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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZIVY LEAGUEUK vocal harmony group '60s, formed by songwriters John Carter (John Shakespeare) and Ken Lewis (James Hawker) (both b '42, Birmingham). Carter-Lewis and the Southerners made BBC radio appearances, had near-hit "Your Momma's Out Of Town' '63, once incl. guitarist Jimmy Page; then linked with another pseudonymous singer- songwriter, Perry Ford (b Bryan Pugh, '40, Lincoln), specialised in vocal backings to order (e.g. on the the Who's "Can't Explain') before making own discs on Picadilly label. Scored three UK hits '65 in close-harmony style reminiscent of the Four Seasons: "Funny How Love Can Be', "That's Why I'm Crying', "Tossing And Turning'. LP This Is The Ivy League '65 revealed hopeless lack of direction, incl. trad. "Floral Dance', Dylan's "Don't Think Twice It's All Right' as well as originals. Carter left early '66 replaced by Tony Burrows; Lewis replaced by Neil Landon; both continued association; "Willow Tree' reached no. 50 mid-'66; the group became the Flowerpot Men and scored one-off with vogue-ish Carter- Lewis song "Let's Go To San Francisco' (UK no. 4), then became Friends before quitting. Carter-Lewis continued to write/perform together, as First Class (with Burrows) had no. 4 USA/13 UK hit "Beach Baby', a Beach Boys pastiche with Carter singing lead. |