The Viscounts (British band)
| Company type | Pop music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1958 |
| Founder | Don Paul, Ronnie Wells, Gordon Mills |
| Defunct | 1965 |
| Headquarters | London , England |
| Products | Music recordings, singles, albums |
The Viscounts were a pop ensemble originating from London, England. Prior to establishing The Viscounts in April 1958, the members performed with Morton Fraser's Harmonica Gang. By 1960, after building a local following, they secured a contract with Pye Records under the guidance of manager Larry Parnes, who facilitated more prominent performance opportunities.
Their rendition of Ray Smith's "Rockin' Little Angel" achieved popularity in Australia, while their version of "Shortnin' Bread" climbed to number 16 on the UK Singles Chart in November 1960. The group also ventured into trad jazz by recording a Paul Whiteman cover featured on a compilation album. In 1961, their take on "Who Put the Bomp (in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)" reached number 21 in the UK charts and maintained a ten-week presence. The Viscounts shared tours with distinguished artists such as Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran, and in 1963, they opened for Chris Montez alongside The Beatles.
In 1964, the band transitioned to Columbia Records, but their next three singles did not enter the charts. Following the group's dissolution in 1965, member Gordon Mills shifted focus to songwriting, crafting hits including "It's Not Unusual" for Tom Jones. Don Paul pursued a career in record production, whereas Ronnie Wells moved into the restaurant business; Wells died in 2013. In 2001, Castle Records re-released their entire Pye Records collection on CD.
Members
- Don Paul (born Donald Paul Fountain, January 2, 1937, Oldham, Lancashire, England)
- Ronnie Wells (born Ronald Kenneth Cresswell, August 25, 1939, Farnborough, Hampshire, England – died September 22, 2013)
- Gordon Mills (born Gordon William Mills, May 15, 1935, Madras, British India – died July 29, 1986, Los Angeles, California, US)
External links
- Gordon Mills
- [Discogs: The Viscounts]