By Chris. Freston (213.122.119.42 - 213.122.119.42) on Thursday, January 31, 2002 - 07:21 am:

I have one track by the Dalton Boys and had always wondered if R.Dean Taylor had a input. Then I saw their name on a previous post and thought you guys could tell me more.
Need to say THANKS to all for hours of mind stretching info and entertainment. I look forward daily, to log on.

By Ritchie Hardin (62.254.0.5 - 62.254.0.5) on Thursday, January 31, 2002 - 08:24 am:

Hi Chris
Yes, I recall you and I have had discussions about this in the past - so I'll be equally interested in a reply! I know these guys had one release on VIP, and there was a later single on Date (ca. 1968) by an outfit of the same name, but other than that - not a lot. I also suspect they may have been a white act, but with some folks it's hard to tell. (Could that be a back-handed compliment?)

OK, here's my query to add to Chris' - speaking of lesser-known Motowners, does anyone have any info on the Hit Pack? I'm sure I once had something about them, but can't seem to find it.

By david. glasgow, scotland (213.122.95.61 - 213.122.95.61) on Thursday, January 31, 2002 - 08:31 am:

welcome chris.

glad to hear your enjoying the site. plenty more to come, so keep tuned.

By John Lester (213.1.165.82 - 213.1.165.82) on Thursday, January 31, 2002 - 02:26 pm:

The Dalton Boys....this is what I have without doing any research

Told to me by Mrs Edwards (JL bows at the mention of the name):

Two white Canadians who went on the road promosting their 45 but sadly got involved in a motor accident en route to a gig. Not wishing to say anything that might later prove incorrect...one of them was very badly hurt and it curtailed their dreams. The guys recorded lots and lots and lots and lots....but then every Motown act recorded lots and lots and lots and lots.

Now - for all you web site owners - this will make you wake up, I HAVE A PICTURE OF THE BOYS....but sadly no scanner!

By Ritchie Hardin (62.254.0.5 - 62.254.0.5) on Thursday, January 31, 2002 - 02:40 pm:

John - thanks for the info - I'll pass it on to Rik Williams, who was also asking for details. Er, shame about the picture - without a scanner the question's a little academic! ;o)

By John Lester (213.122.193.204 - 213.122.193.204) on Thursday, January 31, 2002 - 08:40 pm:

David has already had a moan at me......I did listen to him though......

Maybe I can find a friend who can do it for me...

By Chris. Freston (213.1.172.47 - 213.1.172.47) on Friday, February 01, 2002 - 06:14 am:

Thanks for the welcome David and the feedback guys.

By george katsakis (216.29.209.125 - 216.29.209.125) on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 01:27 pm:

Chris,

After leaving the Royaltones Bob Babbitt, Marcus Terry, Dave Sandy and Vern Parker formed a band called the Dalton Boys but I don't know if they ever recorded. If you get in touch with Babbit he might be able to help you out.

By John Lester (213.1.128.81 - 213.1.128.81) on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 04:26 pm:

BABBITT...........where are you?

I have a picture of the Dalton Boys who recorded on Motown (VIP imprint) and it's just two guys.

Esther Edwards told me that they were touring and one was involved in a tragic accident...if I recall correctly, it was involving a motor bike.

By BOB BABBITT (205.188.198.54 - 205.188.198.54) on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 02:50 am:

DALTON BOYS
JOHN.......TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS......
THE DALTON BOYS ON MOTOWN WERE NOT THE SAME AS THE DALTON BOYS THAT I WAS A MEMBER OF FOR A WHILE, WE DID NO RECORDING WHILE THIS GROUP WAS TOGETHER.. THE PLAYERS WERE MYSELF, MARCUS TERRY, DAVE SANDY AND I DO NOT REMEMBER THE GUITAR PLAYER�S NAME...MARCUS LEFT THE GROUP AND WENT BACK WITH GEORGE KATSAKIS WHEN THEY FORMED THE COURT JESTERS...WE REPLACED MARCUS WITH A SINGING DRUMMER (I CANT REMEMBER HIS NAME.. GEORGE WAS HIS FIRST NAME) SHORTLY AFTER THAT I DID NOT WANT TO TRAVEL ON THE ROAD ANYMORE AND LEFT THE GROUP TO WORK FULL TIME IN THE STUDIOS..........
BOB BABBITT

By George Katsakis (64.12.105.157 - 64.12.105.157) on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 06:26 am:

Babbit,

The guitar player with the Dalton Boys was Vern Parker.

