The Buckinghams
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The Buckinghams were an American pop rock band which saw enormous radio popularity in 1967 (see 1967 in music), selling more records that year than any American artist except The Monkees.
In 1965 four high school musicians in Chicago, Illinois -- bassist Nick Fortuna, guitarist Carl Giammarese, drummer Jon Poulos, and singer/guitarist Dennis Tufano -- formed a band they called "The Centuries." They added keyboardist Dennis Miccolis, changed their name to "The Pulsations," and landed a job as the house band on a local (WGN-TV) television variety show. The show's producer suggested they adopt a more "contemporary" (i.e. British) name, and The Buckinghams were born.
In early 1966 the band signed their first record contract with local USA Records, and they released a number of singles that year which received airplay in Chicago. The Buckinghams finally gained national exposure with the breakout single "Kind of a Drag," written by the band's longtime songwriter, Jim Holvay, which spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1967. That single's success also led to a hastily-released album of the band's early recordings.
At about this time the group's contract with USA Records came to an end; and Miccolis was replaced on keyboards by Marty Grebb. The band members were also introduced to producer James William Guercio, who quickly got them a new contract with Columbia (CBS) Records. Although The Buckinghams had already been using a brass section on many of their earlier recordings, Guercio's brass-rock studio work helped to shape the group's signature sound, and the partnership produced four more Top 10 hits in 1967: "Don't You Care" (#6), "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" (#5), "Hey Baby (They're Playing Our Song)" (#10) and "Susan" (#8), also written by Jim Holvay.
The Buckinghams found themselves disagreeing with Guercio on both creative and financial issues, and they found another producer. (Guercio moved on to achieve great success as the producer for Chicago's first 11 albums, as well as Blood, Sweat & Tears' second album.) Although The Buckinghams released several more singles, they were unable to duplicate their 1967 success; and the band dissolved in early 1970.
Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna continue to make appearances as The Buckinghams as of 2005.
