Skyliners, The

This American doo-wop group from Pittsburgh hit the top 40 with Since I Don’t Have You (1959) This I Swear (1959) and Pennies from Heaven (1960).

Their other classics include It Happened Today (1959), Close Your Eyes (1961) and Comes Love (1962).

The original group dissolved in 1963 but re-united eleven years later without Jackie Taylor for what would become their last charted record, Where Have They Gone?

In 1965, lead singer Jimmy Beaumont recorded two notable singles for the Bang label – Tell Me and I Never Loved Her Anyway. These two tracks are considered Northern Soul collectables these days.

Jackie Taylor was drafted into the US Army in 1965, and in 1975 Wally Lester and Joe Versharen left the group. They were replaced by new members, Jimmie Ross and Bob Sholes.

In 1978, the group recorded a “comeback” album for the RCA subsidiary Tortoise International Records.

Janet Vogel took her own life in February 1980, aged 37, with Cathy Cooper joining the group as a replacement. She and Jimmie Ross left two years later to form a duo. They were replaced by Rick Morris and Donna Groom.

Rick Morris retired in 1993, with David Proch joining the group.

Proch died in a car accident on 19 October 1998, aged 44.  His place was taken by Dick Muse, a former member of The Laurels. Rick Morris returned to replace Muse in 2011.

Longtime manager and producer Joe Rock – who co-wrote Since I Don’t Have You – died in April 2000, aged 63, after complications from quadruple bypass heart surgery.

Joe Verscharen died of cancer in November 2007, aged 67. Bob Sholes died in September 2011, aged 65.

Wally Lester died of pancreatic cancer in April 2015, aged 73. Jimmy Beaumont died on 7 October 2017, aged 76.

Jimmy Beaumont
Lead vocals
Janet Vogel
Soprano
Wally Lester 
Tenor
Joe Verscharen 
Baritone
Jackie Taylor
Bass voice, guitar
Jimmie Ross
Tenor
Bob Sholes
Baritone
Rick Morris
Tenor
Donna Groom
Soprano
David Proch
Tenor
Dick Muse
Tenor