The Paragons (Charlotte band)
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1965 in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States |
| Defunct | 1968 |
| Headquarters | Charlotte , United States |
| Products | Garage rock music |
The Paragons were a 1960s American garage rock ensemble originating from Charlotte, North Carolina. They rose to prominence as one of Charlotte's leading bands and achieved significant regional acclaim with their track "Abba," which has since become a staple in garage rock circles. Guitarist Pat Walters later became involved with groups such as The Good the Bad and the Ugly, Jeremiah, and the Spongetones.
Origins
Initially formed in Charlotte in 1965 under the name the Pagans, The Paragons drew inspiration from the Beatles and the British Invasion movement, also influenced by acts like the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds, and the Hollies. The original members included Tim Moore on guitar and Kirk Mitchell on bass. After Mitchell's departure, brothers Bobby and Johnny Pace joined the lineup; Johnny assumed vocal and drum duties, Bobby took over bass, Tim Moore transitioned to organ, and Danny Huntley was added as guitarist. Jim Charles, previously with the Abbadons, briefly joined on guitar and introduced the song "Abba," which became a central part of their setlist despite being recorded after his exit.
To avoid jeopardizing church performances due to their initial name, the band changed from the Pagans to The Paragons—a suggestion made by the Pace brothers’ mother who found the name in a thesaurus. Their rehearsals took place in a pool room known as "the pool house" located at the Pace family residence. Their father, Le Roy Pace, employed his Ford truck—and later a secondhand hearse driven by Danny Huntley—to transport their gear. Instruments were sourced from Reliable Music, a local store managed by Melvin Cohen.
The Paragons played at various local teen venues including the Spyder (YMCA), Straggle Inn (Myers Park Methodist Church), Tin Can (Christ Episcopal Church), and the Web. Other performance spots included Park Road Shopping Center and the National Guard armory. By 1966, they had established themselves as one of Charlotte’s premier groups, securing victories in battles of the bands hosted by radio station WAYS and events at the Charlotte Coliseum. Their performances prominently featured "Abba." Other notable regional bands at that time comprised the Barons (which included future Paragon Pat Walters), Young Ages, Hodads, Die Hards, Grifs, Stoaways, T.C. Atlantic (also from Charlotte), and The Tamrons from Concord. Jim Charles departed following a personal conflict with Bobby Pace.
The band made appearances on local television programs such as Kilgo's Canteen and Granny Goes Grooving, but they are most recognized for their performance on The Village Square, which was filmed at WBTV Charlotte and broadcast nationally across more than fifty markets.
Recording and regional success
Pat Walters, formerly of the Barons, was recruited to replace Charles on guitar. Walters was a close associate of organist Tim Moore and was considered among Charlotte’s finest young guitarists. Although the Barons had attempted to bring Bobby Pace into their fold as vocalist earlier, he chose to stay with The Paragons. The band connected with Bobbie Cashman who took on managerial duties. Toward the end of 1966, they recorded their single "Abba" backed with a Yardbirds cover "Mister, You're a Better Man Than I" at Arthur Smith Studios in Charlotte. Released in January 1967 on their own Bobbi label—named after Cashman—the track featured a poppier arrangement compared to the original version by the Charles brothers. The session was produced by Manny Clark, a DJ at black radio station WGIV. Dave Long, a friend of the group, added tambourine and lent Walters a 12-string electric guitar that contributed to "Abba"'s signature arpeggiated riffs.
The single "Abba" achieved substantial popularity in Charlotte and received airplay across the Southeastern United States, likely aided by Clark’s involvement at WGIV. Gill Vanderlip of local band Losse Screws likened it to "the 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand' of Charlotte." Disputes arose regarding songwriting credits: initial pressings listed Daniel Huntley and Johnny Pace but excluded Jim Charles and his brother Bill—the original writers. Once this oversight was brought to light by Charles contacting Huntley, manager Cashman secured a BMI registration that credited all four individuals as co-writers, enabling equitable royalty distribution.
The Paragons served as opening acts for both the Hollies and Herman's Hermits during their Charlotte appearances. Although they appeared on local shows such as Kilgo's Canteen and Granny Goes Grooving, their most memorable television performance was "Abba" on The Village Square, a nationally syndicated program taped at WBTV in early 1967. This opportunity was facilitated through Johnny Pace’s association with the show's house band, the Villagers. On that same episode, The Catalinas also performed their recorded set.
Disbandment and Subsequent Events
The Paragons did not issue any additional singles, foregoing the opportunity to capitalize on the momentum generated by "Abba." During the summer of 1968, they participated in a battle of the bands competition held at Freedom Park in Charlotte. That same season, Pat Walters departed to become a member of Good the Bad and the Ugly (GBU), a prominent Charlotte-based group active in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Meanwhile, Danny Huntley left the band to pursue medical studies at Wake Forest University. The Paragons ultimately dissolved later that year.
After GBU disbanded, Walters took on the role of lead guitarist in Jeremiah, a band that included future Wings drummer Denny Seiwell and session guitarist Dave Spinosa, both of whom contributed to Paul McCartney’s Ram album. In the 1980s, Walters became part of the pop rock ensemble the Spongetones. Bobby Pace joined the local group New Mix before transitioning to a profession as a television repair technician.
Interest in the Paragons has experienced a resurgence among garage rock enthusiasts in recent years. Their song "Abba" has achieved status as a garage rock staple and has been featured on compilations such as Teenage Shutdown! Nobody to Love, Le Beat Bespoke Volume 3, and Tobacco-a-Go-Go Volume 2. Additionally, their cover of "Mr. You're a Better Man Than I" is included on the Bury My Body compilation. Johnny Pace passed away in 1987, while Bobby Pace died in 2009.
Band Members
- Johnny Pace (lead vocals and drums)
- Bobby Pace (bass)
- Tim Moore (organ, previously drums)
- Pat Walters (guitar)
- Danny Huntley (guitar)
- Jim Charles (guitar)
- Kirk Mitchell (bass)
Releases
- "Abba" b/w "Mister You're a Better Man Than I" (Bobbi 7-7352, January 1967)