American Spring (known as simply Spring before 1972) was an American

pop music Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom. The terms ''popular music'' and ''pop music'' are often used interchangeably, although the former descri ...

duo formed in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...

, California. It consisted of sisters

Marilyn Wilson Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford (née Rovell; born February 6, 1948) is an American singer who is best known as the first wife of the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson. Raised in Los Angeles, she started her singing career in the late 1950s, initially as part ...

and Diane Rovell, who had earlier been members of

girl group A girl group is a music act featuring several female singers who generally harmonize together. The term "girl group" is also used in a narrower sense in the United States to denote the wave of American female pop music singing groups, many of wh ...

the Honeys The Honeys (originally the Rovell Sisters) were an American girl group, formed in Los Angeles in 1958, that initially comprised sisters Marilyn, Diane, and Barbara Rovell. Barbara was later replaced by their cousin, Ginger Blake. After 1962, ...

. As with the Honeys,

Brian Wilson Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often Brian Wilson is a genius, called a genius for his novel approaches to pop music, pop composition, ex ...

(Marilyn's then-husband) played an integral role with American Spring, producing some of their recorded material.

Biography

Formation and early years

After Ginger Blake, cousin of Marilyn Wilson and Diane Rovell, left the Honeys to pursue a solo singing career in Las Vegas in 1970, the Honeys effectively dissolved as a group. In 1971, while in her sister's kitchen, Diane Rovell pushed the idea of continuing to create music with her sister Marilyn as a pop duo named "Spring". The band had their first official recording sessions at Brian Wilson's home studio in October 1971 and issued their first single " Now That Everything's Been Said" later that month. After releasing a second single, " Good Time" in May 1972, Spring released their first album, the self-titled ''

Spring Spring(s) may refer to: Common uses * Spring (season), a season of the year * Spring (device), a mechanical device that stores energy * Spring (hydrology), a natural source of water * Spring (mathematics), a geometric surface in the shape of a h ...

'' in July 1972. ''

'' did not sell well in its time, but has since become a sought-after collectible. In late 1972, the band found some legal trouble as the UK based band

were threatening legal action, arguing they owned the rights to the use of the band's name. In order to avoid conflict, a compromise was made where Diane Rovell and Marilyn Wilson altered their band name to American Spring. A third band named

was also releasing music in Canada at this time. After releasing a third single, "Shyin' Away" in 1973 the band went dormant.

Rebirth and later releases

In 1977, following Brian Wilson's resurgence as a producer, American Spring once again commenced recording at

Brother Studios Brother Studios (later renamed Crimson Sound) was the name of a recording studio located at 1454 5th St, Santa Monica, California established by brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, co-founders of the Beach Boys. History Brother Studios wa ...

, this time with

Rocky Pamplin Rushton "Rocky" Pamplin (born August 3, 1949) is an American former college football player and model who was employed as a bodyguard and caretaker for the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson from 1977 to 1979. He was also the Playgirl cover and centerfold ...

contributing to certain sessions. Though a substantial amount of material was recorded, personal matters which included the divorce of Marilyn and Brian caused Spring to once more become largely inactive. Some of these songs from both 1973 and 1977 have since come to find release though anthologies, rereleases and compilations. Tracks like "Snowflakes", "(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet", "Do Ya?", " Slip On Through", "Don't Be Cruel" and "Sweet Sunday Kind of Love" are among this material.

Rhino Records A rhinoceros (; ; ), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. (It can also refer to a member of any of the extinct species ...

issued an anthology of American Spring's music during 1988, and a 1992

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 not ...

Honeys collection included several previously-unissued American Spring songs. The Honeys also re-formed during the 1990s, to perform locally around

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywoo ...

Band members

* Diane Rovell – lead, harmony and backing vocals *

– lead, harmony and backing vocals

Discography

Studio albums

* ''

'' (July 1972)

Compilation albums

*''Spring'' (1988) (US) (Rhino) *''Spring...Plus'' (1989) (UK) (See For Miles) *'' Pet Projects: The Brian Wilson Productions'' (2003) ( Ace)

Singles

* " Now That Everything's Been Said" / "Awake" (October 1971) * " Good Time" / "Sweet Mountain" (May 1972) * "Shyin' Away" / " Fallin' in Love" (April 1973)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:American Spring American pop music groups Musical groups established in 1971 American girl groups Sibling musical duos Musical groups from Los Angeles