The Original Chevelles was formed in mid 1958,and were strictly an instrumental group,playing at parties and working our way into "sock hops",while playing a birthday party one night,my drummer's cousin was taping us on a reel to reel recorder,after the party my drummer called me and ask me to get the rest of the group together and meet him at his cousin's house,whose father,owned a small recording studio,after hearing what we thought was a joke, we listened to a recording,and I remember that my Sax player saying "if we could play like that,we could make it",the joke was on us,it was indeed us,the first recording we made was an instrumental called "Stick Shift",a small 45 demo record for a few radio stations to play,we left,and while I was in English class an announcent came over the inter-com,the school was playing our record, compliments of our manager(my drummers cousin)and the principal,who was an avid fan of Rock"n"Roll,we were all in shock,we had a record,now we needed a flip side,we started working in the studio on weekends,and finally after lots of deliberation,both from parents and the school board,we dropped out of conventional school,and had private tutors,now we were working week days,nights,and weekends,and studying for school in between,late 58,the studio decided to change our name,The Echoes,we hated that name,sorry people,we recorded a couple of vocals,which we also dis-liked,we lacked experience,we lacked inspiration, I remember Russ Hamilton saying his inspirations came from the heart,so did Ricky Nelson and Jackie Wilson,they were close and personals friends not to mention "our"idols.There was a song called Baby Blue that the studio was considering,I got a copy of it,it was pretty basic,a few chords,and notes,so I practiced it with the group,it sounded awful,until a blue-eyed,ash-blonde came by to visit my sister one day,I sang it to her,sitting on the back of a 1955 Chevy, she was the inspiration I needed,thank you Carolyn,hence The Echoes were born.We have had some wonderful times,traveled to many countries,and met some good friends,some wonderful fans,which we love to this day,thank you,each and everyone.Traveled with Alan Freed,and after Alans passing, we toured with Dick Clark,we used to affectionately refer to it as the "Caravan of Freaks",LOL,but we loved it,somehow by the grace of our parents and our manager,and God,we graduated high school,and went on to college.Although we are mostly retired,we do still play,but mostly under our original name,The Chevelles,that group made it happen for us,we played for many groups,we have done background for many girl-groups as well,so whether we are The Echoes or The Chevelles,we are definitely a part of the early roots of Rock"n"Roll,we have lost many friends,and are still in touch with their families,and the ones that are still with us,we love them all.We would like to take the time to thank the following groups for allowing us to cover some of their songs,The Passions,The Elegants,The Mystics,just to name a few.Thank you all so very much,for the wonderful roller coaster ride.Sincerely,The Chevelles,The Echoes.In memory of a dear friend and our manager,Buddy Bruno,we love you brother. The Eddie I remember,taken at his home.
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The Echoes - I love candy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcxTuPAc1_0
There really was a Candy.
Echoes - Little Star Hushabye, Baby Blue Medley http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziWhX1u1-e8
The Ritchie I remember.
