Donna Groom Eric Bruce John Sarkis Mark Groom (drummer) Jim Gregorakis
Past members
Jimmy Beaumont Wally Lester Jackie Taylor Joe Verscharen Janet Vogel Paul Conners Nick Pociask
The Skyliners are an American doo-wop group from Pittsburgh. The original lineup was: Jimmy Beaumont (lead), Janet Vogel (soprano), Wally Lester (tenor), Jackie Taylor (bass voice, guitarist), Joe Verscharen (baritone).[1][2] The Skyliners were best known for their 1959 hit, "Since I Don't Have You".
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, "You Got Too Much Going for You"/"I Never Loved Her Anyway", 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.[citation needed] 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.[3] In 1975 Wally Lester and Joe Versharen left the group; they were replaced by new members, Jimmie Ross and Bob Sholes.[4][5]
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.[6] 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".[7]
Janet Vogel committed suicide in 1980; Cathy Cooper joined the group as a replacement.[4] She and Ross left two years later to form a duo;[4] they were replaced by Rick Morris[8] and Donna Groom.[3]
Morris retired in 1993.[8] 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.[9]
David Proch (at age 44) the third person to sing tenor for the Skyliners, died on October 19, 1998, in a car accident.[10] His car collided with a truck hauling asphalt on U.S. Route 30 near Ligonier, Pennsylvania. Proch's place was taken by Dick Muse, a former member of the Laurels.[11] Rick Morris replaced Muse in 2011.[8]Frank Czuri replaced Morris in 2013.[12] 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.[13]
Four of the original members have died:
Janet Vogel (born June 10, 1942, in Pittsburgh) died by suicide on February 21, 1980, aged 37[14]
Joe Verscharen (born August 30, 1940, in Pittsburgh) died of cancer on November 2, 2007, aged 67[15]
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[16][17]
Jimmy Beaumont (born James Beaumont on October 21, 1940, in Pittsburgh) died in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, on October 7, 2017, aged 76.[18][19]
Until his death, Jimmy Beaumont performed with the Skyliners in their line-up of Nick Pociask, Frank Czuri, 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 OSR-LPM 5010 (Mono)/OSR-LPS-8873 (Stereo) (1963)
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.
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References
↑ Whitburn, Joel (2000). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1999. Menomonee Falls, Wisc.: Record Research. ISBN089820139-X.
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