BARRY LEVINE: Not all rock and roll hits need lyrics

William Weathersby, of Camilla, recently sent a message about Johnny & The Hurricanes, a pop/rock instrumental group that hit the apex of their popularity in 1959 and 1960.

The group had their biggest hit in 1959 when “Red River Rock” climbed to No. 5. Their other Top 25 hits were “Crossfire” and “Reveille” in 1959 and “Beatnik Fly” in 1960.

Johnny Paris, a sax player and the group’s founder, died in 2006, but The Hurricanes continue to perform.

What surprised me after extensive research was the lack of popularity of instrumental songs during the first few years of the of the rock and roll era in 1956 through 1970.

During the 15-year period, only one song, Canadian Percy Faith’s “Theme from “A Summer Place” in 1960, was ranked as the year’s No. 1 tune. The song remained No. 1 for a staggering nine weeks.

The movie starred teen heart throbs Troy Donahue and Sandra Dee. The duo greatly enhanced the film’s popularity and, as a result, the theme song.

Only two other instrumental hits finished any year among the Top 5 songs.

The Champs had the No. 5 hit in 1958 with “Tequila.” The Los Angeles-based group took its name from Gene Autry’s horse, Champion.

Although not original members of The Champs, Glen Campbell and Seals & Croft later joined group, which disbanded in 1965.

“Tequila” was No. 1 for five weeks before being displaced by The Platters’ “Twilight Time.”

The only other instrumental to finish among any year’s Top 5 during that span was Bert Kaempfert’s “Wonderland by Night” in 1961. His song topped the charts for three weeks before being toppled by The Shirelles’ “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?”

The German-born band leader probably is the only musician who was involved in the careers of The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and Al Martino.

He signed The Beatles to back Tony Sheridan for an album called “My Bonnie” in 1961 and Kaempfert wrote “Strangers in the Night,” Sinatra’s No. 1 hit in 1966.

He also composed songs for Presley and Martino. Presley sang Kaempert’s “Wooden Heart” in the 1961 movie “G.I. Joe,” and Kaempfert also wrote “Spanish Eyes,” a successful hit for Martino.

Besides “Wonderland by Night,” Kaempfert had three other Top 40 hits – “Tenderly” in 1961 and “Red Roses for a Blue Lady” and “Three O’clock in the Morning” in 1965.

Excluding Faith and Kaempfert, five other foreign-born performers had instrumentals that placed among the Top 15 in the year they were released.

Perez Prado, a Cuban, recorded “Patricia” in 1958, which placed 17th that year. “Telestar,” was No. 6 hit in 1962 by the Tornadoes, a London-based group, and Mr. Acker Bilk recorded “Stranger in the Night” in 1962. The Brit’s song placed 17th. One place behind “Stranger in the Night” was David Rose’s “The Stripper.” Rose, too was a native of England.

Hugh Masekela was the only South African to have a tune on the list. “Grazing in the Grass” was 13th in 1968.

The seven interestingly represent 43.7 percent of the artists whose instrumentals were ranked among the Top 20 in a year from 1956 to 1970.

Before the arrival of The Beatles in 1964, foreign-born singers had little impact. From 1956 through 1963, only seven of the 147 vocals which placed among the Top 20 in each of those years was done by a foreign-born singer. That’s an anemic 4.8 percent.

That’s quite a difference from the instrumentals.

The foreign singers who had songs in the Top 20 from 1956 to 1963 were:

Paul Anka, Canada, “Diana,” Lonely Boy” and “Put Your Head of My Shoulder.”

Domenico Modugno, Italy, “Volare.”

Laurie London, England, “He’s got the Whole World in His Hands.”

Kyu Sakamoto, Japan, “Sukiyaki.”

The Singing Nun, Belgium, “Dominique.”

The top instrumentals from 1956-70 (year song, yearly rank, performer) were:

1956 “Poor People of Paris” (7) Les Baxter

1956 “Honky Tonk” (20) Bill Doggett

1958 “Tequila” (5) The Champs

1958 “Patricia” (17) Perez Prado

1969 “Sleep Walk” (10) Santo & Johnny

1959 “The Happy Organ” (15) Dave “Baby” Cortez

1960 “A Summer Place” (1) Percy Faith

1960 “Last Date” (20) Floyd Cramer

1961 “Wonderland by Night” (4) Bert Kaempfert

1961 “Calcutta” (9) Lawrence Welk

1962 “Telstar” (6) The Totnadoes

1962 “Stranger on the Shore” (17) Mr. Acker Bilk

1962 “The Stripper” (18) David Rose

1968 “Grazing in the Grass” (13) Hugh Masekela

1968 “The Horse” (19) Cliff Nobles

1969 “Romeo & Juliet” (12) Henry Mancini

This week in rock history — On his 21st birthday on Sept. 18, 1960, Frankie Avalon received $600,000 that he earned as a minor. Pat Boone has his first No. 1 hit on Sept. 19, 1955, with a cover version of Fats Domino’s “Ain’t It A Shame.” Although the record label gave credit to a fictional band called The Archies, it was singer Ron Dante who led a group of studio musicians to the top of the pop chart with “Sugar Sugar” on Sept. 20, 1969. “Silver Threads and Golden Needles” by The Springfields became the first British record to crack the U.S. Top 20 on Sept. 21, 1962. The vocal group was comprised of Tim Field, Tom Springfield and his sister, Dusty.

The Jaynetts’ version of “Sally Go Round The Roses” peaked at No. 2 on Sept. 22, 1963. Buddy Holly & The Crickets scored their only No. 1 hit with their first chart maker “That’ll Be the Day” on Sept. 23, 1957. The Association had their first No. 1 single with “Cherish” on Sept. 24, 1966. The song had been released in August and within two months would be a million seller, remaining at the top of the charts for one month.

Barry Levine is an entertainment writer for The Albany Herald. He can be reached at [email protected]