The Easy Riders (American band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Easy Riders


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Background = group_or_band
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Origin = Los Angeles, California
Genre = Folk Music
Years_active = 1956-59
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Current_members = Terry Gilkyson, Richard Dehr, and Frank Miller
Past_members =

The Easy Riders were a U.S. folk music band that operated from 1956 to 1959, consisting of Terry Gilkyson, Richard Dehr, and Frank Miller. Their career was guided by Mitch Miller, who had them under contract for Columbia Records.

Their greatest hit, in early 1957, was the song "Marianne". The group also composed some tunes for the 1958 cinemiracle-documentary Windjammer, such as "Kari waits for me" and "Sugar cane". One of Gilkyson's songs was a number one hit for Frankie Laine, "The Cry Of The Wild Goose". Gilkyson wrote many tunes for Laine, and he & The Easy Riders were also featured on Frankie's 1957 hit, "Love Is a Golden Ring", having also penned the number for Laine. [Bio of Terry Gilkysonby [http://www.elizagilkyson.com/Terry_Gilkyson.htm Don Richardson] , written shortly after he died ]

Many songs of the group became more known through the interpretation of other singers, such as the Kingston Trio, Gale Storm, Harry Belafonte, Doris Day, Burl Ives and the Brothers Four. Their song Memories Are Made of This became a top hit through the interpretation by Dean Martin. After the Easy Riders made a single with the 1927 song "Tell The Captain", the Beach Boys adapted it and made of it their hit "Sloop John B."

Terry Gilkyson left the group in the beginning 1960ies to work for Disney-Films and eventually write the Oscar-nominated "The Bear Necessities" for Disney's The Jungle Book.

In the 1960's, Rich Dehr ran a unique restaurant, The Discovery Inn, in Topanga Canyon, near Los Angeles, and had some of his gold records on the wall.

Discography

* "Marianne and other songs" (Columbia 1957)
* "Wanderin' Folk Songs" (CBS 1959)
* "Easy Riders" (Epic 1960)

External links

* [http://music.yahoo.com/ar-313655-bio--The-Easy-Riders The Easy Riders biography at Yahoo! Music]
*amg|11:d9ftxqq5ldfe|The Easy Riders

References