By Joe Podorsek (152.163.197.77 - 152.163.197.77) on Monday, April 08, 2002 - 12:06 am:

Hey George, I worked with the Dalton Boys at Harold's Club on Fort Street in Lincoln Park. Dave always amazed me because as his players would come and go.......the band always sounded the same. He had the only band in town doing the Four Seasons stuff AND he did them well.
I lost track of Dave and have no idea how to reach him. Do you know?

By George Katsakis (64.12.105.156 - 64.12.105.156) on Tuesday, April 09, 2002 - 12:57 am:

The last time I talke to Dave was around 1982 and he was living in Alabama. Perhaps Bob Babbitt Knows how to locate him.

By kcgeo (152.163.201.202 - 152.163.201.202) on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 08:46 pm:

I'd heard rumors that there was "another" Dalton Boys group, but the one who made the name started as a folk group. They are in fact brothers Dan, Jack and Wally Dalton - father owned a funeral home in Dearborn, Warren & Schaefer.

The 3 brothers appeared on ABC TV's Hootenany, Mike Douglas, etc. They worked the folk circuit in NYC, San Fran, LA and Cleveland where they operated their own club for a while. Dan joined a group called The Back Porch Majority, sort of a New Christy Minstrals reserve team. Jack and Wally brought their folk act back to Detroit and played all over the area as well as Windsor, where they resided.

After the folk/comedy faze died out, Jack and a buddy named Gary Montgomery formed a rock version of The Dalton Boys and recorded "I've Been Cheated" which received heavy rotation on most of the Detroit stations, and as such, was a minor local hit. They were the first white group signed by Motown ... R. Deane Taylor was the second. They knew each other, but I don't believe they worked together.

Jack and Gary moved to CA and created a new group called Colours which was signed and received substantial acclaim, but after two albums they disbanded. Interestingly enough, their drummer's name was Jimmy Keltner and the bass player was Carl Radle - both of whom went on to much bigger things. Keltner played with George Harrison, Eric Clapton among others.

Jack moved back to Detroit area and did solo gigs for a number of years, as well as recorded "lots", as someone suggested. Jack also was featured in The Red Garter Band all over town. He's still in the business and as I understand it, is still recording.

Wally moved to LA and worked as a writer for Barner Miller, Mork & Mindy, It's a Living and was head writer for Laverne & Shirley. He's now living in Seattle where he still writes and acts in a variety of TV and MOW episodes.

The Dalton's sister, Maryanne, by the way, married Tim Conway.

However, I'm not at all familiar with the group who played downriver under that name. At any rate, I hope this helps sort out some missing details.

Kenny George

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 09:00 pm:

Thanks Kenny

Welcome to the forum.

By Davie Gordon (213.18.222.34 - 213.18.222.34) on Thursday, July 04, 2002 - 03:34 pm:

Hi Kenny,

Thanks for the background on the Dalton Boys.

I really liked Colours - their first album was
excellent especially "Bad Day At Black Rock"

Didn't know about the Back Porch Majority
connection - their connection with the New
Christy Minstrels was that original NCM Randy
Sparks formed the group after leaving the NCM.

Were the folkie Dalton Boys the group who recorded
for Coral ?

By Mark Speck (65.57.16.7 - 65.57.16.7) on Friday, July 05, 2002 - 04:58 am:

Two questions:

1) Wasn't there a rumor going around a while back that the Dalton Boys were the Walker Brothers? It's obviously not true, given the info in this thread, but I'm certain I heard a rumor to this effect.

2) Is this the same Colours who recorded the song "Love Heals"?

Thanks in advance.

