Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show (shortened to Dr. Hook in 1975) is an American

rock band A rock band or pop band is a small musical ensemble that performs rock music, pop music, or a related genre. A four-piece band is the most common configuration in rock and pop music. In the early years, the configuration was typically two guita ...

, formed in Union City, New Jersey. The band had commercial success in the 1970s with

hit single A hit song, also known as a hit record, hit single or simply a hit, is a recorded song or instrumental that becomes broadly popular or well-known. Although ''hit song'' means any widely played or big-selling song, the specific term ''hit record' ...

s "

Sylvia's Mother "Sylvia's Mother" is a 1972 single by Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show and the group's first hit song. It was written by Shel Silverstein, produced by Ron Haffkine and was highly successful in the United States, reaching #5 on the ''Billboard'' singl ...

", " The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'" (both 1972), " Only Sixteen" (1975), "

A Little Bit More "A Little Bit More" is a song written and performed by Bobby Gosh, released on his 1973 album ''Sitting in the Quiet''. The first hit version was recorded by the band Dr. Hook; their version was released as a single in 1976. It charted at numbe ...

" (1976), "

Sharing the Night Together "Sharing the Night Together" is a popular song written by Ava Aldridge and Eddie Struzick. Originally recorded by Lenny LeBlanc and then Arthur Alexander in 1976, the song was later a single produced by Ron Haffkine and performed by rock band ...

" (1978), "

When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman" is an internationally successful single by Dr. Hook. It was recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, Alabama. Written by Even Stevens, who followed producer Ron Haffkine into the studio bathroom to pitch ...

" (1979), "

Better Love Next Time "Better Love Next Time" is a song by Dr. Hook, released as a single in the fall of 1979. It was the first of three singles from their LP ''Sometimes You Win''. Background The lyrics involve the singer comforting and encouraging a grieving and d ...

" (1979), and " Sexy Eyes" (1980). In addition to its own material, Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show performed songs written by the poet Shel Silverstein. The band had eight years of hits in the United States. Its music, spanning novelty songs, acoustic

ballads A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or ''ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...

soft rock Soft rock is a form of rock music that originated in the late 1960s in Southern California and the United Kingdom which smoothed over the edges of singer-songwriter and pop rock, relying on simple, melodic songs with big, lush productions. S ...

, was played on Top 40,

easy listening Easy listening (including mood music) is a popular music genre and radio format that was most popular during the 1950s to 1970s. It is related to middle-of-the-road (MOR) music and encompasses instrumental recordings of standards, hit songs, n ...

, and

country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...

outlets throughout the

English-speaking world Speakers of English are also known as Anglophones, and the countries where English is natively spoken by the majority of the population are termed the '' Anglosphere''. Over two billion people speak English , making English the largest languag ...

. After 1975, the band recorded under the name Dr. Hook.

History

Founding of the band

The founding core of the band consisted of

George Cummings George Cummings (July 28, 1938 in Meridian, Mississippi) is a guitarist and songwriter based in Bayonne, New Jersey and in recent years, Nashville, Tennessee. The Chocolate Papers Darryl Vincent and the Flares was formed in Meridian, Mississip ...

Ray Sawyer Ray Sawyer (February 1, 1937 – December 31, 2018) was an American percussionist and vocalist with the 1970s rock band Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show. Though primarily a backing vocalist and occasional percussionist on congas or maracas, he sang ...

, and Billy Francis, who had worked together in a band called the Chocolate Papers. Cummings, Sawyer and Francis started a new band and included primary vocalist

Dennis Locorriere Dennis Michael Locorriere (born June 13, 1949; Union City, New Jersey, United States) is the American lead vocalist and guitarist of the country rock group Dr. Hook (formerly Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show).Bonitto, Brian (2014)Hooking up with D ...

, who initially joined as a bass player. The new band was named Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show: Tonic for the Soul. The name was inspired by Sawyer's

eyepatch An eyepatch is a small patch that is worn in front of one eye. It may be a cloth patch attached around the head by an elastic band or by a string, an adhesive bandage, or a plastic device which is clipped to a pair of glasses. It is often worn ...

and a reference to Captain Hook of the Peter Pan fairy tale. Sawyer lost his right eye in a near-fatal car crash in Oregon in 1967, and thereafter wore an eyepatch.

Career: 1968-1971

The band played in New Jersey, first with drummer Popeye Phillips, who had also been in the Chocolate Papers, and later with a session drummer who had played with the Flying Burrito Brothers. Phillips left the band and was replaced by drummer Joseph Olivier. When the band began recording its first album, Olivier was replaced by session player Jay David, who became a band member in 1968. In 1970, the band's

demo tape A demo (shortened from "demonstration") is a song or group of songs typically recorded for limited circulation or for reference use, rather than for general public release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas in a fixed for ...

s were heard by Ron Haffkine, musical director on ''

Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? ''Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?'' is a 1971 American comedy-drama film directed by Ulu Grosbard and starring Dustin Hoffman.Canby, Vincent (June 16, 1971)"Film: 'Who Is Harry Kellerman ... ?' at the Su ...

