The Hullaballoos
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | September 1964 |
| Defunct | 1966 |
| Headquarters | Hull , England, United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
The Hullaballoos were a pioneering band within the British Invasion movement, gaining recognition chiefly for their 1965 rendition of Buddy Holly's "I'm Gonna Love You Too".
Biography
Established in September 1964, this ensemble initially performed across the UK under the name Ricky Knight and The Crusaders. Their band name pays homage to their origin city, Hull, England. The members consisted of Geoff Mortimer on bass and backing vocals, Harry Dunn handling drums and harmonies, Ricky Knight as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, and Andy Woonton playing lead guitar while also providing harmonies. Vocal harmonization was a shared responsibility among all participants.
Their distinctive image—characterized by long, bleached blonde hair—and musical style were developed by Luigi Creatore and Hugo Peretti of Roulette Records to meet American audiences’ appetite for British Invasion groups. Although signed to Roulette in the United States, their records in the United Kingdom were issued through the Columbia label. The Hullaballoos appeared on various television programs, most notably on the Hullabaloo show, and produced two albums in 1965: England's Newest Singing Sensations and On Hullabaloo, which have since been combined into a single CD release.
Influenced heavily by Buddy Holly’s sound, the band dissolved soon after its inception. Ricky Knight was the first to leave, with Mick Wayne briefly stepping in before the group ultimately disbanded in 1966. In May 2010, original members Knight, Dunn, and Woonton reunited for a one-time performance; Geoff Mortimer did not participate.
Geoffrey Mortimer succumbed to cancer on 17 December 2016 at age 71. Harry Dunn died on 27 August 2017 due to an illness that was not publicly disclosed.
Chart singles
- "Did You Ever" (1965) – Reached No. 74 on the US Billboard Hot 100
- "I'm Gonna Love You Too" – Peaked at No. 56 on the US Hot 100
External links
- [ The Hullaballoos at AllMusic.com]
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