The Buckinghams in Concert

According to the Billboard Magazine music charts, today marks the 43rd anniversary of the day when "Kind of a Drag" reached the number one spot. The Top Five Songs for the Week of Feb. 18, 1967 include: 1 Kind of a Drag, The Buckinghams 2 I'm a Believer, The Monkees 3 Ruby Tuesday, The Rolling Stones 4 Georgy Girl, The Seekers 5 (We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet, The Blues Magoos Released originally on the USA Records label, the song was coproduced by Carl Bonafede and Dan Belloc, recorded at Chess Studios at 2120 S. Michigan Ave. in Chicago. The office and studio was designated as a Chicago Landmark in May, 1990 and is home to timeless rock, blues, and jazz classics that, like the music of The Buckinghams, remain a commodity, even 43 years after their original release date. Columbia Records bought the masters for The Buckinghams' music after the band signed as Columbia recording artists, so you'll find Kind of a Drag as hits on both labels. Most recently, Carl G...

One popular nationally syndicated show, "The Village Square" was broadcast each week between 1965-1968. The program was 30 mins of variety entertainment featuring the house band, The Villagers, Jeannie Le Bois, and the Village Dancers. The current hits on the charts were performed by The Villagers, and it's like deja vu all over again for The Buckinghams, who for 13 weeks were on the show All-Time Hits, doing this exact routine, performing the popular hits of the day. Kind of a Drag, performed by The Villagers It wasn't long before The Buckinghams were the hitmakers being emulated by groups of talented musicians across the country. And, All-Time Hits, on Chicago's own WGN-TV was the first local Chicago program broadcast in color. The Village Dancers are also an important part of the formula The Buckinghams had accompanying them on their TV performances. An even more subtle feature is the silver drum kit in the background looks very much like the kit Jon-Jon used ...

Festivals and fan cams are a great way to give those couldn't attend a chance to be there for part of the fun. These videos are new from YouTube user, Hal109. Taken with his Canon digital camera at the Highland Park, IL festival in August, 2009. In the first video, Carl Giammarese sings "Happy Together" by The Turtles from a great part of the concert. Carl, Nick, and Tom Scheckel were part of the Happy Together Tour in 1985, one of the Top 10 Grossing Tours of 1985-1986. and here's Bob Abrams on lead vocals in an excerpt of Tommy James' "Crystal Blue Persuasion" in The Buckinghams' Solid Gold 60s Medley, a crowd favorite. In a tribute to Chicago, Carl Giammarese sings "Does Anyone Really Know What Time It is?" In this compilation of still picturea and video, catch the festival fever and enjoy the show. Look for Steve Frost on trumpet solo in this standout performance.

Inquiring minds want to know: when did Pete Townshend decide to destroy perfectly incredible guitars? Who, who came up with this attention-getting ploy? Was it in a band 'group meeting' or did he just strike out on his own one day, and Keith Moon followed suit by kicking his drums, and Roger, not to be left out, mauled the microphone... People who watch any version of the CSI shows, whether CSI New York, CSI Miami, CSI Las Vegas, etc., are treated to a carefully controlled wildboy version of Pete Townshend's remakes of songs at the opening and closing of the episodes. Because audiences hear them each week, it's easy to expect that a second and third generation of young rockers think the tunes, made famous by The Who, are now enjoying new life as considerably more 'contemporary' music. Little do they suspect that some 45 years ago, the lads were new in town, new in the USA and new to the simple courtesies of not destroying the equipment for the next guys on stage...

The Who's Pete Townshend with Sunn Amplifier's Buck Munger Unparalleled raconteur Buck Munger recently provided powerful words and great memories in photos from his blog on www.guitararcheology.com and the only way to do his words justice is to direct you specifically to his site. He spins a fascinating tale as a roving representative of Sunn Amplifiers, which was carving out quite a reputation as a musician-owned business in the midst of fierce competition to blast the sounds from a burgeoning revolution in amplifiers. In a recent radio interview, Carl Giammarese told a story about how The Who was once an opening act for The Buckinghams. The Bucks were ill prepared for the onstage antics of their then warm-up act. An excerpt from Buck's blog "The WHO and Sunn Amps Part 3", by Buck Munger: "In Kansas City, the Who were opening for the Buckinghams (“Kind of a Drag”) who were on their fifth hit single on Columbia from producer Jim Guercio. The sound check was ...

Kent Kotal scooped the media today in announcing the latest news from John Rook, legendary national record program director and cofounder of the Hit Parade Hall of Fame. The Buckinghams are among "the sixty-four recording stars who have been inducted into the 2009 Hit Parade Hall of Fame." Formed in 2006, the organization is considered a prestigious, if not refreshing, alternative to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Nominees for this honor are made by a powerful array of industry professionals. Fans then have an opportunity to cast their votes for "recording stars who have had two or more top ten hits in the '50s, '60s or '70s." It was the vote of fans and the decision of the Nominating Committee that the following recording artists are inducted for 2009: America, the Ames Brothers, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Louis Armstrong, Frankie Avalon, Brook Benton, Buckinghams , Glen Campbell, Chordettes, Petula Clark, Sam Cooke, Dave Clark Five, Creeden...

Story in Today's Chicago Daily Heral d is a concert preview for two shows this coming weekend. Full story link at: http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=354017 Herman's Hermits, Buckinghams set to salute the '60s By Gregory Harutunian | Daily Herald Correspondent The Buckinghams still draw fans to hear "Kind of a Drag" and other hits from the '60s. Peter Noone says Herman's Hermits will tailor its Waukegan show to the audience. Published: 1/28/2010 12:01 AM Sparked by Beatlemania, 1964 marked the start of the "British Invasion" on the American music scene, and prompted the formation of many stateside bands to meet the challenge. Prime examples of that period hit Waukegan's Genesee Theatre stage at 8 p.m. Friday for a "Salute to the '60s." The lineup includes British band Herman's Hermits with Peter Noone, The Grass Roots with Rob Gill, and The Buckinghams with Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortunato. Far from being classed as no...