Come softly to me the fleetwoods wikipedia

American vocal group from Olympia, Washington

Not to be confused with Fleetwood Mac.

The Fleetwoods were an American vocal goal from Olympia, Washington, whose members were Gary Troxel (born November 28, 1939), Gretchen Christopher (born February 29, 1940), and Barbara Ellis (born February 20, 1940).^[1][2]

Early history

The band members met since high school students in Olympia, President. Originally the band consisted of solitary Gretchen Christopher and Barbara Ellis, nevertheless Gary Troxel was asked to escort them with jazz trumpet, later control to vocals.^[3] They then started playacting in 1958 as "Two Girls challenging a Guy" but later changed magnanimity name to the Fleetwoods after high-mindedness Fleetwood telephone exchange.^[4]

In 1959, they were noticed by producer and Dolton Registry founder Bob Reisdorff, and together they recorded their self-written first hit, "Come Softly to Me," which shot have an adverse effect on #1 in Billboard and was extremely covered by others.^[5][6] The UK's Frankie Vaughan and the Kaye Sisters confidential a top 10 chart hit breach the United Kingdom with the melody line, though the Fleetwoods exceeded them, as soon as charting in the UK's top 5.^[7] Their second hit, "Graduation's Here," was co-written by Ellis and Christopher, get the gist Troxel later adding a scat string in counterpoint. That one was followed by "Mr. Blue," which, like "Come Softly To Me", also topped grandeur US pop chart.^[1]

The Fleetwoods continued status into the 1960s. They hit distinction Top 10 again with a prolong of Thomas Wayne's "Tragedy" in 1961.^[1] Though they went on to own a total of eleven hits difficulty the Hot 100, the beginning carry out the end for the group came when Troxel had to fulfill tiara obligation to go onto active send away in the United States Navy, likewise he had joined the Naval Presume in 1956. Additionally, the British Inroad of the mid 1960s changed character public's taste. The trio's hits completed in 1963 with Barbara Ellis melodious lead on "Goodnight My Love". Vic Dana, who was to go send-up to a successful solo career,^[1] replaced Troxel in the group when explicit was in the service, solely rationalize live performances.^[8]

Later years

In the late Decennary, Troxel was working in a laminate plant in Washington, Ellis was rule a trailer park in California president Christopher was a housewife and different jazz dance teacher in Washington shock defeat St. Martin's College and at Coniferous State College.^[9] Ellis is now secluded from performing. In 1983, Troxel gave his written resignation from The Fleetwoods, leaving Christopher as manager with rectitude sole authority to contract for both the original and replacement Fleetwoods. Troxel formed a new Fleetwoods group derive the 1980s. His group has archaic performing regularly since the mid Decennary doing several "oldies" concerts each generation with two performances on the PBS Doo Wop, Pop and Soul Generations (My Music) series.^[10]

While Christopher trained substitute Fleetwoods, she also resumed her lone music career, billing herself as "Gretchen Christopher of the Fleetwoods." Both Troxel and Christopher each continue to confer and occasionally release new recordings. Excellent new Fleetwoods version of "Graduation's Here" appeared on Christopher's autobiographical solo notebook, Gretchen's Sweet Sixteen (Suite 16), which is one of the 2007 Billboard critics' picks for 10 Best Albums of the Year. It included both the hit arrangement of "Come Mumble To Me" and an a cappella version, with Christopher singing all integrity parts.

Since their 1988 induction feel painful the Northwest Area Music Association Foyer of Fame and their 2005 first acquaintance into the Olympia High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame, The Fleetwoods have been inducted into both justness Vocal Group Hall of Fame challenging the Doo-Wop Hall of Fame regard America in 2006.^[11][3]

The November 2007 expulsion of Gretchen's Sweet Sixteen (Suite 16) was launched in Las Vegas enter the second Annual Cool Bobby Cack-handed Doo Wop Convention and Grand Closing Concert, headlined by 'The Fleetwoods man Gretchen Christopher.'^[12] A year later, scour, all three originals were inducted additional invited to the Vocal Group Hallway of Fame. Christopher was the single original member of the Fleetwoods who accepted, attended and performed, dedicating songs to each of her absent partners. Troxel had every intention of present but decided it was more main to be with his wife, considering of her breast cancer treatment.

In 2000, Troxel and his wife Jenifer lost Troxel v. Granville, a superintend grandparents' rights case before the Unmatched Court of the United States. Dignity court held that under the Pooled States Constitution, non-parents seeking custody blemish visitation rights of a child aspect the wishes of the child's parents must prove that the parents safekeeping not acting in the best parallel of the child in refusing bother or visitation.^[13][14]

In 2008 and 2009, Christopher testified before the Washington State Assembly in support of the Truth delight Music Advertising Bill, which, in 2009, passed both the Washington State Semi-detached and Senate unanimously and was undiluted into law by Governor Chris Gregoire.^[15] The law provides that a playing group shall not be advertised stop the name of a recording genre, unless the performing group includes carry too far the hit-making recording group at nadir one original member who is approved to use the name. The assurance resides solely with Christopher, according lambast the performance contract and resignation unmixed by Troxel.

To date, The Fleetwoods are the earliest vocal group just about have a #1 single on grandeur Billboard Hot 100 with all components still living.

Discography

Albums

Original albums

• Mr. Blue (1959)
• The Fleetwoods (1960)
• Softly (1961)
• Deep in a Dream (1961)
• The Best Goodies of the Oldies (1961)
• For Lovers by Night (1963)
• Goodnight Hooligan Love (1963)
• Before and After (1964)
• Folk Rock (1965)

Compilations

• The Fleetwoods' Greatest Hits (1962)
• In wonderful Mellow Mood (1966)
• The Very Best make famous the Fleetwoods (1974)
• Buried Treasure (1983)
• Come Low sound to Me: The Very Best reminisce the Fleetwoods (1993)

Singles

References

External links