Scott McKenzie born Philip Wallach Blondheim, January 10, 1939 – August 18, 2012. Recorded his hit single San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" written by John Phillips of the Mamas & the Papas. The song was one of the anthems of flower power and the Summer of Love. (1967).
Johnny Cash
Rockabilly,Country music singer songwriter Johnny Cash was born in Kingsland, Arkansas in February 1932.
Known as “The Man In Black” he recorded over ninety albums in his long music career.
Some of the singles he released in the sixties included Ring of Fire, Matador, Orange Blossom Special, Happy to be With You and a Boy Named Sue which was composed by Shel Silverstein. He had a number of gold and platinum best selling albums including “At Folsom Prison (Live)” and “At San Quentin (Live).
Ray Charles
Singer, composer, pianist and record company executive Ray Charles (Robinson) was born in Albany, Georgia and lost his sight at the age of six.
He learnt to play various instruments including the piano, organ, alto sax and the trumpet. He recorded over 60 albums and amongst his hit singles of the sixties were Hit The Road Jack - I Can’t Stop Loving You - Your Cheatin’ Heart - Take These Chains from My Heart - You Know Me - Crying Time -Together Again.
Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker born Ernest Evans in October 1941 at Andrews, South Carolina.
He recorded the Hank Ballard composition “The Twist” which has the unusual accolade of twice reaching number one (September 1960 & January 1962) in the U.S. Billboard charts.
The Twist also became a massive dance craze. Other records he released in the sixties included “Pony Time”, “Let’s Twist Again”, “Twist it Up” and “Limbo Rock”.
The vocal and instrumental group The Dave Clark Five consisted of Mike Smith, Rick Huxley, Lenny Davidson, Denis Payton and Dave Clark on drums.
After releasing a number of singles “Glad All Over” written by Mike Smith & Dave Clark hit number one in the U.K. and sold over a million records. They were part of the Sixties British Invasion and were the second English group after The Beatles to get a top ten hit in the U.S. Billboard charts. Other singles of the sixties included “Bits and Pieces”, “Can’t You See That She’s Mine”, “Come Home” “Catch Us If You Can” and “Everybody Knows”.
Singer, Actress Petula Clark born in Epsom, Surrey, England. She appeared as a child actor in a number of films including “A Medal For The General” ,”The Card” and “The Runaway Bus”.
She moved to France and had early hits songs with “My Friend the Sea”, “Ya Ya Twist” and “Casanova”. In 1964 she recorded the Tony Hatch composition “Downtown” which went to number one in the U.S. Making her the first female British singer to reach the top in over a decade.
Other hits included “Don’t Sleep in the Subway”, “My Love”, “I Know A Place”, “I Couldn’t Live Without Your Love”, “Sign of the Times”, “Round Every Corner”, The Other Man’s Grass is Always Greener” and “This is My Song.
The short lived Blues Rock Super group Cream were formed in 1966 by Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Peter (Ginger) Baker. They were the best live band of their era. Every album they released sold over a million records which included “Disraeli Gears”, Wheels of Fire”,”Best of Cream”, “Fresh Cream” and “Goodbye”. Singles included “Wrappng Paper” “I feel Free”, “Strange Brew”,”Spoonful” “Sunshine of Your Love”, “White Room”, “Crossroads”, “Anyone for Tennis” and “Badge”. In November 1968 they performed two farewell concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall in front of 10,000 fans
Rock & Country Blues Group (CCR) Creedence Clearwater Revival They were formed in California and changed their name in 1967 from The Golliwogs. They had their major hit singles in the late sixties and early seventies and had six platinum albums including their self named first album ”Creedence Clearwater Revival”, “Bayou Country”, “Green River” and “Willy and the Poor Boys”. Sixties singles included “Suzie Q (Part One)”, “I Put A Spell On You”, “Proud Mary”, the song which was No1 in the U.K. “Bad Moon Rising”, “Green River” and “Down on the Corner”.
Crosby, Stills & Nash.
David Crosby formerly of The Byrds, Stephen Stills of Buffalo Springfield and Graham Nash of The Hollies
Were formed in Los Angeles in late 1968. They were classed as a folk rock harmony group each member bringing years of experience and songwriting know how to the table. They were later joined by Neil Young. They released two singles from their first album called “Crosby,Stills & Nash” which entered the Billboard top 100 they were “ Marrakesh Express” and “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”.
Dave Dee and the Bostons were formed in 1961 in Wiltshire, England. When Songwriters Ken Howard & Alan Blaikley became interested in them, they changed their name to
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich.
They had a number of hit records in the sixties including “Hold Tight”,
”Hideaway”, “Bend It”, “Save Me”, “Okay!”, “Touch Me Touch Me”, ”Zabadak”, “The Legend of Xanadu”,
“Last Night in Soho” and “The Wreck of the 'Antoinette”.
Singer, Songwriter, actor Neil Diamond born in Brooklyn, New York on the 24th January 1941.
One of the most versatile singer songwriters who began in the sixties.
Jay and the Americans, Deep Purple, Elvis, Bobby Vinton and Cliff Richard were some of the artists who covered his songs. He hit songwrting star status when the Monkees released “I’m a Believer” and “A Little Bit Me a Little Bit You”.
His hits of the sixties included “Solitary Man”, Cherry Cherry”, “Girl You’ll be a Woman Soon”, “Kentucky Woman”, “Red Red Wine”, “Sweet Caroline” and “Holy Holy”.
Donovan Phillips Leitch born May 10th 1946, Glasgow Scotland.
He broke onto the pop scene in 1965 as a protest folk singer songwriter and was likened to a British Bob Dylan with hit songs “Catch the Wind”, “Colours”, and the Buffy St Marie composition “Universal Soldier”.
He later developed his talents to become a quality songsmith using exotic instrument arrangements which made the use of flutes, sitars, cello’s and harps. His hits of the sixties included “Sunshine Superman”, “Mellow Yellow”, “There is a Mountain”, “Jennifer Juniper”, The Hurdy Gurdy Man”, “Atlantis” and “Barabajagal (Love is Hot)”.
The Doors were formed in 1965 in Los Angeles California. They consisted of John Densmore, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger and the controversial singer Jim (The Lizard King) Morrison.
This charismatic rebellious group sang about sex and death and had a huge cult following of fans.
In the sixties they released albums including “The Doors”, “Strange Days”, “Waiting for the Sun” and “The Soft Parade”.
Singles included “Break on Through (To the Other Side)”, “Light my Fire”,”People are Strange”, “Love Me Two Times”, “The Unknown Soldier”, “Hello, I Love You” and “Touch Me”.
Award winning folk/rock singer songwriter Bob Dylan born Robert Allen Zimmerman, on May 24, 1941, in Duluth, Minnesota.
His early songs which included “Blowin in the Wind”, “The Times they are A -Changin’”, “Masters of War”, “With God On Our Side” and “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” helped breakdown barriers and gave support to the civil rights and peace protest movements. His albums have sold in the millions and numerous artists have recorded his songs including The Byrds, The Hollies, Peter, Paul & Mary and Manfred Mann. Hits of the sixties include “Subterranean Homesick Blues”,”Like a Rolling Stone”, “positively 4th Street”, “Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35”, “I Want You” and “Lay Lady Lay”.
60's Quiz
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