The group, originally named the Val-Aires, formed in 1958 at Turtle Creek High School.[1] They signed with Pittsburgh manager Elmer Willet, who produced their first recording release "Which One Will It Be/Launie My Love". DJ Porky Chedwick became a supporter booking the group for his rock and roll shows and record hops. Chedwick put them on bills with the Drifters, the Platters, and the Dells. Clark Race of KDKA radio promoted the group on his KDKA-TV dance show. Having strong regional sales, the single was picked up for national distribution by Coral Records.
After high school, members of the group variously joined the Army or went to college. After their enlistments and college degrees were completed, they decided to record again. Each member paid $100 towards the fee to record a demo tape. They hired Nick Cenci, who had helped bring Lou Christie mainstream success, to produce the recording. In 1965, Cenci produced recording sessions for the Val-Aires at Gateway Studios in Pittsburgh, including vocals for a cover of the Petula Clark song "You're the One",[1] which was released on the band's own Blue Star label. Cenci then persuaded John Rook, program director of KQV, to play the single. With local airplay and sales Cenci signed them to the Co & Ce label as the "Vogues" and secured national distribution.[1] The song soon became a national hit reaching number four on the BillboardHot 100. Later in 1965, Cenci produced another Vogues recording session, which resulted in the No. 4 Billboard hit, "Five O'Clock World".[1]
In 1971, the Vogues signed a recording contract with Bell Records and recorded three singles ("Love Song", "Take Time to Tell Her", and "American Family"). In 1972, the group released one single on Mainstream Records ("Need You" b/w "Greatest Show on Earth"). By 1973, Geyer had left the group. Now recording for 20th Century Records, the group released three singles ("My Prayer", "Wonderful Summer", and "Prisoner of Love"), which were commercially unsuccessful and represented the last singles released by The Vogues.
Miller left the group in 1974 and was replaced by a succession of other vocalists. By the 1980s, the group had stopped touring and were concentrating on Western Pennsylvania venues. Burkette left the group in 1983, leaving Chuck Blasko as the only original member of The Vogues. Vocalist Gary Racan joined Chuck Blasko & The Vogues and performed with them for 16 years, departing to start his own band. In 2022 Racan filled in several shows with the Troy Elich led Vogues. During one show Racan was reunited with Bo Wagner, his former bandmate from Chuck Blasko's Vogues.
At some point during the late 1970s or early 1980s, the group's manager trademarked the name and assets of the Vogues. He later sold the trademark to Bengar Inc (Pete Garofalo), who starting booking other quartets as the Vogues. Pete Garofalo was a baritone who was with The Vogues from 1973 through the early 1990s. While owner of the trademark, he performed with them as well as having a group touring on the road. Pete Garofalo died in 1997, which led to the sale of the trademark. The trademark was sold several times, resulting in a variety of unrelated groups of singers claiming to be the Vogues. In 2000, the trademark was purchased by vocalist and Pittsburgh area native Stan Elich. During these years Blasko continued to perform as the Vogues, clashed with the "trademark" group, and eventually testified in front of Congress on the Truth in Music Act. A lawsuit filed by Blasko ended with the Pennsylvania court permitting Blasko's Vogues to perform in 14 Western Pennsylvania counties and the "trademark" group to perform everywhere else in the world as The Vogues.
From 2004 until 2006, Geyer joined Blasko's Vogues in the 14 Western Pennsylvania counties that Blasko's group was permitted to tour in. After creative differences with Blasko, Geyer left Blasko's group at the end of 2006. In March 2007, Geyer joined the nationally touring "trademark" group of The Vogues of trademark owner Elich. Geyer continued to perform with this group until his retirement in December 2012. Upon his retirement he was replaced by Royce Taylor, who had previously been a member of The Vogues from 1983 to 1997. In May 2008, original lead vocalist Bill Burkette also joined Geyer in touring the US with the "trademark" Vogues. The members of this group included Burkette, Geyer, Elich, Elich's son Troy, and Jim Campagna. Stan Elich died in December 2010. Troy Elich now owns the trademark "The Vogues".
In 2010, the Stan Elich-owned Vogues released a live album, The Vogues Sings the Hits Live, on the Desert Trax Music label. This marked the first time in 38 years that Burkette and Geyer recorded together.
After Bill Burkette's death in March, 2018, he was replaced by Bo Wagner, who had been filling in during Burkette's illness. Wagner had been a member of Blasko's Vogues from 1983 to 1997. Wagner left the Vogues in 2023 due to health issues. He still remains active in the greater Pittsburgh area doing his Sinatra Tribute Show. Tennessee native Elliott McCoy replaced Wagner in 2023. McCoy previously had been the owner and vocalist of the gospel group Three Bridges.
The Vogues' lineup as of March, 2024 are Troy Elich, Royce Taylor, and Elliott McCoy.[5]
In 2020 it was announced that The Vogues would for the first time be a part of The Turtles "Happy Together Tour". But due to the COVID-19 pandemic most of the tour was cancelled. The Vogues were again scheduled to be in the tour in 2021, but like 2020, many dates were cancelled due to COVID-19. When 2022 rolled around The Vogues were ready to go head on in the Happy Together Tour. Bo Wagner made the decision to sit out the rigorous tour. He was replaced on tour by Shawn Stevens, who at one time had performed as a member of The Diamonds. The Vogues were once again a part of the Happy Together Tour in 2023, with Shawn Stevens filling in again for Bo Wagner. In the fall of 2023 it was announced that Shawn Stevens had joined The Duprees as a fulltime member.
The Vogues will again be a part of the Happy Together tour in 2024, with the current line up of Elich, Taylor and McCoy.
Also in 2022, The Vogues released the album "Still Tickin'", featuring all new recordings of the top ten favorite hits.
George Washington Benson is an American jazz fusion guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist.
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"You're the One" is a song by Petula Clark with lyrics by Tony Hatch, recorded in 1965. It was later also included on the 1965 album I Know a Place. "You're the One" was a Top 30 hit on the UK Singles Chart for Clark, but was more successful as a top ten US single release by The Vogues.
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