The Skyliners are an American
doo-wop
Doo-wop (also spelled doowop and doo wop) is a genre of rhythm and blues music that originated in African-American communities during the 1940s, mainly in the large cities of the United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chica ...
group from
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...
. The original lineup was: Jimmy Beaumont (lead), Janet Vogel (soprano), Wally Lester (tenor), Jackie Taylor (bass voice, guitarist), Joe Verscharen (baritone). The Skyliners were best known for their 1959
hit
Hit means to strike someone or something.
Hit or HIT may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities
* Hit, a fictional character from '' Dragon Ball Super''
* Homicide International Trust, or HIT, a fictional organization ...
, "
Since I Don't Have You
"Since I Don't Have You" is a song written and composed by Jackie Taylor, James Beaumont, Janet Vogel, Joseph Rock, Joe Verscharen, Lennie Martin, and Wally Lester. It was first a 1958 hit single for the doo-wop group the Skyliners on the ''Bil ...
".
History
The Skyliners 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 re-united eleven years later (without Jackie Taylor), for what would become their last charted record, "Where Have They Gone?"
In 1965, Jimmy Beaumont recorded two notable singles for the Bang label: the first record, "Tell Me"/"I Feel Like I'm Falling in Love", had medium-tempo soul-styled tracks.
For his second Bang 45, "I Never Loved Her Anyway"/"You Got Too Much Going for You", Beaumont transformed into an impressive soul singer, sounding nothing like his previous, more pop-styled efforts. It led some to question in later years, if it actually was his singing. These two tracks are now considered
Northern Soul collectibles. The single was also issued on UK London HLZ 10059 in 1966.
Jackie Taylor was drafted into the U.S. Army about 1965.
In 1975 Wally Lester and Joe Versharen left the group; they were replaced by new members,
Jimmie Ross
Jimmie Ross is an American rock guitarist and vocalist who is best known for being a member of Pittsburgh band the Jaggerz, known for their 1970 hit " The Rapper". During the band's initial existence of 1965-1976, the bassist shared the duties o ...
and Bob Sholes.
In 1978, the Detroit based record producer
Don Davis — who produced Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., Johnny Taylor, the Dramatics, and the Dells — picked up one of his favorite groups (the Skyliners) to record in his United Sound Studios. They recorded the group's "comeback" album for the RCA subsidiary, Tortoise International Records. The songs "Oh, How Happy" and "The Love Bug" were included, as was a hefty re-make of
Dan Schafer's original RCA Victor single, "A Day Without You, Dear".
Janet Vogel committed suicide in 1980; Cathy Cooper joined the group as a replacement.
She and Ross left two years later to form a duo;
they were replaced by Rick Morris
and Donna Groom.
Morris retired in 1993.
Beaumont invited David Proch to join the group and he accepted. Also performing with the group at this time was Tom Sholes, brother of Bob Sholes. The two were local to the group; they attended St George High School in the Allentown neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The group became Beaumont, Groom, Proch, and Nick Pociask.
David Proch (at age 44) the third person to sing tenor for the Skyliners, died on October 19, 1998, in a car accident. His car collided with a truck hauling asphalt on U.S. Route 30 near
Ligonier, Pennsylvania
Ligonier is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,513 at the 2020 census. Ligonier was settled in the 1760s. The borough is well known for nearby Idlewild Park, one of the oldest amusement parks in t ...
. Proch's place was taken by Dick Muse, a former member of the Laurels. Rick Morris replaced Muse in 2011.
Frank Czuri Frank Czuri (born September 8, 1948) is an American vocalist (tenor), entertainer, songwriter and recording artist who has been performing professionally since the age of 14. He works in all genres, and is best known as the lead singer for two popul ...
replaced Morris in 2013. In January 2019 Jim Gregorakis replaced Nick Pociask. Eric Bruce replaced Frank Czuri in September 2019.
Their longtime manager and producer Joe Rock, who also co-wrote "Since I Don't Have You", died on April 4, 2000, at age 63, after complications from quadruple bypass heart surgery.
