The Beau-Marks
The Beau-Marks were a Canadian rock music group formed in 1958 in Montreal, Quebec. Their first release, the April 1959 single "Rockin' Blues" b/w "Moonlight Party", came out under the name The Del-Tones, but the group changed their name soon afterward in a nod to the Bomarc missile. Their breakthrough hit was "Clap Your Hands," which hit #1 in Canada and Australia,[1] peaked at #45 on the US Billboard pop charts,[2] and #40 on Cashbox.[3] The tune was also released in French as "Frappe Tes Mains" and a Quebec version as "Tape des mains", lyrics by late Michel A. Lebel, as one of Rock n' Roll Queen Lucie Marotte's finale favorites. Their debut, ten-track full-length LP came out in 1960. They also appeared on American Bandstand and at a charity concert at Carnegie Hall soon afterwards. Two more albums followed before the group broke up in 1963; a 1968 reunion saw "Clap Your Hands" get a re-release which reached #74 on the RPM charts.[4]
The Beau-Marks were the first Canadian band to be headliners at the Peppermint Lounge in New York City and to be invited to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Members
[edit]- Raymond "Ray" Hutchinson - guitar (Died early November, 2021 at age 81)
- Michel "Mike" Robitaille - guitar and bass
- Joseph "Joey" Fréchette - piano and vocals
- Gilles Tailleur - drums
- Phillip "Shakin" Baker - lead guitar and vocals (alt/back-up)
Discography
[edit]- The High Flying Beau-Marks (1960)
- The Beau-Marks in Person! Recorded on Location at Le Coq D'Or (1961)
- The Beau-Marks (1962)
- Lucie Marotte (1990) - Tape des mains
CHUM Chart singles
[edit]- Clap Your Hands (1960) #33[5]
- Billy, Billy Went A Walking (1960) #39[6]
- Classmate (1961) #4[7]
- Little Miss Twist / Lovely Little Lady (1961) #17[8]
- The Tender Years (1962) #18[9]
- Clap Your Hands Once Again (1962) <ref>mentioned and played on one episode of Roger Ashby Oldies Show
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Biography at Allmusic.com
- ^ Billboard Singles, Allmusic.com. The original Billboard Hot 100 shows "Clap Your Hands" peaking at #45 on 11 July 1960.
- ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles". Archived from the original on November 2, 2010. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - July 20, 1968" (PDF).
- ^ "CHUM Hit Parade - March 21, 1960".
- ^ "CHUM Hit Parade - November 21, 1960".
- ^ "CHUM Hit Parade - July 10, 1961".
- ^ "CHUM Hit Parade - January 22, 1962".
- ^ "CHUM Hit Parade - July 16, 1962".