Bill Deal and the Rhondels
Bill Deal & the Rhondels were formed in 1959[1] in Portsmouth, Virginia, crossing blue-eyed soul and beach music. They had three hit singles in 1969, "I've Been Hurt" (U.S. #35), "What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)" (U.S. #23) and "May I" (U.S. #39).[2] The band disbanded in 1975, but reformed at various times until the death of Bill Deal in 2003.[1]
Members
- Bill Deal (born July 8, 1944, died December 10, 2003) - vocals, organ, electric piano, bass pedals (1959-1983)[1][3][4][5]
- Ammon Tharp - lead vocals, drums (1959-1977)[1][3][4][5]
- George Bell - saxophone (1961-1963)[4][5]
- Ronnie Hallman - trumpet (1961-1963)[4][5]
- David Williams - trumpet (1961-??; 1975-1977)[4][5]
- Ken Dawson - trumpet (1963-1970)[3][4]
- Don Quisenberry - bass (1964-1978)[3][4]
- Rollie Ligart - trumpet (1965-1969)[4]
- Mike Kerwin - guitar, trumpet (1965-1978)[3][4]
- Tom Pittman - saxophone (1966-1969)[4]
- Ronny Rosenbaum - trombone (1966-1971)[3][4]
- Bob Fisher - saxophone, guitar (1969-1976)[3][4]
- Jeff Pollard - trumpet (1969-1973)[3][4]
- Gary Hardy - trumpet (1968-1969 & 1971-1976)[4]
- Freddy Owens - saxophone, vocals (1971-1979)[4][5]
- Tom Cole - drums (1980-1983)
- And many others[4]
Tragedy
Tragedy struck in 1979. Rhondels' band member Freddy Owens, who joined the band after 1970 and who played sax and bass, was murdered in a robbery and rape of his wife at a Richmond motel while the band was playing in the capital city.[6] While Bill Deal kept going on with the Rhondels for another four years, he never really got over this incident and quit the music business in 1983.[1]
Discography
Bill Deal and the Rhondels, Vintage Rock, Heritage HTS 35,003, 1969
The material for this album was recorded in New York City between July 25, 1968 (May I) and March 10, 1969 (multiple), with the most tracks recorded at Bell Sound Studio on March 10, 1969.[7] The Swinging Tight track, recorded March 10, 1969, is distinct from the similarly-named track on the second album, below.[7]
Side 1
- I've Been Hurt
- Touch Me
- Hooked On A Feeling
- I've Got To Be Me
- Nothing Succeeds Like Success
- Soulful Strut
Side 2
- Hey Bulldog
- Swinging Tight
- May I
- I'm Gonna Make You Love Me
- Are You Ready For This
- I've Got My Needs
- Change My Mind
The Best of Bill Deal & The Rhondels, Heritage HTS 35,006, 1970
The material for this album, which substantially overlaps the Vintage Rock album, was recorded in New York City between July 25, 1968 (May I) and October 30, 1969 (Harlem Shuffle), with the most tracks recorded at Bell Sound Studio on March 10, 1969.[7] The Swingin' Tight track, recorded on October 3, 1969, is distinct from the similarly named track on the first album, above.[7]
Side 1
- What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am
- Touch Me
- Harlem Shuffle
- May I
- I've Got My Needs
- Ain't Too Proud to Beg
Side 2
- Nothing Succeeds Like Success
- Swingin' Tight
- Hey Bulldog
- Are You Ready For This
- Tuck's Theme
- I've Been Hurt
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 William "Bill" Deal, retrieved October 29, 2013.
- ↑ Joel Whitburn, The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. 7th edn, 2000
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 The Best of Bill Deal & The Rhondels, Heritage HTS 35,006, 1970.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Bill Deal & the Rhondels Discography, retrieved October 29, 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bill Deal - History, by his son, retrieved October 29, 2013.
- ↑ Suspect In Death of Musician Is Extradited to Virginia, The News and Courier, Charleston, SC, March 7, 1979, retrieved October 29. 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 The MGM Labels: 1961-1982, By Michel Ruppli, Greenwood Publishing Group, 1998.