Jan Errico is a drummer and singer who was a member of two San Francisco rock groups in the 1960s, The Vejtables and

The Mojo Men The Mojo Men was an American rock band based in San Francisco. Formed in 1965, the group underwent several name and personnel changes until their 1969 breakup. Their highest-charting ''Billboard'' Hot 100 single was a cover of Buffalo Springfie ...

Background

Errico is the daughter of Vincent Errico who, himself was an accomplished drummer. She is the cousin of

Greg Errico Greg Errico (born September 1, 1948) is an American musician and record producer, best known as the drummer for the popular and influential psychedelic soul/funk band Sly and the Family Stone. Career 1960s-1970s He was a founding member and ...

, the original drummer for

Sly and the Family Stone Sly and the Family Stone was an American band formed in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1966 and active until 1983. Their work, which blended elements of funk, soul music, soul, psychedelic rock, gospel music, gospel, and R&B, becam ...

. It has been written that she changed her name from Errico to Ashton to sound more British. Female drummers in rock bands in that era were rather rare.

Career

In 1962 or 1963, when she was around age 12, she recorded the single "It Was A Lie" (bw "Come Along With Me") for the Shelby Records label. The backing group was credited as The Twilights, who were really Joe Piazza and the Continentals. By 1964, she was a member of The Vejtables, both singing backup and playing drums. While with the Vejtables she contributed to a good part of their written material including their minor hit, " I Still Love You", which she sang lead on. By November 13, 1965 the song had spent four weeks in the charts, eventually reaching no 84. She also sang lead on the group's take of

Tom Paxton Thomas Richard Paxton (born October 31, 1937) is an American folk singer-songwriter whose career spans more than sixty years. In 2009, Paxton received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

's " The Last Thing on My Mind". It appears that at some stage in 1966, there may have been a brief change of direction for her in attempting a solo career. A single "Cold Dreary Morning"/"Smile, Smile, Smile" was recorded but

Autumn Records Autumn Records was a 1960s San Francisco–based pop record label. Among the notable acts on its roster was The Beau Brummels, a band who released a pair of top 20 singles, " Laugh, Laugh" and " Just a Little". Also on the Autumn Records rost ...

never released it. Errico joined the Mojo Men around spring 1966, replacing the band's drummer Dennis DeCarr. In 1967, she and the band recorded 20 songs in one day at Coast Recorders. The last single released by the group then known as The Mojo was "Everyday Love" bw There Goes My Mind in 1970.Las Solanas
The Mojo Men, Singles
/ref>

Solo discography

References

External links

Jan Errico's Song - It Was A Lie

Discogs: Jan Errico
{{DEFAULTSORT:Errico, Jan American women drummers American women pop singers American women rock singers American soft rock musicians Singers from California 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American drummers Living people 20th-century American singers Year of birth missing (living people) Drummers from California