The Skyliners
Encyclopedia
The Skyliners are an American
doo-wop
group from Pittsburgh
fronted by Jimmy Beaumont. The original lineup also included Wally Lester, Jack Taylor, Joe Verscharen, Louis M. Tutino and Janet Vogel. While this quintet constituted the formal group of vocalists, they were backed by a variety of Pittsburgh musicians including Joe Dalu, a drummer from Pittsburgh's Manchester neighborhood who also played with local favorites Ray and The Furys (COED Label, 1959).
The Skyliners were best known for their 1959 hit "Since I Don't Have You
." Popular covers
by Trini Lopez
, Chuck Jackson
, Don McLean
, Guns N' Roses
, The Brian Setzer Orchestra
, Ronnie Milsap
, and Buckaroo Banzai
have helped keep the song in the public consciousness. They also hit the Top 40 with "This I Swear" and "Pennies from Heaven
." Other classics include "It Happened Today" (1959), "Close Your Eyes" (1961), and "Comes Love" (1962). The original group dissolved in 1963 but reunited eleven years later (without Jack Taylor) for what would become their last charted record, "Where Have They Gone?"
In 1965 Jimmy Beaumont recorded 2 notable singles for the "Bang" label. The first, 'Tell Me' b/w 'I Feel Like I'm Falling In Love' were pleasant midtempo soul styled tracks. For his 2nd Bang 45 'I Never Loved Her Anyway' b/w 'You Got Too Much Going For You' Jimmy was transformed into a very impressive soul singer sounding nothing like his previous more pop styled efforts, leading some to question in later years if it is actually him singing. These two excellent tracks that have now rightly become Northern Soul collectables. The 2nd 45 was also issued on UK London HLZ 10059 in 1966.
In 1978, Detroit producer Don Davis (who produced Marilynn McCoo, Billy Davis, Johnny Taylor, the Dramatics, and the Dells) picked up one of his favorite groups to record in his studio, United Sound Studios.
There they recorded the Skyliners 'comeback' album for the RCA subsidiary, Tortoise International Records. The song 'Oh, How Happy' & 'The Love Bug' were on this album, as well as a re-make of Dan Schafer's 'A Day without you, Dear'.
Today, Jimmy Beaumont still performs with The Skyliners in their current lineup of Nick Pociask, Rick Morris, and Donna Groom (whose husband, Mark Groom, has been the group's drummer/conductor for more than 25 years). Two of the original members have died: Janet Vogel (suicide
) in 1980 (age 37), and Joe Verscharen of cancer
in 2007 (age 67). Their longtime manager and producer Joe Rock, who also co-wrote "Since I Don't Have You", died on April 4, 2000 after complications from quadruple bypass heart surgery at age 63.
in 2002.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
doo-wop
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
group from Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
fronted by Jimmy Beaumont. The original lineup also included Wally Lester, Jack Taylor, Joe Verscharen, Louis M. Tutino and Janet Vogel. While this quintet constituted the formal group of vocalists, they were backed by a variety of Pittsburgh musicians including Joe Dalu, a drummer from Pittsburgh's Manchester neighborhood who also played with local favorites Ray and The Furys (COED Label, 1959).
The Skyliners were best known for their 1959 hit "Since I Don't Have You
Since I Don't Have You
"Since I Don't Have You" is a song by the doo-wop group The Skyliners. Released in 1958, the single reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and also the top five of the R&B chart...
." Popular covers
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by Trini Lopez
Trini Lopez
Trini Lopez is an American singer, guitarist and actor.-Career:Lopez was born in Dallas, Texas, on Ashland Street in the Little Mexico neighborhood. He began his entertainment career in Dallas playing at the Vegas Club, a nightclub owned by Jack Ruby...
, Chuck Jackson
Chuck Jackson
Chuck Jackson is an R&B singer who was one of the first artists to record material by Burt Bacharach and Hal David successfully. He has performed with moderate success since 1961...
