Bill Deal and the Rhondels

Bill Deal & the Rhondels were formed in 1959[1] in Portsmouth, Virginia, crossing blue-eyed soul and beach music. They had three hit singles in 1969, "May I" (U.S. #39), "I've Been Hurt" (U.S. #35), "What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)" (U.S. #23).[2] Their single, "Swingin' Tight" reached (U.S. #85) in December 1969. "Nothing Succeeds Like Success" reached (US#63) on the charts in the spring of 1970.[3] The band disbanded in 1975, but reformed and still carries on the tradition even after the passing of Bill Deal.[1]

Members
  • Bill Deal (born July 8, 1944, died December 10, 2003) - vocals, organ, electric piano, bass pedals (1959-1983)[1][4][5][6]
  • Ammon Tharp (born Ammon Chester Tharp on July 5, 1942, in Norfolk, Virginia, died September 22, 2017)[7][1] - vocals, drums (1959-1983)[4][5][6]
  • George Bell - saxophone (1961-1963)[5][6]
  • Ronnie Hallman - trumpet (1961-1963)[5][6]
  • Jackie Shelton - bass (1961-1963)[5][6]
  • Joel Smith - guitar (1961-1963)[5][6]
  • Bill Weaver - saxophone (1962-1965)[5][6]
  • J.T. Anderson - guitar (1962-1965)[5][6]
  • Jimmy Alsbrook - drums (1962)[5][6]
  • David Williams - trumpet (1961-??; 1975-1977)[5][6]
  • Ken Dawson - trumpet (1963-1970)[4][5]
  • Don Quisenberry - bass (1964-1978)[4][5]
  • Rollie Ligart - trumpet (1965-1969)[5]
  • Mike Kerwin - guitar, trumpet (1965-1978)[4][5]
  • Tom Pittman - saxophone (1966-1969)[5]
  • Ronny Rosenbaum - trombone (1966-1971)[4][5]
  • Bob Fisher - saxophone, guitar (1969-1976)[4][5]
  • Jeff Pollard - trumpet (1969-1973)[4][5]
  • Gary Hardy - trumpet (1968-1969 & 1971-1976)[5]
  • Freddy Owens - saxophone, vocals (1971-1979)[5][6]
  • Alan Porter - bass (1978-79)[5]
  • Tom Cole - drums (1980-1983)
  • And many others[5]

Freddy Owens murder

On March 4, 1979, band member Ernest Frederick "Freddy" Owens, who joined after 1970 and played sax and bass, was robbed and shot to death by Jeremiah Carr at a Holiday Inn motel in Richmond, Virginia, where the band had a show. He had attempted to stop Carr from escaping after Carr raped his wife; two shots wounded a third man in the room.[8] While Bill Deal kept going on with the Rhondels for another four years, he never really got over this incident and quit the music business in 1983.[1]

Discography

Albums

Bill Deal and the Rhondels, Vintage Rock, Heritage HTS 35,003, 1969

The material for this album was recorded in New York City between July 25, 1968 (May I) and March 10, 1969 (multiple), with the most tracks recorded at Bell Sound Studio on March 10, 1969.[9] The "Swingin' Tight" track ("Swinging Tight" is often cited, but is not the official title spelling of the song. "Swinging Tight" is the title to the album released in 1980), first recorded March 10, 1969, is distinct from the similarly-named track on the second album, below and is a slow version of the song.[9]

Side 1
  1. I've Been Hurt
  2. Touch Me
  3. Hooked On A Feeling
  4. I've Got To Be Me
  5. Nothing Succeeds Like Success
  6. Soulful Strut

Side 2
  1. Hey Bulldog
  2. Swingin' Tight (slow version)
  3. May I
  4. I'm Gonna Make You Love Me
  5. Are You Ready For This
  6. I've Got My Needs
  7. Change My Mind

The Best of Bill Deal & The Rhondels, Heritage HTS 35,006, 1970

The material for this album, which substantially overlaps the Vintage Rock album, was recorded in New York City between July 25, 1968 ("May I") and October 30, 1969 ("Harlem Shuffle"), with the most tracks recorded at Bell Sound Studio on March 10, 1969.[9] The "Swingin' Tight" track, recorded on October 3, 1969, is distinct from the similarly named track on the first album, above and is a faster single edit version.[9]

Side 1
  1. What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am
  2. Touch Me
  3. Harlem Shuffle
  4. May I
  5. I've Got My Needs
  6. Ain't Too Proud to Beg

Side 2
  1. Nothing Succeeds Like Success
  2. Swingin' Tight (fast, single version)
  3. Hey Bulldog
  4. Are You Ready For This
  5. Tuck's Theme
  6. I've Been Hurt

Singles

"May I" b/w "Day By Day My Love Grows Stronger" (Heritage, 1968)

"I've Been Hurt" b/w "I've Got My Needs" (Heritage, 1969)

"What Kind of Fool Do You Think I am" b/w "Swingin' Tight" (Heritage, 1969)

"Swingin' Tight" (Barkin & Barash) b/w "Tuck's Theme" (Heritage, 1969)

"Hey Bulldog" b/w "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" (Heritage, 1970)

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See also

References
  1. William "Bill" Deal, retrieved October 29, 2013.
  2. Joel Whitburn, The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. 7th edn, 2000
  3. The Billboard Hot 100 Hits.
  4. The Best of Bill Deal & The Rhondels, Heritage HTS 35,006, 1970.
  5. Bill Deal & the Rhondels Discography, retrieved October 29, 2013.
  6. Bill Deal - History, by his son, retrieved October 29, 2013.
  7. Ammon C. Tharp Archived 2017-12-04 at the Wayback Machine accessdate December 4, 2017
  8. Suspect In Death of Musician Is Extradited to Virginia, The News and Courier, Charleston, SC, March 7, 1979, retrieved October 29. 2013.
  9. The MGM Labels: 1961-1982, By Michel Ruppli, Greenwood Publishing Group, 1998.


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