Despite Larry Henley having been born in Texas and the brothers Dean and Mark Mathis having hailed from Georgia, it was to be in Shreveport, Louisiana where the three would meet and form the vocal group, The Newbeats, in 1964.
It was in this same year that the trio released what was destined to be its first hit, “Bread And Butter”. It reached No.2 in The Newbeats’ homeland and No.15 in both Britain and Australia. The recording, on the label, Hickory, appears on the soundtrack to the film, ‘Simon Birch’, made in 1998. It was also employed in the comedy, ‘Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy’, in 2004.
http://youtu.be/56NTW4ZgR1g
“Everything’s Alright”, written by John D. Laudermilk, followed and peaked at No.16 in the United States. Nevertheless, a group that tended to lack versatility in such a competitive market as the Sixties was always going to struggle to achieve a modicum of longevity and, alas, for The Newbeats, it fitted into this mould. “Break Away (From That Boy)” — a recording I really like — struggled to an apex of No.40 in America. Despite this, it was to be warmly received in Australia, where its zenith was to be that of No.4.
http://youtu.be/03O9G9VYL88
The Newbeats did have one last hurrah in the United States when, and also in 1965, “Run Baby Run (Back Into My Arms)” ascended to sit at No.12. This same recording was to finally gain attention across the Atlantic where it belatedly sneaked into Britain’s Top Ten. However, by that time, it was 1971!