Bill Deal & the Rhondels were an American pop band, formed in 1959
, retrieved October 29, 2013. in
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is an Independent city (United States), independent city in southeastern Virginia, United States. It lies across the Elizabeth River (Virginia), Elizabeth River from Norfolk, Virginia, Norfolk. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ...
, crossing
blue-eyed soul
Blue-eyed soul (also called white soul) is rhythm and blues (R&B) and soul music performed by white artists. The term was coined in the mid-1960s, to describe white artists whose sound was similar to that of the predominantly black Motown and St ...
and
beach music
Beach music, also known as Carolina beach music, and to a lesser extent, beach pop, is a regional genre of music in the United States which developed from rock/ R&B and pop music of the 1950s and 1960s. Beach music is most closely associate ...
.
History
They had three
hit single
A hit song, also known as a hit record, hit single, or simply hit, is a recorded song or instrumental that becomes broadly popular or well-known. Although ''hit song'' means any widely played or big-selling song, the specific term ''hit record'' ...
s in 1969, "May I" (U.S. #39), "
I've Been Hurt
"I've Been Hurt" is a popular single by the Tams, Guy Darrell, and Bill Deal and the Rhondels. Written by Ray Whitley, it was originally released in 1965.
The Tams version
"I've Been Hurt" appeared in the Hit Bulletin section of ''Cash Box'' ...
" (U.S. #35), "
What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)
"What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)" is a 1964 single (music), single written by Robert Ray Whitley, Ray Whitley and recorded by the Tams.
Background
This track was one of the many hit records recorded at Rick Hall, Rick Hall's FAME Studios ...
" (U.S. #23). Their single "
Swingin' Tight
"Swingin’ Tight" is an American pop/rock song, written by Mark Barkan and Robert "Bob" Barash.
The song was first recorded by the British duo Keith & Billie in 1966, but it was not until Bill Deal and the Rhondels released the song as a single ...
" reached (U.S. #85) in December 1969. "Nothing Succeeds Like Success" reached (US #63) on the charts in the spring of 1970. The band disbanded in 1975, but reformed and still carries on the tradition even after the passing of Bill Deal.
Freddy Owens murder
Ernest Frederick "Freddy" Owens joined the band after 1970 and served as lead vocalist as well as playing sax and bass. On March 4, 1979, he was robbed and shot dead by Jeremiah Carr at a
Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn by IHG is a chain of hotels based in Atlanta, Georgia and a brand of IHG Hotels & Resorts. The chain was founded in 1952 by Kemmons Wilson (1913–2003), who opened the first location in Memphis, Tennessee. The chain was a division ...
motel in
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...
, where the band had a show earlier that evening. He had attempted to stop Carr from escaping after Carr raped his wife. Two shots wounded another band member in the room.
[Suspect In Death of Musician Is Extradited to Virginia](_blank)
The News and Courier, Charleston, SC, March 7, 1979, retrieved October 29. 2013. While Bill Deal kept going on with the Rhondels for another four years, he never really got over this incident and quit the music business in 1983.
Members
*Bill Deal (born July 8, 1944, died December 10, 2003) - vocals, organ, electric piano, bass pedals (1959–1983)
[The Best of Bill Deal & The Rhondels, Heritage HTS 35,006, 1970.][Bill Deal & the Rhondels Discography](_blank)
retrieved October 29, 2013.[Bill Deal - History](_blank)
, by his son, retrieved October 29, 2013.
*Ammon Tharp (born Ammon Chester Tharp on July 5, 1942, in Norfolk, Virginia, died September 22, 2017)
- vocals, drums (1959–1983)
*George Bell - saxophone (1961–1963)
*Ronnie Hallman - trumpet (1961–1963)
*Jackie Shelton - bass (1961–1963)
*Joel Smith - guitar (1961–1963)
*Bill Weaver - saxophone (1962–1965)
*J.T. Anderson - guitar (1962–1965)
*Jimmy Alsbrook - drums (1962)
*David Williams - trumpet (1961–??; 1975–1977)
*Ken Dawson - trumpet (1963–1970)
*Don Quisenberry - bass (1964–1978)
*Rollie Ligart - trumpet (1960–1962,1965–1969, 1970–1971)
*Mike Kerwin - guitar, trumpet (1965–1978)
*Tom Pittman - saxophone (1966–1969)
*Ronny Rosenbaum - trombone (1966–1971)
*Bob Fisher - saxophone, guitar (1969–1976)
*Jeff Pollard - trumpet (1969–1973)
*Gary Hardy - trumpet (1968–1969 & 1971–1976)
*Freddy Owens - saxophone, vocals (1971–1979)
*Alan Porter - bass (1978–79)
*Steve Ambrose - saxophone, flute, vocals (2004–)
*Tom Cole - drums (1980–1983)
*And many others
Discography
Albums
Bill Deal and the Rhondels, Vintage Rock, Heritage HTS 35,003, 1969
The material for this album was recorded in New York City between July 25, 1968 (May I) and March 10, 1969 (multiple), with the most tracks recorded at
Bell Sound Studios
Bell Sound Studios was an independent recording studio in New York City from 1950 to 1976. At its height, the studio was the largest independent recording studio in the United States, and the site of recording sessions that produced seminal hits b ...
