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J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers | |
|---|---|
| Origin | United States |
| Labels | Tamara,Josie Records |
| Past members | Alton Baird Lewis Elliott Roland "Snake" Atkinson Mike Hodges Sid Holmes Ray Smith J. Frank Wilson Rob Zeller Neil Sheckles |
J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers were an American 1960s group best remembered for their 1964 million-selling song, "Last Kiss".
The Cavaliers formed around 1955 withleader and guitarist Sid Holmes, bassist Lewis Elliott, saxophonist Rob Zeller, drummer Ray Smith, and vocalist Alton Baird. Baird wasdrafted shortly after the group formed and the band brought inJ. Frank Wilson, after his discharge fromGoodfellow Air Force Base (San Angelo, Texas) and Sid Holmes's subsequent mental deterioration in 1962.
Sonley Roush became the manager of the group. He brought to them a song originally recorded byWayne Cochran called "Last Kiss". Duly recorded by the group, it was first released on Le Cam (722) and then on Tamara (761), before it became a hit in June 1964 onJosie Records (Josie 923). It reached thetop 10 in October that year, eventually reaching number two on theBillboard Hot 100, sold over one million copies, and was awarded agold disc.[1]
While driving inOhio later that year, Roush fell asleep at the wheel, and they collided head-on with another vehicle. Roush was killed and Wilson was injured to the extent that he was on crutches for theAmerican Bandstand performance a short time later. While J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers recorded more songs,[2] and "Last Kiss" was subsequentlycovered successfully byWednesday andPearl Jam, the band charted with only one other song, "Hey, Little One", which reached number 85.
Various band member changes ensued as the Cavaliers eventually continued without Wilson. Elliott took over leadership of the group, and James Thomas came in as the new vocalist, while Buddy Croyle filled Holmes' vacancy. Shortly after that, Zeller and Smith left and were replaced by Snake Atkinson and Mike Hodges. In late 1964, Lewis Elliott recruited an Oklahoma guitarist, Dave Erkin, who was an airman on active duty at Goodfellow AFB and who continued with the Cavaliers up to December 31, 1965, when he was transferred to Alaska.[citation needed]
Wilson, with or without the Cavaliers, continued to release records until 1978. Still touring up to that point, Wilson died on October 4, 1991, at the age of 49, fromalcoholism and complications fromdiabetes.[3][4]
Lewis Elliott (born August 28, 1937) died after a lengthy illness on June 21, 2022, at age 84.[5]
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