Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

PUCKETT, Gary and the Union Gap

USA pop band formed as Outcasts '67, a bar band playing covers in San Diego; switched names and adopted Civil War gear late that year to attract success with no. 4 hit "Woman Woman': vocalist Puckett (b 17 Oct. '42, Hibbing MN), Dwight Bement (b Dec. '45, San Diego), tenor sax; Kerry Chater (b 7 Aug. '45, Vancouver), bass; Gary Withem (b 22 Aug. '46, San Diego), keyboards; Paul Wheatbread (b 8 Feb. '46, San Diego, drums. Latter had previous experience on TV show Where The Action Is backing big names. "Young Girl' and "Lady Willpower' both no. 2 USA '68, 1 and 5 in UK; former no. 6 on reissue '74; both written by prod. Jerry Fuller: catchy songs and Puckett's boyish, yearning quality was their high point. They disbanded '71 when Puckett went into acting after three more top 40 hits USA (no more in UK), no fewer than six LPs. Puckett later recorded unsuccessfully solo and with brother David; Chater wrote MOR songs for Cass Elliot, Bobby Darin, others; also recorded solo.