''. Haffkine asked the band to record two songs for the film, including "The Last Morning" and "Bunky and Lucille", which the band can be seen performing in the film. The film helped Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show secure their first

recording contract A recording contract (commonly called a record contract or record deal) is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist (or group), where the artist makes a record (or series of records) for the label to sell and promote. Artists ...

. The group met with

Clive Davis Clive Jay Davis (born April 4, 1932) is an American record producer, A&R executive, record executive, and lawyer. He has won five Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer, in 2000. From 1967 to 1 ...

of CBS Records. In the meeting, David used a wastebasket to keep the beat, and Francis danced on the mogul's desk while Sawyer, Locorriere, and Cummings played and sang. With the CBS Records deal, the band experienced international success over the next 12 years with Haffkine as the group's manager and producer.

Career: 1972

Haffkine, having a knack for picking songs, quickly became Dr. Hook's No. 1 A&R man, as well as their producer and manager. Silverstein wrote all the songs for their self-titled debut album, released in 1972. ''Doctor Hook'' featured lead vocals, guitar, bass and harmonica by Locorriere, guitarist Cummings, and singer Sawyer, plus drummer David and keyboard player Billy Francis. The album sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the

RIAA The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

on August 2, 1972. It has been released 20 times in the US, Canada and Europe. The single "

", a subtle parody of teen-heartbreak weepers, flopped on first release, but with some more promotional muscle became the band's first million-seller, and hit the top five in the summer of 1972. Other titles on the album included " Marie Lavaux", "Sing Me a Rainbow", "Hey Lady Godiva", "Four Years Older Than Me", "Kiss It Away", "Makin' It Natural", "I Call That True Love", "When She Cries", "Judy", and "Mama, I'll Sing One Song for You". Silverstein continued to write songs for Dr. Hook, including their entire second album, ''

Sloppy Seconds Sloppy Seconds is an American, Ramones-influenced punk band sometimes referred to as a ''junk rock band'' from Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, that started in 1984. They gained notoriety in the underground punk scene with gritty and con ...

'', released in the US, Australia, Europe and Canada. It featured some of their most popular songs, including "Freakin' at the Freaker's Ball" and "The Cover of Rolling Stone". Other titles on the album were "If I'd Only Come and Gone", "The Things I Didn't Say", "Carry Me Carrie", "Get My Rocks Off", "Last Mornin'", "I Can't Touch the Sun", "Queen of the Silver Dollar", "Turn On the World", and "Stayin' Song". The album was listed in the Billboard 200 in 1973. The band's second single, " The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'" (1972) from ''Sloppy Seconds'', was another million-selling disc, poking fun at the idea that a musician had "made it" if they had been pictured on the cover of ''Rolling Stone'' magazine. In 1972, the band added a full-time bassist, Jance Garfat, and another guitarist, Rik Elswit. Haffkine visited

Jann Wenner Jann Simon Wenner ( ; born January 7, 1946) is an American magazine magnate who is a co-founder of the popular culture magazine ''Rolling Stone'', and former owner of '' Men's Journal'' magazine. He participated in the Free Speech Movement while ...

, one of the founders of ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...

'', proclaiming "I’ve just given you guys the best commercial for this rag that you’ll ever get." Wenner then sent Cameron Crowe (who later wrote and directed '' Almost Famous'' about his time as a music journalist), then 16 years old, to interview the band for issue 131 (March 1973). Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show appeared on the cover, albeit in caricature rather than in a photograph. In the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

, the BBC Radio network refused to play "The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'", because it considered doing so would be advertising a trademark name. CBS Records responded by setting up a phone line that would play the song to anyone willing to dial in, which helped build the buzz. The BBC found itself able to play the song only after some of its DJs edited themselves shouting the words "

Radio Times ''Radio Times'' (currently styled as ''RadioTimes'') is a British weekly listings magazine devoted to television and radio programme schedules, with other features such as interviews, film reviews and lifestyle items. Founded in May 1923 by J ...

" (a BBC-owned magazine) over "Rolling Stone".