Best,

Mark

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Friday, July 05, 2002 - 06:27 am:

Scott Engel and John Maus originally appeared and recorded together as a duo - the "Dalton Brothers", so that is probably where the confusion arises. Apart from the details above which confirm the act's real identity, at the time the Dalton Boys were recording at Motown, Scott and John were already working in the UK with Gary Leeds as the "Walker Brothers"

By David Flynn (213.122.200.57 - 213.122.200.57) on Friday, July 05, 2002 - 01:55 pm:

I have a photo of The Dalton Boys (VIP) somewhere too. White dudes wearing college style cardigans - one perched on a stool holding a guitar, as I recall. Is that the same as the one you have John?

Flynny

By John Lester (213.1.130.219 - 213.1.130.219) on Friday, July 05, 2002 - 03:30 pm:

Flynny

Are you asking me to find it too!! Oh my gawd...where do I start...

Shucks and there was me thinking it was my nest egg!!

LOL!

By David Flynn (213.1.135.71 - 213.1.135.71) on Friday, July 05, 2002 - 06:04 pm:

No, no, no, don't find it now - wait until their "I've been cheated" goes big again, regardless of whether your disc is East or West coast, white demo or stock copy, or indeed which ever flipside it has, as there are two!

Flynny

By kcgeo (12.245.42.99 - 12.245.42.99) on Friday, July 05, 2002 - 09:28 pm:

Thanks for the "Welcome" ... and yes, Love Heals (Do you love one another ...) was a modest hit - to the point, at least, that it was on most juke boxes back then (standard distribution).

Dalton Boys initially wore formal, go-to-church western wear (ala Maverick, with white shirts, bib front and string bowties). When they got to Motown (Gary and Jack), they wore the traditional John Wayne type cowboy gear.

Here's an interesting comment I heard from Jack re: Bad Day At Black Rock - The producer from the group Blood, Sweat and Tears in later years told Jack that they patterned their whole music gig after Bad Day - big production, french horns, big track, etc.

Don't know the label on which they recorded, but Coral sounds right.

I was referred to this site by an old pal who used to sit in with Stix and Stoned back in the 70's. He warned that it was interesting ... and obviously it's now got mine. I haven't heard the name Randy Sparks since '65 - rather amazing and wonder what became of him. I know he had a single out around that time called "Julie Knows" - but that's the absolute last time I've run across his name. And by the way, Dan Dalton married one of the girls from Back Porch, pretty gal from Hamilton, Ontario named Lois.

One more thing ... I believe The Paragons used to play at Dearborn St. Alphonsus dances, n'est se pais?

Actually, there's another thing - someone referred to a tragic accident ... and that's true, but it didn't involve one of the performers, it was Jack's wife who was killed on an LA freeway when her car ran out of gas in the left lane and the car behind her swerved at the last moment and the car behind it, hit her hard.

Best,

By Mark Speck (65.58.51.236 - 65.58.51.236) on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 12:23 am:

The Colours LP was on Dot. There was a big discussion about the LP and the song "Love Heals" in Disc-Coveries magazine a while back.

I think they were signed to Dot around the time that label decided they wanted to be more contemporary and shed their image of a 'music for old farts' label.

Best,

Mark

By KennyG (12.245.42.99 - 12.245.42.99) on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 01:20 am:

Mark,

I mentioned to Jack Dalton that this site was rather interesting, and he should take the time to review some of the things being bantied about re: The Daltons, et. al.

He stopped by this weekend and was quite taken by the fact people actually knew/remembered either group. He is definitely not a technocrat, yet promised to get involved with his hunt and peck typing and spin his yarn to those who might be interested. He's got quite a story to tell, and I know you'd all be interested to hear the lives he's touched upon.

Also, if you've got some specific info re: Disc-overies edition, I know he'd love to read about it.

Thanks for your valuable input.

Warm regards,

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 03:48 am:

Kenny,
Thanks for putting in a good word. His stories are most welcome here.

By john lester (213.1.130.238 - 213.1.130.238) on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 06:39 am:

Woweeeeee.....well done Kennyg.

Our Ralph attends to the favours.....(Ralph - he deserves a large one!)

By Ralph Terrana (Ralph) (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 01:54 pm:

Wish I had a big ol' favour bag I could dip into here John and give one to everyone on the forum.

