Marcie Blane

American female singer, Marcie Blane — who was born as Marcia Blank, in May of 1944, in New York City — was one of many ‘one-hit wonders’ of the 1960s although the hit she did have, “Bobby’s Girl”, in 1962, was to sell in excess of a million copies.

In the United Kingdom, this hit was covered by Susan Maughan, who successfully deprived Marcie of receiving royalties from there.

Little Peggy March

Margaret Annemarie Battavio was born in Pennsylvania, in March of 1948. She was to be heard singing at a cousin’s wedding, at the age of just thirteen and promptly signed to a contract to record on the label of RCA.

As Margaret was only short and because she had been born in the month of March, it was decided that she would adopt the name of Little Peggy March. Peggy’s success was almost instantaneous, for by the time she was fourteen, in April of 1963, her recording, “I Will Follow Him”, had soared to No. 1, not only on the American pop charts but those of other countries, as well. It was a translation of a French song, “Chariot”, recorded in the year prior to this , by the British vocalist, Petula Clark. Her singles, “I Wish I Were A Princess” and “Hello Heartache, Goodbye Love” also entered the American charts.

Because Peggy was so young, the job of caring for her finances was placed in the hands of her manager. However, by the time she had finished high school, she discovered that her fortune had been squandered.

Although she continued to record, it was to be in Europe and Asia where she would find success. Perhaps this was why, in 1969, Peggy moved to live in Germany where she resided until 1981.

“When The Rain Begins To Fall”, which Peggy co-wrote, became a major hit in Europe for Jermaine Jackson and Pia Zadora, in 1984. The song, “I Will Follow Him”, reappeared, in the film, ‘Sister Act’, in 1992.

Paul Revere And The Raiders

Through its many appearances on Dick Clark’s ‘Where The Action Is’, which was televised daily, as well as having its own show, ‘Happening ’68’, the group, Paul Revere And The Raiders, obtained unprecedented coverage in the U.S. Of course, there is no doubt that the colonial costumes its members wore, highlighting the Revolutionary War, played their part too.

In fact, the band is remembered more for its appearance and frivolous antics of its heyday, than for the reality it actually had fourteen hits enter the Top Forty in the United States. No mean feat, at a time when musical artistry was both voluminous and superb.

The band had undergone many changes in its personnel, since its original formation in Boise, Idaho, in 1959. It relocated to Portland, Oregon, in 1961, and changed its name from The Downbeats to Paul Revere And The Raiders. Its mainstays were singer, songwriter and producer Mark Lindsay — who also enjoyed a career as a solo artist, with hits such as “Arizona” and “Silver Bird” — and organist, Paul Revere.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtOE3Cy-FJI

Under the highly influential guidance of Terry Melcher, who was also involved in producing The Byrds, the band experienced its first national hit, “Steppin’ Out”, in October of 1965. Paul Revere And The Raiders was also affected by the music of the British Invasion, however, it was to be a song written by an American, John D. Loudermilk, that was to provide the group with its only No.1 hit, “Indian Reservation (The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian)”, in 1971. By this time the group had dispensed with the first three words of its name; simply calling itself The Raiders.

To obtain the names of more hits by Paul Revere and The Raiders refer to the suggested playlist.

Lesley Gore

While “It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to…” are lyrics known to some of today’s generation, back in 1963 they were on the lips, or in the ears, of nearly everyone. I can make this sweeping statement because it took only a handful of weeks for Lesley Gore’s initial release, “It’s My Party”, to reach number one on the singles’ charts. Lesley, from New Jersey, was just sixteen and still at school.

Her recording company, Mercury, decided to strike while the iron was hot and quickly released “Judy’s Turn To Cry”. It was a follow-up both lyrically (as Johnny returns to her, having deserted her, for Judy, at the party) and literally.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_v468ptuXw

In fact, Lesley’s first four releases — rounded out by “She’s A Fool” and “You Don’t Own Me” — were all entrants to the Top Five. Yet, while her recordings continued to evolve, none was to achieve the heady heights of her first four and it was in 1967 that her last entry to the Top Twenty came, in the form of “California Nights”.

For the names of more releases by Lesley Gore refer to the suggested playlist.