Career: 1973-1974

In 1973, all was not well for Haffkine and Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show. The group had a difficult time meeting the high expectations created by ''Sloppy Seconds'', and the result was ''Belly Up!'', which Huey noted "was unfortunately prophetic". ''Belly Up!'' included "Acapulco Goldie", "Penicillin Penny", "Life Ain't Easy", "When Lily Was Queen", "Monterey Jack", "You Ain't Got the Right", "Put a Little Bit On Me", "Ballad of Lucy Jordan", "Roland the Roadie Gertrude the Groupie", "Come On In", and "The Wonderful Soup Stone". The album was sold in the US, UK, Europe, and Canada. Dr. Hook was just as famed for their crazed stage antics, which ranged from surreal banter to impersonating their own opening acts, but the group's nonchalance about business matters led to bankruptcy. "If we were in the black when we finished a tour, we'd party into the red," says Locorriere. They were forced to file bankruptcy in 1974, although they continued to tour incessantly. The Medicine Show's lineup changed a few more times over the years. When David left the group in 1973, he was replaced by John Wolters. The next to depart was founding band member Cummings, who left in 1975 due to personal and musical differences. The band did not replace him. When Elswit was diagnosed with

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

a couple of years later, the band added Bob "Willard" Henke (formerly of

Goose Creek Symphony The Goose Creek Symphony is an American rock band with roots in Arizona and Kentucky. They were formed in 1968 in Phoenix, Arizona as an outlet for the songs of Charlie Gearheart, aka Ritchie Hart, and were best known for their 1972 cover of Jan ...

). Elswit recovered and returned to the lineup, but they kept Henke on as well for a while. In 1974 Dr. Hook recorded an album that was to be titled ''Fried Face''; it was not released.

Career: 1975-1985

The band shortened its name to Dr. Hook in 1975. They signed with

Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of note ...

in 1975, releasing the aptly titled ''Bankrupt''. Unlike previous projects, this album included original material written by the group. The hit from the project was a reworked version of Sam Cooke's "Only Sixteen" (US number 6), revitalizing their career and charted in the top ten in 1976. Haffkine discovered a song titled "

" written and originally performed by Bobby Gosh and released on his 1973 album ''Sitting in the Quiet'', on a record he purchased for 35 cents at a flea market in San Francisco. The band covered and released the song, which reached number 11 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and spent two weeks at number nine on the ''Cash Box'' Top 100. It also reached number two on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

, matching "Sylvia's Mother". Follow-ups to "A Little Bit More" included "

" (US number 6), "

" (US number 6), "Better Love Next Time", and "Sexy Eyes" (US number 5), which featured prominent female backup singers. Save for "A Little Bit More" (US number 11), all the singles mentioned above were certified million-sellers. "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman" reached number 1 for several weeks in 1979 in the UK and the group had another UK hit single with "

" (number 12). Though the band toured constantly, they had not yet managed to turn their success with singles into album sales. ''A Little Bit More'' was certified double gold in Australia in November 1976. ''Pleasure & Pain'' (1978) was Dr. Hook's first gold album in the US. According to Steve Huey, of

All Music Guide AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

, it solidified their reputation as "disco-tinged balladeers". But Sawyer was increasingly upset at the commercial direction the group's sound was taking. The band had changed labels again, to Casablanca Records in 1980, but could not replicate earlier successes. In late 1980, Dr. Hook released "Girls Can Get It" (US number 34) and had their final top 40 hit (which peaked in the US at number 25) with "Baby Makes Her Blue-Jeans Talk" in 1982. Ray Sawyer left in 1983 to pursue a solo career, while the band continued to tour successfully for another couple of years, ending with Dr. Hook's One and Only Farewell Tour in 1985, with Locorriere as the sole frontman.

After Dr. Hook: 1985 to present

After Dr. Hook split up,

retained ownership of the name of the band. However, from 1988 to 2015, Sawyer was granted a license to tour separately as "Ray Sawyer of Dr. Hook" or "Dr. Hook featuring Ray Sawyer" (joined for a time in 2001 by Billy Francis); Sawyer did not perform publicly after his last tour ended in October 2015 and died on December 31, 2018, at the age of 81. Billy Francis joined Sawyer in 2001 during his Dr. Hook concerts. He died on May 23, 2010, at age 68. In the years after the original band split, Dennis Locorriere has released several solo albums and toured under the names ''Voice of Dr. Hook'' and ''Dennis Locorriere Celebrates Dr. Hook Hits and History Tour''. Now fronting the band ''Dr Hook starring Dennis Locorriere'', he started the ''Dr Hook 50th Anniversary World Tour'' in 2019, but this was postponed due to Locorriere undergoing a prostate procedure resulting in

kidney The kidneys are two reddish-brown bean-shaped organs found in vertebrates. They are located on the left and right in the retroperitoneal space, and in adult humans are about in length. They receive blood from the paired renal arteries; blood ...

issues. The band resumed their 50th Anniversary Tour on September 3, 2021, with a show at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall and with shows scheduled for Scandinavia, the UK, and Ireland in 2022. Currently Locorriere's version of Dr Hook is made up of John Maher, Michelle Cordelli, Damien Cooper, Tim Bye,

Jon Poole Jonathan Charles Poole (born 16 October 1969), also known by his stage name Random Jon Poole, is an English multi-instrumentalist singer and songwriter. He is best known for his work as guitarist for Cardiacs and as bass player for the Wildhea ...