By Davie Gordon (213.18.222.35 - 213.18.222.35) on Monday, July 08, 2002 - 02:27 pm:

Hi Kenny,

Tell Jack we'll look forward to hearing from him
- and don't worry about lack of keyboard skills
- we're more interested in what he's got to say rather that how well he types.

By Sweet Wallace (12.228.30.126 - 12.228.30.126) on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 04:07 pm:

Hello Detwa...I'm Wally Dalton, one of the many cats who claim to be a Dalton Boy...I dare say my brothers Dan, Jack and I were the first to use the name...how'd we come up with it? Duh! It's our real last name...not a lot of creative imput into that no-brainer...we first started in March of 1961, (yes, I am older than dirt but not Soupy Sales ( a very funny cat, eh?) We worked The Kilarney Castle in Windsor just after my sister married Tim Conway and we met a fine horn player named Jerry Branigan...if anyone knows how to get in touch with Jerry or if he's still playing, let me know...One of the Thunderbirds, a great bar band out of Toledo, stated a group called The Dalton Boys...more later...love to all Deywa..wally

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 04:26 pm:

Hey Wally,
Welcome to the forum. Don't be a stranger. We'd love to hear your stories.

By sweet wallace (12.228.30.126 - 12.228.30.126) on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 06:25 pm:

Does anyone remember The Thunderbirds from Toledo...they used to play Detwa in the 60's...a great band...any info would be appreciated...they kicked ass on "I NEED YOUR LOVIN" the Don Gardner/Dee Dee Ford tune...ah, those were the days...what a cool town Detwa was...love it and miss it...Wally Dalton from Seattle...

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 06:32 pm:

It's nice to hear from you Wally.

Welcome to the forum.

By John Lester (213.1.133.84 - 213.1.133.84) on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 07:40 pm:

Come on Wally...open up mate!! Tell us like it was!!

By Lynn Bruce (64.233.239.172 - 64.233.239.172) on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 10:11 pm:

Sweet wallace:Funny you should mention the thunderbirds.This has been on my mind for a while.They were called Johnny& the thunderbirds:Johnny Rank on Piano,two brothers one played guitar,the other bass,Dave Sandy-sax,and Johnny Echo on drums(I,ve watched the sun come up more then a few times with Mr.Echo,(pass the asprins please).They were one of the most talented bar bands in detroit in the early 60,s.Johnny Rank sounded like Little Ritchard,Dave Sandys could sing like most of the girl groups lead singers and Smokey.They were one of the groups that should have been huge ,but just did'nt have the breaks.About ten years ago I was in toledo talking about old times with Butch and Paul,some of my band mates from Johnny&the Hurricanes,they took me to a club to see Johnny Rank,s band,the group he had then were really some driving musicians.I sat in and did,nt want to leave those guys(they were that good)!!!Johnny Rank told me he works at an auto dealer now selling cars,and plays on the week-ends.I told him if his drummer quits give me a call.He still sounds like and plays the keyboard like Little Ritchard.He was talking about getting out of music.I hope he did'nt as he kicks ass!!!

By sweet wallace (12.228.30.126 - 12.228.30.126) on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 08:11 pm:

Hi folks...a funny story I remember from my sordid past...we worked with Lenny Bruce and The Limelighters back in the Folk era...Lenny was arrested and Alex Gotlieb (of the Limelighters) was subpoenaed for his obscenity trial. The tight assed attorney began..."Mr. Gotlieb, Mr. Bruce has used the term "''''',,,,," twenty times in a 30 minute set" Alex just sat there. "Now, Mr. Gotlieb, do you find the term "''''''',,,,,," funny? With a wry grin Alex said, "Not the weay you say it"...cheers...Detwa...Wally Dalton

By David Meikle (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 09:11 pm:

Wallace

I edited your joke because it was pornographic.

I am not a prude but I am not going to let this forum be subjected to smut and garbage.

This is the third time in the last week that I have had to edit postings from newcomers.

If that's the way you've got to be, go somewhere else.....and I couldn't care less who you are.

Otherwise, I'll pull the plug on the whole thing!

I'll be away for the next four days but will be pleased to respond on return.

PLEASE GET THE MESSAGE AND RESPECT THIS EXCELLENT FORUM.