Red Rubber Ball
There are not too many people over the age of 60 that has not heard the "bouncy" song
Red Rubber Ball. The song went to No.2 in July 1966, only to have the song Paperback Writer by the Beatles come in at No.1. Quite a nice feat.
What many may not know is the song was sung by the group The Cyrkle. This band had 3 (sometimes 4) members that were freshly graduated from Lafayette College in 1965. Don Dannemann, Tom Dawes, Marty Fried, and Earl Pickens.
But before the name The Cyrkle came to be they were known as the Rhondells. Playing at Lafayette College and neighboring colleges for frat parties, the songs they sang were the then popular tunes sung by the Beatles and The Beach Boys.
For two summers they performed in Atlantic City. It is there that entertainment lawyer, Nat Weiss saw them perform and was so impressed he told his business partner, non other than Brian Epstein, the manager for the Beatles.
Brian and Nat became co-managers of the Rhondells and quickly signed the band to Columbia Records, but not before changing the name of the band to The Cyrkle. The Cyrkle is a play on words and was supposedly the idea of John Lennon. Some say it also came from Easton's famous "Circle" in downtown.
At Columbia Records, Simon & Garfunkel had just released a poorly received album and Paul Simon took some time off to reflect. During this time he co-wrote Red Rubber Ball with Bruce Woodley of the Seekers. The Seekers turned down the song and Paul offered it to the newly named Cyrkle. They recorded it on April 4, 1966 with producer John Simon and by July it rose to #2.
https://youtu.be/EbDKN0dk54M
On July 21, 1966 they recorded their second and last hit, "Turn Down Day". Written by Jerry Keller and David Blume
https://youtu.be/khOXYrK90Gk
What was even more exciting, Epstein decided to have the Cyrkle tour with The Beatles in what was known as The Beatles 1966 US Tour. This tour started August 12 and ended August 29 and would become the Beatles most controversial and last commercial tour.
On October 18, 1966 The Cyrkle appeared and signed autographs at Horn's women clothing store in downtown Easton.
Unfortunately, the band was short lived. In 1967 Brian Epstein had died of an overdose and by 1968 things had soured between the remaining group members, Dawe and Danneman.
However, both of them (separately) became quite well known in the commercial jingle writing business. Tunes and slogans such as Alka-Seltzer's, "Plop, plop, fizz fizz" and Swanson TV dinners, "It's the next best thing to your Good Cookin" were some of the more popular commercials.
Dawes called it his "five minutes of fame", but it was and still is a very long and continuing fame.
What many may not know is the song was sung by the group The Cyrkle. This band had 3 (sometimes 4) members that were freshly graduated from Lafayette College in 1965. Don Dannemann, Tom Dawes, Marty Fried, and Earl Pickens.
But before the name The Cyrkle came to be they were known as the Rhondells. Playing at Lafayette College and neighboring colleges for frat parties, the songs they sang were the then popular tunes sung by the Beatles and The Beach Boys.
For two summers they performed in Atlantic City. It is there that entertainment lawyer, Nat Weiss saw them perform and was so impressed he told his business partner, non other than Brian Epstein, the manager for the Beatles.
Brian and Nat became co-managers of the Rhondells and quickly signed the band to Columbia Records, but not before changing the name of the band to The Cyrkle. The Cyrkle is a play on words and was supposedly the idea of John Lennon. Some say it also came from Easton's famous "Circle" in downtown.
At Columbia Records, Simon & Garfunkel had just released a poorly received album and Paul Simon took some time off to reflect. During this time he co-wrote Red Rubber Ball with Bruce Woodley of the Seekers. The Seekers turned down the song and Paul offered it to the newly named Cyrkle. They recorded it on April 4, 1966 with producer John Simon and by July it rose to #2.
On July 21, 1966 they recorded their second and last hit, "Turn Down Day". Written by Jerry Keller and David Blume
https://youtu.be/khOXYrK90Gk
What was even more exciting, Epstein decided to have the Cyrkle tour with The Beatles in what was known as The Beatles 1966 US Tour. This tour started August 12 and ended August 29 and would become the Beatles most controversial and last commercial tour.
Unfortunately, the band was short lived. In 1967 Brian Epstein had died of an overdose and by 1968 things had soured between the remaining group members, Dawe and Danneman.
However, both of them (separately) became quite well known in the commercial jingle writing business. Tunes and slogans such as Alka-Seltzer's, "Plop, plop, fizz fizz" and Swanson TV dinners, "It's the next best thing to your Good Cookin" were some of the more popular commercials.
Dawes called it his "five minutes of fame", but it was and still is a very long and continuing fame.
No comments:
Post a Comment