The Shy Guys
| Company type | Garage rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1960s |
| Headquarters | Oak Park , United States |
| Products | Music recordings, singles |
The Shy Guys were a garage rock group from the 1960s based in Oak Park, Michigan, recognized for their local hit "We Gotta Go," which gained popularity in Detroit, southern Michigan, and Buffalo, New York.
Hailing from the Detroit suburb of Oak Park, the lineup included Ron Nelson (also known as Ron Lefko) on lead guitar and vocals, Stu "Hirshfield" Howard handling guitar and vocals, Marty Lewis on bass guitar, and Mark Finn on drums. Their early performances consisted mainly of covers from prominent bands such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the Beach Boys.
Their first single, "We Gotta Go" backed with "Lay It on the Line," was issued by Panick Records in Detroit—a label that also recorded other garage bands like the Rainy Days and the Human Beings. The song achieved notable airplay in southeastern Michigan and Buffalo, helped significantly by DJ Scotty Regan’s support. These tracks, along with their follow-up single "A Love So True" paired with "Where You Belong," were subsequently released through the Palmer label.
During their height of popularity, The Shy Guys served as opening acts for prominent groups including the Dave Clark Five and Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs during shows in Chicago. Their 1968 rendition of The Byrds' "Feel a Whole Lot Better," released on CanUSA Records, did not match their earlier achievements. Additionally, they recorded two more songs titled "Love So True" and "About You," which were never officially released. The band’s activity waned, culminating in their dissolution later that same year.
Membership
- Ron Nelson (Ron Lefko) – lead guitar and vocals
- Stu "Hirshfield" Howard – guitar and vocals
- Marty Lewis – bass guitar
- Mark Finn – drums
Discography
- "We Gotta Go" b/w "Lay It on the Line" (Panik 5111, May 1966; Palmer 5005, June 1966)
- "A Love So True" b/w "Where You Belong" (Palmer 5008, September 1966)
- I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better b/w "Without You" (CanUSA 503, 1968)