, Don McLean
Don McLean
Donald "Don" McLean is an American singer-songwriter. He is most famous for the 1971 album American Pie, containing the renowned songs "American Pie" and "Vincent".-Musical roots:...
, Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
, The Brian Setzer Orchestra
The Brian Setzer Orchestra
The Brian Setzer Orchestra is a swing and jump blues band formed in 1990 by Stray Cats frontman Brian Setzer. The group had success covering Louis Prima's "Jump Jive an' Wail", which appeared on Prima's 1957 album The Wildest!...
, Ronnie Milsap
Ronnie Milsap
Ronnie Lee Milsap is an American country music singer and pianist. He was one of country’s most popular and influential performers of the 1970s and 1980s...
, and Buckaroo Banzai
Buckaroo Banzai
Buckaroo Banzai is the lead character, played by Peter Weller, of the eponymous 1984 cult film, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension. A renaissance man, the character is a top neurosurgeon, particle physicist, race car driver, rock star and comic book hero, and probably the...
have helped keep the song in the public consciousness. They also hit the Top 40 with "This I Swear" and "Pennies from Heaven
Pennies from Heaven (song)
"Pennies from Heaven" is a 1936 American popular song with music by Arthur Johnston and words by Johnny Burke. It was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1936 film of the same name...
." Other classics include "It Happened Today" (1959), "Close Your Eyes" (1961), and "Comes Love" (1962). The original group dissolved in 1963 but reunited eleven years later (without Jack Taylor) for what would become their last charted record, "Where Have They Gone?"
In 1965 Jimmy Beaumont recorded 2 notable singles for the "Bang" label. The first, 'Tell Me' b/w 'I Feel Like I'm Falling In Love' were pleasant midtempo soul styled tracks. For his 2nd Bang 45 'I Never Loved Her Anyway' b/w 'You Got Too Much Going For You' Jimmy was transformed into a very impressive soul singer sounding nothing like his previous more pop styled efforts, leading some to question in later years if it is actually him singing. These two excellent tracks that have now rightly become Northern Soul collectables. The 2nd 45 was also issued on UK London HLZ 10059 in 1966.
In 1978, Detroit producer Don Davis (who produced Marilynn McCoo, Billy Davis, Johnny Taylor, the Dramatics, and the Dells) picked up one of his favorite groups to record in his studio, United Sound Studios.
There they recorded the Skyliners 'comeback' album for the RCA subsidiary, Tortoise International Records. The song 'Oh, How Happy' & 'The Love Bug' were on this album, as well as a re-make of Dan Schafer's 'A Day without you, Dear'.
Today, Jimmy Beaumont still performs with The Skyliners in their current lineup of Nick Pociask, Rick Morris, and Donna Groom (whose husband, Mark Groom, has been the group's drummer/conductor for more than 25 years). Two of the original members have died: Janet Vogel (suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
) in 1980 (age 37), and Joe Verscharen of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 2007 (age 67). Their longtime manager and producer Joe Rock, who also co-wrote "Since I Don't Have You", died on April 4, 2000 after complications from quadruple bypass heart surgery at age 63.
Chart hits
- "Since I Don't Have YouSince I Don't Have You"Since I Don't Have You" is a song by the doo-wop group The Skyliners. Released in 1958, the single reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and also the top five of the R&B chart...
" (1958) U.S. #12, Cashbox #7 - "This I Swear" (1959) U.S. #26
- "It Happened Today" (1959) U.S. #59
- "Pennies from Heaven" (1960) U.S. #24
- "The Loser" (1965) U.S. #72
- "Where Have They Gone" (1975) U.S. #100
Awards and recognition
The Skyliners were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of FameVocal Group Hall of Fame
The Vocal Group Hall of Fame was organized to honor outstanding vocal groups throughout the world. It is headquartered in Sharon, Pennsylvania, United States. It includes a theater and a museum....
in 2002.