The Sparkletones formed in 1956 at Cowpens High School in Spartanburg when the group's members were between the ages of 13 and 16.[1] In January 1957, Bob Cox, a talent scout for CBS, held auditions at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium; The Sparkletones took first prize at the event. Convinced they would be a success, Cox quit CBS to manage the group and flew them out to New York City to sign with ABC-Paramount.
At their first recording session they recorded the 12-bar blues "Black Slacks".[1]Paul Anka, who had been recording in the studio earlier that day, added falsetto background on a different song that the group recorded that day, "Boppin' Rock Boogie".[2] Band members Joe Bennett (born Joseph H. Bennett, February 21, 1940 – June 27, 2015)[3] and Jimmy Denton co-wrote "Black Slacks". Released as a single soon after, "Black Slacks" became a local hit and slowly built up national recognition as the group set out on a tour that crisscrossed the U.S. several times over, also performing on The Nat King Cole Show, American Bandstand, and The Ed Sullivan Show. "Black Slacks" remained on the U.S. charts for over four months, peaking at No. 17 on the Billboard Top 100 in late 1957.[1]
The Sparkletones' next single, "Penny Loafers and Bobby Socks", reached No. 42 on the Billboard pop chart early in 1958,[1] staying on the charts for eight weeks, while "Cotton Pickin' Rocker", "We've Had It", "Late Again", "Run Rabbit Run", all failed to chart over the course of the next three years. In 1959, the group's contract with ABC-Paramount expired, and they released three singles on Paris Records,[1] and only the single "Boys Do Cry" had any semblance of success, peaking at No. 105 in 1959. Around this time original guitarist Sparky Childress and drummer Jimmy Denton left and were replaced by Gene Brown and Donnie Seay, respectively. The group broke up in 1960.[1]
Childress played country in the 1960s. A compilation LP was released by MCA Records in 1980, and European bootleg CD reissues were put out in the 1990s. The band members did occasional reunions in South Carolina into the 2000s.
Joe Bennett served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. During that time he was exposed to Agent Orange. In his later years he suffered from complications related to Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia. Bennett continued in music as a publisher and teacher. He died on June 27, 2015, at age 75.[4]
Howard "Sparky" Childress (born on April 21, 1943, in Spartanburg) died in Chesnee, South Carolina, on November 30, 2019, at age 76.[5]
Howard "Sparky" Childress - rhythm guitar (d.2019)
Jimmy "Sticks" Denton - drums
William "Bill" Swift - vocals
Cultural referencesedit
Their biggest hit "Black Slacks" can be heard in the Walt Disney cartoon The Rescuers Down Under. When Bernard and Miss Bianca enter Albatross Airlines, the character 'Wilbur' is dancing and singing to the tune on the stereo.
sparkletones, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, january, 2020. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources The Sparkletones news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2020 Learn how and when to remove this message The Sparkletones sometimes credited as Joe Bennett amp the Sparkletones were an American rock and roll rockabilly group from Spartanburg South Carolina United States 1 The SparkletonesAlso known asJoe Bennett amp the SparkletonesOriginSpartanburg South Carolina United StatesGenresRock and roll rockabillyYears active1956 1956 1961 1961 LabelsABC ParamountPast membersJoe BennettWayne ArthurHoward ChildressJimmy Denton Contents 1 History 2 Members 3 Cultural references 4 Discography 4 1 Singles 5 References 6 External linksHistory editThe Sparkletones formed in 1956 at Cowpens High School in Spartanburg when the group s members were between the ages of 13 and 16 1 In January 1957 Bob Cox a talent scout for CBS held auditions at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium The Sparkletones took first prize at the event Convinced they would be a success Cox quit CBS to manage the group and flew them out to New York City to sign with ABC Paramount At their first recording session they recorded the 12 bar blues Black Slacks 1 Paul Anka who had been recording in the studio earlier that day added falsetto background on a different song that the group recorded that day Boppin Rock Boogie 2 Band members Joe Bennett born Joseph H Bennett February 21 1940 June 27 2015 3 and Jimmy Denton co wrote Black Slacks Released as a single soon after Black Slacks became a local hit and slowly built up national recognition as the group set out on a tour that crisscrossed the U S several times over also performing on The Nat King Cole Show American Bandstand and The Ed Sullivan Show Black Slacks remained on the U S charts for over four months peaking at No 17 on the Billboard Top 100 in late 1957 1 The Sparkletones next single Penny Loafers and Bobby Socks reached No 42 on the Billboard pop chart early in 1958 1 staying on the charts for eight weeks while Cotton Pickin Rocker We ve Had It Late Again Run Rabbit Run all failed to chart over the course of the next three years In 1959 the group s contract with ABC Paramount expired and they released three singles on Paris Records 1 and only the single Boys Do Cry had any semblance of success peaking at No 105 in 1959 Around this time original guitarist Sparky Childress and drummer Jimmy Denton left and were replaced by Gene Brown and Donnie Seay respectively The group broke up in 1960 1 Childress played country in the 1960s A compilation LP was released by MCA Records in 1980 and European bootleg CD reissues were put out in the 1990s The band members did occasional reunions in South Carolina into the 2000s Joe Bennett served in the U S Air Force during the Vietnam War During that time he was exposed to Agent Orange In his later years he suffered from complications related to Parkinson s disease and Lewy body dementia Bennett continued in music as a publisher and teacher He died on June 27 2015 at age 75 4 Howard Sparky Childress born on April 21 1943 in Spartanburg died in Chesnee South Carolina on November 30 2019 at age 76 5 Members editJoe Bennett vocals lead guitar d 2015 Wayne Arthur double bass Howard Sparky Childress rhythm guitar d 2019 Jimmy Sticks Denton drums William Bill Swift vocalsCultural references editTheir biggest hit Black Slacks can be heard in the Walt Disney cartoon The Rescuers Down Under When Bernard and Miss Bianca enter Albatross Airlines the character Wilbur is dancing and singing to the tune on the stereo Discography editSingles edit Year Title Peak chartpositions Record Label B side US R amp B 1957 Black Slacks 17 11 ABC Paramount Records Boppin Rock Boogie Penny Loafers and Bobby Socks 43 Rocket 1958 Cotton Pickin Rocker I Dig You Baby Little Turtle We ve Had It Do the Stop Late Again 1959 Bayou Rock Paris Records Beautiful One Boys Do Cry 105 What the Heck 1960 Are You from Dixie Beautiful One 1965 Run Rabbit Run ABC Paramount Records Well Dressed Man References edit a b c d e f g Colin Larkin ed 1992 The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music First ed Guinness Publishing p 220 ISBN 0 85112 939 0 Bob Leszozak 10 July 2014 Who Did It First Great Rock and Roll Cover Songs and Their Original Artists p 21 ISBN 978 1442233225 Joseph H Bennett February 21 1940 June 27 2015 The J F Floyd Mortuary Retrieved April 18 2020 Joe Bennett leader of The Sparkletones dies at 75 Goupstate com June 28 2015 Retrieved April 18 2020 Howard Sparky Dean Childress Sr April 21 1943 November 30 2019 age 76 The J F Ford Mortuary Retrieved October 15 2022 External links editThe Sparkletones at Allmusic IMDb com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Sparkletones amp oldid 1151197416, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