on March 10, 1969.
[The MGM Labels: 1961-1982, By Michel Ruppli, Greenwood Publishing Group, 1998.] The "Swingin' Tight" track ("Swinging Tight" is often cited, but is not the official title spelling of the song. "Swinging Tight" is the title to the album released in 1980), first recorded March 10, 1969, is distinct from the similarly-named track on the second album, below and is a slow version of the song.
=Side 1
=
# I've Been Hurt
# Touch Me
# Hooked On A Feeling
# I've Got To Be Me
# Nothing Succeeds Like Success
# Soulful Strut
=Side 2
=
# Hey Bulldog
#
Swingin' Tight
"Swingin’ Tight" is an American pop/rock song, written by Mark Barkan and Robert "Bob" Barash.
The song was first recorded by the British duo Keith & Billie in 1966, but it was not until Bill Deal and the Rhondels released the song as a single ...
(slow version)
# May I
# I'm Gonna Make You Love Me
# Are You Ready For This
# I've Got My Needs
# Change My Mind
The Best of Bill Deal & The Rhondels, Heritage HTS 35,006, 1970
The material for this album, which substantially overlaps the Vintage Rock album, was recorded in New York City between July 25, 1968 ("May I") and October 30, 1969 ("Harlem Shuffle"), with the most tracks recorded at Bell Sound Studios on March 10, 1969.
The "Swingin' Tight" track, recorded on October 3, 1969, is distinct from the similarly named track on the first album, above and is a faster single edit version.
=Side 1
=
# What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am
# Touch Me
# Harlem Shuffle
# May I
# I've Got My Needs
# Ain'2t Too Proud to Beg
=Side 2
=
# Nothing Succeeds Like Success
#
Swingin' Tight
"Swingin’ Tight" is an American pop/rock song, written by Mark Barkan and Robert "Bob" Barash.
The song was first recorded by the British duo Keith & Billie in 1966, but it was not until Bill Deal and the Rhondels released the song as a single ...
(fast, single version)
# Hey Bulldog
# Are You Ready For This
# Tuck's Theme
# I've Been Hurt
Singles
* "May I" b/w "Day By Day My Love Grows Stronger" (Heritage, 1968)
* "I've Been Hurt" b/w "I've Got My Needs" (Heritage, 1969)
* "What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am" b/w "Swingin' Tight" (Heritage, 1969)
* "
Swingin' Tight
"Swingin’ Tight" is an American pop/rock song, written by Mark Barkan and Robert "Bob" Barash.
The song was first recorded by the British duo Keith & Billie in 1966, but it was not until Bill Deal and the Rhondels released the song as a single ...
" (Barkin & Barash) b/w "Tuck's Theme" (Heritage, 1969) (AUS #80)
[)]
* "Hey Bulldog" b/w "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" (Heritage, 1970)
* "Nothing Succeeds Like Success" (AUS #37)
[
* " It's Too Late" (Heritage, 1972) (US #108)][Joel Whitburn's Bubbling Under the Billboard Hot 100 1959-2004]
See also
*Trio Galleta
Trio Galleta was a soul rock band formed in 1969 in Mar del Plata, Argentina. It consisted of Carlos Iturbide (guitar, vocals), Juan Carlos Saporiti "Juancho" (drums) and Anibal Tell 'Lolo' (bass). Career
In 1970, when the trend of singing in Eng ...
References
External links
The Original Rhondels - Bill Deal's BandHorn Rock HeavenBill Deal Online
{{Authority control
Musical groups from Virginia
Musicians from Portsmouth, Virginia
Woodrow Wilson High School (Portsmouth, Virginia) alumni
American soul musical groups