to record a cover of The Beatles‘ If I Needed Someone in 1966, the band could not secure the publication rights, so they elected instead to cover The Searchers‘ hit Sugar and Spice instead. It became a monster local hit, reaching #1 on the Chicago AM station WLS and climbing to #49 on the national Billboard chart.
I Wanna Meet You (1966) reached #85 nationally but stayed in heavy rotation across the Midwest, while It Could Be We’re in Love (1967) became the pinnacle of their local success, spending four weeks at #1 on Chicago’s WLS and WCFL charts, keeping major national hits like The Beatles’ All You Need Is Love from reaching the top spot locally.
A slowed-down, harmony-drenched cover of the Carole King/Drifters classic Up on the Roof (1967) also became a beloved staple in the Chicago area.
Their early sound borrowed heavily from the guitar pop of the British Invasion and The Byrds, and they gradually abandoned their tougher garage roots in favour of a melodic, West Coast-influenced sunshine pop style with sumptuous vocal harmonies.
While they achieved massive regional celebrity, their major national commercial breakthrough was cut short by lineup changes and their sudden shift in musical style.
By late 1968, heavy touring and military draft notices fractured the band. Jim Fairs left, Gerry Stone was drafted for the Vietnam War, and Dave Purple left to become a successful studio engineer.
Former Saturday’s Children guitarist Dave Carter stepped into the band in time to play on their third and final studio album, Synthesis (1968) – a concept album without an actual concept (like Sgt Pepper). He remained with the group until they officially called it a day in December 1969.
Tom “Toad” Doody
Vocals Jim Fairs
Guitar, flute Jim “J.C. Hooke” Pilster
Tambourine, vocals Gerry “Stonehenge” Stone
Guitar Dave “Grape” Purple
Bass Denny Conroy
Drums
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