|
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 ZASSOCIATION, TheUS soft-rock/harmony group formed '65 by Russ Giguere (b 18 Oct. '43, New Hampshire), guitar; Brian Cole (b '44, Tacoma WA; d 2 Aug. '72 of drug overdose), bass; Terry Kirkman (from Kansas), winds; Gary Alexander (Chattanooga TN), guitar; Jim Yester (Birmingham AL), guitar, sax; Ted Bluechel (San Pedro CA), drums. All shared vocals; many were multi-instrumentalists. Lush harmony of LA-based group brought hits '66 with singles on Valiant label, 'Along Comes Mary' top ten despite allegation that it was a paean to marijuana; 'Cherish' reached no. 1 and won three Grammys. WB label took over Valiant, reissued first two LPs; 'Windy' was second no. 1, 'Never My Love' no. 2. They opened at Monterey Pop Festival June '67; Larry Ramos (from Hawaii) replaced Alexander '68. They made soundtrack for Goodbye Columbus '69; Richard Thompson replaced Giguere, who went solo '70; but hits dried up and they called it a day after several label changes and little further success. Songs are still staples on easy-listening radio. Their success may have stifled a sense of humour similar to that of Yester's brother Jerry's group, the Lovin' Spoonful, evident in '66 single 'Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies', album Waterbeds In Trinidad '72. |