The Happenings
| Company type | Pop music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1961 |
| Founder | Bob Miranda, David Libert, Tom Giuliano, Ralph DiVito |
| Defunct | 1970 (original lineup) |
| Headquarters | Paterson, New Jersey , United States |
| Products | Music recordings, live performances |
| Website | www |
The Happenings emerged as a pop ensemble during the 1960s, hailing from Paterson, New Jersey. Initially established in the spring of 1961 under the name "The Four Graduates," the founding members were Bob Miranda, David Libert, Tom Giuliano, and Ralph DiVito. In 1968, Bernie LaPorta took over DiVito's position, and Lenny Conforti joined as the drummer; both musicians previously performed with Emerald Experience, a band from northern New Jersey. This formation mainly entertained audiences at colleges and universities until 1970, when Libert departed to pursue a career managing artists including George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic, Living Colour, Brian Auger, Vanilla Fudge, the Runaways (featuring Cherie Currie, Joan Jett, Lita Ford), Mother's Finest, Alice Cooper, and Evelyn "Champagne" King. Following Libert’s exit, John Paiva joined the group and subsequently became part of The Four Seasons' updated lineup in 1974.
Overview
The group's rise to commercial prominence began as a cover band that reinterpreted well-known songs with their unique flair. Bob Miranda explained their approach as taking an already successful track and infusing it with their own style. This approach blended lush harmonies with lively tempos, incorporating strong percussion elements and occasionally sophisticated orchestration. Eventually, the band expanded their repertoire to include original compositions.
Among their most notable successes were "See You in September" (1966), a song first recorded by the Tempos in 1959, and their rendition of the George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin classic "I Got Rhythm" (1967), which they adapted to fit their sunshine pop aesthetic. Both singles remained on the Billboard Hot 100 charts for more than thirteen weeks, reaching a peak position of No. 3. Each surpassed one million copies sold and received R.I.A.A. gold certification by 1969.
From 1966 through 1968, The Happenings secured nine entries on the Hot 100 chart, including "Go Away Little Girl" (No. 12) and "My Mammy" (No. 13), both achieving sales exceeding one million units and earning additional gold records. Their final appearance on the Hot 100 was with "Hare Krishna," a cover from the musical Hair released in 1969.
The band remains active today with Bob Miranda continuing as the only original member fronting the group.
Albums
| Year | Album | US |
Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | The Happenings | 61 | B.T. Puppy Records |
| 1967 | Back to Back | 134 | |
| 1968 | The Happenings Golden Hits | 156 | |
| 1969 | Piece of Mind | 181 | Jubilee Records |
| 2001 | Still Going Strong | — | September Records |
| "—" indicates albums that did not chart. | |||
Singles
| Year | Titles (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where noted |
Label and number | Chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US |
AUS |
CAN RPM |
UK | ||||
| 1966 | "Girls on the Go" b/w "Go-Go" (Non-album track) |
B.T. Puppy 517 | — | — | — | — | The Happenings |
| "See You in September" b/w "He Thinks He's a Hero" (from Back to Back) |
B.T. Puppy 520 | 3 | 100 | 1 | — | ||
| "Go Away Little Girl" b/w "Tea Time" |
B.T. Puppy 522 | 12 | — | 10 | — | ||
| "Goodnight My Love" b/w "Lillies by Monet" |
B.T. Puppy 523 | 51 | — | 34 | — | Back to Back | |
| 1967 | "I Got Rhythm" b/w "You're in a Bad Way" (Non-album track) |
B.T. Puppy 527 | 3 | 66 | 1 | 28 | Psycle |
| "My Mammy" b/w "I Believe in Nothing" |
B.T. Puppy 530 | 13 | 35 | 7 | 34 | ||
| "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" b/w "When the Summer Is Through" |
B.T. Puppy 532 | 41 | — | 56 | — | ||
| 1968 | "Music! Music! Music!" b/w "When I Lock My Door" (from Psycle) |
B.T. Puppy 538 | 96 | — | 53 | — | The Happenings Golden Hits |
| "Randy" b/w "The Love Song of Mommy and Dad" (Non-album track) |
B.T. Puppy 540 | 118 | — | 60 | — | ||
| "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" b/w "Anyway" (Non-album track) |
B.T. Puppy 543 | 67 | — | 48 | — | ||
| "Crazy Rhythm" b/w "Love Song of Mommy and Dad" |
B.T. Puppy 545 | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "That's All I Want from You" b/w "He Thinks He's a Hero" (from Back to Back) |
B.T. Puppy 549 | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Where Do I Go / Be-In / Hare Krishna" b/w "New Day Comin'" |
Jubilee 5666 | 66 | 92 | 35 | — | Piece of Mind | |
| "El Paso County Jail" b/w "Won't Anybody Listen" |
Jubilee 5677 | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "Answer Me, My Love" b/w "I Need a Woman" |
Jubilee 5686 | 115 | — | 88 | — | ||
| "Tomorrow Today Will Be Yesterday" b/w "Chain of Hands" |
Jubilee 5698 | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Crazy Love" b/w "Chain of Hands" |
Jubilee 5702 | — | — | — | – | – | |
| "Lullaby in the Rain" b/w "I Wish You Could Know Me (Naomi)" |
Jubilee5712 | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Make Your Own Kind of Music" (stereo) b/w mono version |
Jubilee5721 | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Workin' My Way Back to You" b/w "Strawberry Morning" |
Big Tree146 | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Me Without You" b/w "God Bless Joanna" |
Big Tree153 | – | – | – | – | ||
| "That's Why I Love You" b/w "Beyond the Hurt" |
Midland International10897 | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Let Me Stay" b/w "Someone Special" |
Midland International11127 | – | – | – | – | ||
External links
- Articles with short description
- B.T. Puppy Records artists
- Jubilee Records artists
- American pop music groups
- Musical groups established in 1961
- Musical groups disbanded in 1970
- Musical groups from Passaic County, New Jersey
- 1961 establishments in New Jersey
- 1970 disestablishments in New Jersey
- Musical groups disestablished in 1970