Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Predecessor | Gary and the Remarkables |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Founder | Gary Puckett, Gary "Mutha" Withem, Dwight Bement, Kerry Chater, Paul Wheatbread |
| Defunct | 1971 |
| Fate | Disbanded |
| Successor | Gary Puckett (solo career) |
| Headquarters | San Diego , United States |
Area served | United States, United Kingdom, Australia |
Key people | Gary Puckett, Jerry Fuller (producer) |
| Products | Albums, Singles |
Number of employees | 5–7 (members) (1967–1971) |
| Parent | Columbia Records |
| Website | www |
Gary Puckett & The Union Gap—originally billed as The Union Gap featuring Gary Puckett—was a prominent American pop rock ensemble active during the late 1960s. The group was formed by Gary Puckett alongside Gary "Mutha" Withem, Dwight Bement, Kerry Chater, and Paul Wheatbread. They gained widespread recognition with chart-topping singles such as "Woman, Woman", "Young Girl", "Lady Willpower", "Over You", "Don't Give In to Him", and "This Girl Is a Woman Now". Their signature look featured Civil War–era uniforms, which became a distinctive element of their image. Under the guidance of Jerry Fuller, who signed them to Columbia Records, the band later sought more artistic autonomy, leading to the end of their partnership with Fuller before ultimately disbanding. Following the group's dissolution, Puckett continued with solo ventures and collaborations.
History
Gary Puckett, born on October 17, 1942, in Hibbing, Minnesota, was raised near Union Gap, Washington. After completing high school in 1960, he enrolled in college in San Diego but soon left to perform with local bands including the Outcasts. When that band dissolved, he established Gary and the Remarkables with bassist Kerry Chater, keyboardist Gary "Mutha" Withem, tenor saxophonist Dwight Bement, and drummer Paul Wheatbread.
In 1966, the group toured throughout the Pacific Northwest without Wheatbread, who had temporarily departed to work on the television program Where the Action Is. Managed by Dick Badger, they adopted the name The Union Gap in early 1967 and embraced Civil War uniforms as part of their marketing approach. Their demo attracted CBS producer and songwriter Jerry Fuller, who signed them to Columbia Records impressed by their soft rock sound and Puckett’s tenor vocal style.
Their first single, "Woman, Woman", penned by Jim Glaser and Jimmy Payne, climbed to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was awarded a Gold disc for surpassing one million sales. Following singles such as "Young Girl" (No. 2 Billboard), "Lady Willpower" (No. 2 Billboard), "Over You" (No. 7 Billboard), and "Don't Give In to Him" (No. 15) solidified their success. Fuller produced most of these hits and contributed several key compositions. Although they never secured a No. 1 spot on U.S. charts, "Young Girl" dominated the UK singles chart at No. 1 for four consecutive weeks in mid-1968. Their albums also achieved million-selling status. The band notably performed at a White House reception honoring British royalty in 1968 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 1969.
Creative disagreements surfaced as members desired more control over songwriting and production; Puckett became increasingly discontented with Fuller's ballad-heavy direction. In 1969, after declining to record an orchestral arrangement proposed by Fuller, their professional relationship ended. They returned with the track "This Girl Is a Woman Now," produced by Dick Glasser; however, later releases did not achieve significant chart impact. Personnel changes ensued: Chater and Withem left; Bement transitioned to bass; Barry McCoy and Richard Gabriel were added to the lineup. Beginning in 1970, Puckett embarked on solo recording efforts with modest outcomes; meanwhile, The Union Gap functioned as his live backing band until they were dismissed following a performance at the Orange County Fair in 1971. His recording contract concluded in 1972.