Four of the original members have died:
Janet Vogel (born June 10, 1942 in Pittsburgh) committed suicide on February 21, 1980, aged 37
Joe Verscharen (born August 30, 1940 in Pittsburgh) died of cancer on November 2, 2007, aged 67
Wally Lester (born Walter Paul Lester, Jr. on October 5, 1941 in Pittsburgh) died of pancreatic cancer in Southport, North Carolina on April 21, 2015, aged 73
Jimmy Beaumont (born James Beaumont on October 21, 1940 in Pittsburgh) died in
McKeesport, Pennsylvania
McKeesport is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is situated at the confluence of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers and within the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The population was 17,727 as of the 2020 census. It ...
on October 7, 2017, aged 76.
Until his death, Jimmy Beaumont performed with the Skyliners in their current line-up of Nick Pociask,
Frank Czuri Frank Czuri (born September 8, 1948) is an American vocalist (tenor), entertainer, songwriter and recording artist who has been performing professionally since the age of 14. He works in all genres, and is best known as the lead singer for two popul ...
, John Sarkis, and Donna Groom (whose husband, Mark Groom, has been the group's drummer/conductor for more than 25 years).
Discography
Albums
*''The Skyliners''— Calico CLP-3000 (Mono only) (1959)
*''Since I Don't Have You'' —
Original Sound
Original Sound is a Los Angeles, California-based record label. It was founded in the early 1950s by KTNQ, KPOP deejay Art Laboe. It began as a small label that specialized in compiling and re-releasing "oldies" R&B and rock 'n' roll songs.
Histor ...
OSR-LPM 5010 (Mono)/OSR-LPS-8873 (Stereo) (1963)
*''Once Upon a Time'' —
Kama Sutra
The ''Kama Sutra'' (; sa, कामसूत्र, , ; ) is an ancient Indian Sanskrit text on sexuality, eroticism and emotional fulfillment in life. Attributed to Vātsyāyana, the ''Kama Sutra'' is neither exclusively nor predominantly ...
KSBS-2026 (1971)
*''The Skyliners'' — Tortoise International BXL1-2749 (1978)
Singles
Jimmy Beaumont solo singles
*"The End of a Story" / "Baion Rhythms"—Colpix 607–1961
*"Ev'rybody's Cryin'" (Billboard #100) / "Camera"—May 112–1961
*"I Shoulda Listened to Mama" / "Juarez"—May 115–1962
*"I'm Gonna Try My Wings" / "Never Say Goodbye"—May 120–1962
*"Give Her My Best" / "I'll Always Be in Love with You"—May 136–1963
*"There's No Other Love" / "Please Send Me Someone to Love"—Gallant 3007–1964
*"Love Is a Dangerous Game" / "Just A Little Closer"—Gallant 3012–1964
*"I Feel Like I'm Falling in Love" (Billboard #123) / "Tell Me"—Bang 510–1965
*"You Got Too Much Going for You" / "I Never Loved Her Anyway"—Bang 525–1966
Janet Vogel solo single as Janet Deane
*"Another Night Alone" / "I'm Glad I Waited"—Gateway 719–1963
Awards and recognition
The Skyliners were inducted into The
Vocal Group Hall of Fame
The Vocal Group Hall of Fame (VGHF) is an American-based hall of fame that honors vocal groups throughout the world in every genre of music. Headquartered in the Columbia Theatre in Sharon, Pennsylvania, it includes a theater and a museum.
It was ...
in 2002.
On August 11, 2019, a section of road in McKeesport PA's Renziehausen Park, Tulip Drive, was renamed Jimmy Beaumont Blvd. With Beaumont's family present, the dedication ceremony took place at the park's Lions Bandshell and was followed by a concert with the current Skyliners.
References
Bibliography
*
Joel Whitburn
Joel Carver Whitburn (November 29, 1939 – June 14, 2022) was an American author and music historian, responsible for setting up the Record Research, Inc. series of books on record chart placings.
Early life
Joel Carver Whitburn was born in Wau ...
, ''The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits''. 7th edn, 2000,
External links
Official WebsiteCurrent Booking WebsitePittsburgh Music History Skyliners ProfilePittsburgh Music History Janet Vogel ProfileTortoise International Records
{{DEFAULTSORT:Skyliners, The
Doo-wop groups
Musical groups from Pittsburgh
Colpix Records artists
Jubilee Records artists
Kama Sutra Records artists
Original Sound artists