70:'s studio in Clovis, New Mexico. McCormack’s mother, Glynn Thames, paid for their first recording session. Those recordings were subsequently sold to Imperial Records, but the songs did not get much play. Allen then replaced Edmiston who left to join the military. The group changed its name to The Leen Teens and recorded "So Shy" and "Dreams About You," which also met with little success on the Imperial label. In 1960, they signed with Petty, who became their manager and brought their songs to
61:
The band was formed under the name Patio Kids in 1956 by McCormack, Stephens and de
Cordova, who were Plainview High School classmates. They were then joined by drummer Charles Jay Edmiston and, in early 1957, and they rechristened themselves the Rock ‘n’ Rollers with the arrival of another guitar
65:
They began recording in
Amarillo, Texas, as the Rock'n Rollers, under their first manager Johnny Voss, Keith McCormack's Uncle. Their first single was on the Ven label. In the later fifties they began recording at
149:
Keith McCormack, singer, guitarist and songwriter, died of a stroke on April 10, 2015, at age 74. Both drummer Don Allen and guitarist
Richard Stephens passed in 2019; lead guitarist Jimmy Torres passed in 2023.
107:
Warwick
Records declared bankruptcy in 1962. The band had filed suit for royalties. McCormack claimed the band was owed $ 700,000 (the equivalent of nearly $ 7 million in 2004).
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33:, United States. The band consisted of Richard Stephens and Jimmy Torres alternating lead guitars, Keith McCormack on rhythm guitar, Aubrey de Cordova,
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and disbanded by 1964. Petty continued to own the String-A-Longs name, and to avoid confusion between the instrumental sound of
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The String-A-Longs followed up "Wheels" with "Brass
Buttons" (U.S. No. 35), "Should I," and "Replica." In 1962 they moved to
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in 1968. This is actually the
Fireballs performing the music under the String-A-Longs moniker.
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624:"Up Close with Keith McCormack and Aubrey deCordova of the Legendary String-A-Longs"
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The original String-A-Longs lineup reunited for the Clovis Music
Festival in 2006.
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There are more than one hundred cover versions of "Wheels," including by
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701:(19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 536.
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133:," it was decided to reuse the String-A-Longs name for the LP
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787:"Exotic Guitars: From The Clovis Vaults - The Fireballs"
730:(2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p.
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100:. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a
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167:Both sides from same album except where indicated
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811:"Plainview hit-maker Keith McCormack dies at 74"
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41:. They are best known for their hit single, "
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440:b/w "Spinnin' My Wheels" (non-album track)
16:American popular music instrumental group
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243:"Am I Asking Too Much" (later pressings)
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241:b/w "Tell the World" (first pressings)
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903:American instrumental musical groups
755:Logan, Nicki Bruce (July 24, 2010).
129:and that group's current vocal hit "
96:. The track reached number 8 in the
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861:The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits
648:Logan, Nicki Bruce (2010-07-25).
245:Both B-sides are non-album tracks
757:"String-A-Longs are coming home"
699:British Hit Singles & Albums
650:"String-A-Longs are coming home"
49:Hot 100 in and was the number 8
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469:b/w "Replica" (non-album track)
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840:The Official Charts Company
388:b/w "Nearly Sunrise" (from
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898:Musical groups from Texas
722:Murrells, Joseph (1978).
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726:The Book of Golden Discs
697:Roberts, David (2006).
114:("Wheels Cha-Cha") and
62:player, Jimmy Torres.
171:Peak chart positions
92:of 1961 according to
785:Richie Unterberger.
385:"Theme for Twisters"
678:Longboredsurfer.com
334:b/w "Take a Minute"
879:The String-A-Longs
274:b/w "For an Angel"
20:The String-A-Longs
767:on April 26, 2021
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603:By The Fireballs
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765:the original
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630:. 2004-01-06
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416:b/w "Sunday"
413:"Twistwatch"
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184:US Billboard
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116:Billy Vaughn
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68:Norman Petty
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24:instrumental
19:
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358:"Mina Bird"
123:Dot Records
35:bass guitar
892:Categories
820:28 October
796:2023-01-26
771:2021-04-26
683:2008-06-20
659:2021-04-26
634:2008-06-20
610:References
390:Pick a Hit
331:"Should I"
303:Pick a Hit
265:Pick a Hit
550:"Caravan"
523:"My Babe"
466:"Matilda"
102:gold disc
94:Billboard
84:Billboard
53:of 1961.
47:Billboard
874:Allmusic
791:AllMusic
112:Joe Loss
883:Discogs
460:Matilda
325:Matilda
224:R&B
193:Cashbox
154:Singles
86:Hot 100
57:History
738:
705:
236:Wheels
174:Album
90:single
79:Wheels
51:single
43:Wheels
574:1969
547:1965
520:1964
490:1963
382:1962
231:1961
177:Note
161:Year
39:drums
29:from
27:group
822:2017
736:ISBN
703:ISBN
473:133
141:Atco
732:140
347:54
341:10
338:42
318:44
309:35
255:19
210:Pop
139:on
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217:AC
200:UK
191:US
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