The Vogues

The Vogues are an American vocal group from Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. The original group consisted of Bill Burkette (lead baritone), Don Miller (baritone), Hugh Geyer (first tenor) and Chuck Blasko (second tenor).^[1]

Career

Originally, the group was called The Val-Airs.^[1] Their high school principal helped them make their first demo. Their first and only record as The Val-Airs was "Launie, My Love". first released by local record label Willett Records (owned by the group's manager, Elmer Willett), then distributed nationally on Coral Records. Soon after the song's release, the group adopted the name The Vogues, derived from Vogue Terrace, a popular teenage dance hall (which also housed Willett Records) in North Versailles, Pennsylvania, near the group's hometown. They soon signed a recording contract with a small Pittsburgh-based label, Co & Ce Records, run by Herb Cohen and Nick Cenci. The group broke nationally in September 1965 with a #4 cover of Petula Clark's "You're The One", followed nine weeks later by the #4 hit "Five O'Clock World". Two further singles, "Magic Town" and "The Land of Milk and Honey", did not reach the same heights, but still made Billboard's Top 40 in 1966.

The group's fortunes dwindled until a move in 1968 to Reprise Records sparked a fifteen-month revival with a string of remakes that began with the million-selling #7 covers of Glen Campbell's "Turn Around, Look at Me" and Bobby Helms' "My Special Angel". The group lost favor in the 1970s, but various groupings used the name The Vogues into the 2000s. Subsequent business moves allowed the new owner of their trademark name to later assign it to another group of all-new artists. Original member Chuck Blasko, performing with other singers as Chuck Blasko's Five O'clock World Reunion, subsequently lobbied Congress to make changes in trademark laws to prevent others from misrepresenting themselves as the original Vogues.^[2]

As of March 2007, original member Hugh Geyer, who had briefly toured with Blasko's group, was touring the country with another version of The Vogues. Blasko continues to perform as Chuck Blasko & The Vogues in 14 Western Pennsylvania counties that were awarded to him by the courts.

As of May 2008 original lead vocalist Burkette has joined Geyer touring the country with the 'trademark' Vogues.^[3] Current members include vocalists Burkette, Geyer, Jim Campagna, Stan Elich, and Troy Elich, Tom Lamb (guitar and musical director), Artie Delonardis (drums), Dean Mastrangelo (keyboards) and Rich Gooch (bass). The Vogues trademark owner, Stan Elich, passed away in December 2010, and his son, Troy, now owns the trademark. Vocalist Jim Campagna no longer tours because of health problems. Bill Burkette, Hugh Geyer and Troy Elich continue to tour as The Vogues.

The original group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.^[4]

Studio albums

• Meet the Vogues (1965)
• Five O'Clock World (1966)
• Turn Around, Look at Me (1968)
• Till (1969)
• Memories (1969)
• The Vogues' Greatest Hits (1970)
• The Vogues Sing the Good Old Songs (1970)

Singles

References

External links

• 'The Vogues' Vocal Group Hall of Fame Page
• 'The Vogues' Home Page