, and Ryan Farmery. Former guitarist and keyboardist Bob 'Willard' Henke died on February 2, 2023, at the age of 71.

Members

- vocals, guitar, bass, harmonica (1968–1985, 2019–present) *

- vocals, guitar, percussion, congas, maracas (1967–1983, 1988–2015, died 2018) *Billy Francis - keyboards, vocals (1968–1985, 2001–2010; died 2010) *

- lead and steel guitars, vocals (1968–1975) *John "Jay" David - drums (1968–1973) *Rik Elswit - guitar (1972–1985) *Jance Garfat - bass (1972–1985; died 2006) *John Wolters - drums (1973–1982, 1983–1985; died 1997) *Bob 'Willard' Henke - guitar, keyboards (1976–1980; died 2023) *Rod Smarr - guitar (1980–1985; died 2012) *Walter Hartman - drums (1982–1983) *Leonard Wolfe - keyboards (1983–1985) *Joseph Olivier - drums (1968)

Timeline

ImageSize = width:1050 height:300 PlotArea = left:115 bottom:70 top:05 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1968 till:01/01/1986 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Colors = id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:guitar value:teal legend:Lead_guitar id:guitar2 value:green legend:Rhythm_guitar id:steel value:drabgreen legend:Steel_guitar id:keyboards value:purple legend:Keyboards id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:perc value:claret legend:Percussion id:lines1 value:black legend:Studio_Albums Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:1 ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:1968 BarData = bar:Dennis text:Dennis Locorriere bar:George text:George Cummings bar:Rik text:Rik Elswit bar:Bob text:Bob Henke bar:Rod text:Rod Smarr bar:Jance text:Jance Garfat bar:Billy text:Billy Francis bar:Leonard text:Leonard Wolfe bar:Joseph text:Joseph Olivier bar:Jay text:Jay David bar:John text:John Wolters bar:Walter text:Walter Hartman bar:Ray text:Ray Sawyer PlotData= width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:Dennis from:01/01/1968 till:end color:vocals width:3 bar:Dennis from:01/01/1968 till:01/01/1972 color:bass bar:Dennis from:01/01/1968 till:01/01/1972 color:guitar2 width:7 bar:Dennis from:01/01/1972 till:end color:guitar bar:Ray from:01/01/1968 till:01/01/1983 color:vocals width:3 bar:Ray from:01/01/1968 till:01/01/1983 color:perc bar:Ray from:01/01/1968 till:01/01/1983 color:guitar2 width:7 bar:Billy from:01/01/1968 till:end color:keyboards bar:Leonard from:01/01/1983 till:end color:keyboards bar:George from:01/01/1968 till:01/01/1972 color:guitar bar:George from:01/01/1968 till:01/01/1972 color:steel width:3 bar:George from:01/01/1972 till:01/01/1975 color:steel bar:George from:01/01/1972 till:01/01/1975 color:guitar width:3 bar:Jay from:01/06/1968 till:01/01/1973 color:drums bar:John from:01/01/1973 till:01/01/1982 color:drums bar:John from:01/01/1983 till:end color:drums bar:John from:01/01/1983 till:end color:perc width:3 bar:Jance from:01/01/1972 till:end color:bass bar:Rik from:01/01/1972 till:end color:guitar2 bar:Joseph from:01/01/1968 till:01/06/1968 color:drums bar:Walter from:01/01/1982 till:01/01/1983 color:drums bar:Bob from:01/01/1976 till:01/01/1980 color:guitar2 bar:Bob from:01/01/1976 till:01/01/1980 color:keyboards width:3 bar:Rod from:01/01/1980 till:end color:guitar2 LineData= at:01/01/1971 color:lines1 layer:back at:01/03/1972 color:lines1 layer:back at:01/01/1973 color:lines1 layer:back at:01/01/1975 color:lines1 layer:back at:01/01/1976 color:lines1 layer:back at:01/01/1977 color:lines1 layer:back at:06/10/1978 color:lines1 layer:back at:05/10/1979 color:lines1 layer:back at:01/06/1980 color:lines1 layer:back at:01/01/1982 color:lines1 layer:back at:01/01/1983 color:lines1 layer:back

Discography

Studio and live albums

(for the 1975 ''Bankrupt'' and 1980 ''Rising'' albums the band name was shortened to ''Dr. Hook'')

Compilation albums

Singles

;Notes

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Doctor Hook and the Medicine Show 1968 establishments in New Jersey 1985 disestablishments in New Jersey American country rock groups American soft rock music groups Capitol Records artists Musical groups established in 1968 Musical groups disestablished in 1985