J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers
OriginUnited States
LabelsTamara, Josie Records
Past membersAlton Baird
Lewis Elliott
Roland "Snake" Atkinson
Mike Hodges
Sid Holmes
Ray Smith
J. Frank Wilson
Rob Zeller

J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers were an

record, "Last Kiss
".

Career

The Cavaliers formed around 1955 with

leader and guitarist Sid Holmes, bassist Lewis Elliott, saxophonist Rob Zeller, drummer Ray Smith, and vocalist Alton Baird. Baird was drafted shortly after the group formed and the band brought in J. Frank Wilson, after his discharge from Goodfellow Air Force Base (San Angelo, Texas
) and Sid Holmes's subsequent mental deterioration in 1962.

Sonley Roush became the manager of the group. He brought to them a song originally recorded by

While driving in Ohio later that year, Roush fell asleep at the wheel, and they collided head-on with another vehicle. Roush was killed and Wilson was injured to the extent that he was on crutches for the American Bandstand performance a short time later. While J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers recorded more songs,[2] and "Last Kiss" was subsequently covered successfully by Wednesday and Pearl Jam, the band charted with only one other song, "Hey, Little One", which reached number 85.

Various band member changes ensued as the Cavaliers eventually continued without Wilson. Elliott took over leadership of the group, and James Thomas came in as the new vocalist, while Buddy Croyle filled Holmes' vacancy. Shortly after that, Zeller and Smith left and were replaced by Snake Atkinson and Mike Hodges. In late 1964, Lewis Elliott recruited an Oklahoma guitarist, Dave Erkin, who was an airman on active duty at Goodfellow AFB and who continued with the Cavaliers up to December 31, 1965, when he was transferred to Alaska.[citation needed]

Wilson, with or without the Cavaliers, continued to release records until 1978. Still touring up to that point, Wilson died on October 4, 1991, at the age of 49, from

diabetes.[3][4]

Lewis Elliott (born August 28, 1937) died after a lengthy illness on June 21, 2022, at age 84.[5]

References

  1. .
  2. ^ [1] Archived March 20, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "J. Frank Wilson | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-08-18.
  4. ^ Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 1990 - 1991". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 2015-08-18.
  5. ^ "Obituary Lewis Elliott August 28, 1937 – June 21, 2022". dignitymemorial.com. Retrieved November 27, 2022.

External links