Solo careers and personal endeavors
Following the dissolution of The Union Gap, Gary Puckett experienced limited solo achievements with his 1971 release, The Gary Puckett Album, under Columbia Records. During this period, he primarily revisited and performed the group's classic hits. By 1973, Puckett transitioned toward acting and dance, engaging with theater productions in Los Angeles. His resurgence came in 1981 when music journalist Thomas K. Arnold organized a comeback tour that took him to Las Vegas, establishing his role within the national oldies circuit. In 1986, Puckett participated in the inaugural major Monkees reunion tour, which also featured The Grass Roots and Herman's Hermits (without Peter Noone). He continued to produce new work, including the 2001 seasonal album Gary Puckett at Christmas. His live performances included appearances at Moondance Jam in both 1994 and 2002, and he maintained an active touring schedule throughout the United States into 2010, sharing stages with acts like The Association and The Lettermen. Notably, on June 20, 2010, he performed for the first time in Union Gap, Washington—the city that inspired the band's name.
Gary Puckett is married to Lorrie Haines and they have two stepdaughters; the family resides in Clearwater, Florida. Other former band members embarked on diverse professional paths: Dwight Bement became part of the oldies group Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids; Kerry Chater moved to Nashville to pursue songwriting and had a minor solo hit in 1977 with "Part Time Love," releasing two albums; Paul Wheatbread shifted into concert promotion; and Gary "Mutha" Withem returned to San Diego where he took up teaching high school band classes.
Currently, Gary Puckett continues to perform with his band operating under the name Gary Puckett and the Union Gap. This ensemble includes Woody Lingle on bass and vocals, Jamie Hilboldt handling keyboards and vocals, and Mike Candito on drums and vocals.
Members
Original line-up
- Gary Puckett – lead vocals (1967–1971)
- Dwight Bement – guitar, brass instruments (1967–1969), bass guitar (1969–1971)
- Kerry Chater – bass guitar (1967–1969; deceased 2022)
- Gary "Mutha" Withem – keyboards (1967–1969)
- Paul Wheatbread – drums (1967–1969)
Subsequent members
- Barry McCoy – keyboards (1969–1971)
- Richard Gabriel – brass instruments (1969–1971)
Singles
Reissued singles
| Year | Single | Chart Position (UK) |
|---|
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June 1974 ‡ "Young Girl" (CBS UK re-release)
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† – Credited as The Union Gap featuring Gary Puckett ‡ – Credited as Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
Gary Puckett solo releases
- "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" (US Billboard No.61, US AC No.14) / "All That Matters" – Columbia 45249 – October 1970
- "Keep the Customer Satisfied" (US Billboard No.71, US AC No.28) / "No One Really Knows" – Columbia 45303 – February 1971
- "Life Has Its Little Ups and Downs" (US AC No.24) / "Shimmering Eyes" – Columbia 45358 – 1971
- "Gentle Woman" (US Record World No.109) / "Hello Morning" – Columbia 45438 – 1971
- "I Can't Hold On" / "Hello Morning" – Columbia 45509 – 1971
- "Leavin' In The Morning" (US Record World No.140) / "Bless This Child" – Columbia 45678 – 1972
Kerry Chater solo work
- "Part Time Love" (US Billboard No.97) / "No Love on the Black Keys" – Warner 8310 – March 1977
Albums
| Release Date | Album Name | U.S. Pop Albums Chart | Australia Chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 1968 † | Woman, Woman | Template:Center | Template:Center |
| May 1968 ‡ | Gary Puckett & The Union Gap Featuring "Young Girl" | Template:Center | Template:Center |
| November 1968 ‡ | Incredible | Template:Center | Template:Center |
| December 1969 ‡ | The New Gary Puckett and the Union Gap Album | Template:Center | Template:Center |
| June 1970 ‡ | Gary Puckett & The Union Gap's Greatest Hits | Template:Center | Template:Center |
| 1981 ‡ | The Best of Gary Puckett & The Union Gap | Template:Center | Template:Center |
† – Credited as The Union Gap featuring Gary Puckett ‡ – Credited as Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
Gary Puckett solo releases
- The Gary Puckett Album (Chart position: No. 196) – Columbia C-30862 – October 1971
- Melodie – 51 West Q16287 – 1982
- This Is Love – 2006
See also
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
- List of acts who appeared on American Bandstand
- List of Columbia Records artists