Famous Duo helped develop "Hot Rod" music

Along with the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson, one member helped develop the sound of vocal "surf" and "hot rod" music. He was a major influence on Wilson's production. Bridged the vocal era of doo-wop and the Southern California sound. Employed the famous "Wrecking Crew" of L.A. session musicians. One of the first rock groups to incorporate classical arrangements. The other member became one of rock's great graphic artists. Recorded a full-length album parody of the "Batman" craze in 1966. In addition to designing many album covers in the Seventies, one member co-created the logo for the band Chicago.

1st Girl Group profile

A young Dionne Warwick got her start filling in for an absent member while on the road . Etta James and Ruth Brown chaperoned the teenage members on their first tour. The group passed on both "The Shoop Shoop Song" and "He's a Rebel." Recorded several songs for the soundtrack of the 1963 film It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. The group originally refused to sing "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," feeling it was too pop for their audience. Finally time to reveal this famous group's profile. Here they are!

The First Girl Group Featured

The first “girl group” to receive wide acclaim, including the first to go to Number One. The first girl group to sell a million records. Among the first female performers to write their own material. A lasting influence on the British Invasion, especially the Beatles
This very talented girl group is rare in rock history in that their spawning ground was also their ticket to fame—specifically, Passaic High School in Passaic, NJ, where the four teenage girls met and formed a vocal group. Originally known as the Poquellos (Spanish for “little birds”), they auditioned for a school talent show with a song they’d written, and won!
Honors & Awards include:
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1996)
Grammy Hall of Fame (1999)
Vocal Hall of Fame (2002)

One of Motown's favorites of all time!

He added an "e" to his last name (a tribute to idol Sam Cooke, who had done the same thing. He crafted a sexy image that established him as Motown's leading man, which garnered him a number of solo hits and duets with Mary Wells, Kim Weston, and Tammi Terrell. He also considered himself a pop-vocal balladeer at heart.
He had more creative control in the early Seventies, resulting in the dual masterpieces. He spent most of the late Seventies battling his wife in divorce court and nurturing a cocaine habit, but he returned to the charts in 1983. This Motown marvel was one of the greatest of all time! Here he is!

Motown Marvel

One of Motown's most talented artists. Brought jazz elements into soul. Created several of the most romantic records ever made. Helped bring a social consciousness to R&B. Perfected the art of the duet. Utilized several unique production elements in his music. Was the son of a preacher. Had 15 Top 10 Hits. Awards/Honors include Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1987), Grammy Awards (1982) and Grammy Hall of Fame (1999).

The Featured Group is from Portland, Oregon

Although a big fan of both Spike Jones and Jerry Lee Lewis, the young leader was a 19-year-old who made most of his money with the barber shop and drive-in he owned in his hometown of Caldwell, Idaho. He formed an instrumental rock band called the Downbeats. The two founding fathers of this group struck up a fast friendship. By the early Sixties the newly-rechristened band had scored a few hits in Boise. Click here

Pacific Northwest group makes it big!

Our featured band was instrumental in helping popularize the Pacific Northwest garage rock scene of the mid-Sixties, styled as America's answer to the British Invasion. The most consistently popular garage-rock band of the decade. Notable for a hilarious and convoluted stage show unlike anything else at the time. A major influence on mod British bands of the era and their later punk brethren. The first rock band to be given a weekly gig as a "house band" on a major television series (Dick Clark's Where The Action Is, 1965-1967 and also Happening '68, both on ABC).

The 1st British Invasion group to be featured

This band of Brits represented the second wave of the Invasion that swept rock in the mid-Sixties. But by that time, they'd already knocked the Beatles off the top of the charts in their home country, and for a while, they were considered the Fab Four's chief Anglo rivals. Were they peers or opportunists? And do they finally deserve induction into the Rock Hall of Fame? Decide for yourself! Click here

1st British Invasion Featured Group

Led the second wave of the Sixties' "British Invasion," after the Beatles. The first British rock band to tour the U.S. Cultivated a "cleaner" image than even the Beatles had, yet created an arguably harder sound. One of the first UK bands to base their sound around drums as opposed to guitar, and to write its own material. Appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show more often than any other band. One of the first and most successful bands to cross over into movies. Band had only 1 number 1 hit, but had 7 Top 10 hits. Band was formed in 1961 (Tottenham, London, England).