- Classics IV
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Classics IV 
Classics IV, 1968.Background information Origin Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. Genres Soft southern rock, pop rock Years active 1965–present Labels Imperial Records Website www.theclassicsiv.com The Classics IV were a band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, United States, in 1965, given credit for beginning the "soft southern rock" sound. The band and its lead singer Dennis Yost are principally known for the hits "Spooky", "Stormy", and "Traces", released in 1967 to 1969, which have become cover standards.
Contents
Career
Early days
The group grew out of a local cover band called The Classics, consisting of Buddy Buie, J.R. Cobb, Walter Eaton, Dennis Yost, and Robert Nix. Buie, Cobb, Nix and Dean Daughtry went on to play in The Atlanta Rhythm Section; and Nix on the first two Lynyrd Skynyrd albums. The band played Ventures covers, instrumental versions of "Misty" and "Summertime". People started requesting songs that required vocals, so Dennis would say "I can sing that", and that was the beginning of the group's changing direction. In addition to playing a rendition of The Tornados "Telstar", they started playing songs with vocals, such as "Sherry" by The Four Seasons. When Dennis Yost joined Wally (Walnut) Eaton's group they became The Classics. Dennis had been a member of the band "The Echoes". The name "The Classics" came from the "Classic" drum set Dennis Yost had. He was well known in the Georgia/Florida area, as the "stand up drummer". He said he played drums, sang lead, M-C d, and sometimes drank a beer at the same time!
When Wally Eaton discovered Dennis could sing, The Classics recorded a Four Seasons sounding, regional hit called "Pollyanna", a song written by Joe South, with Dennis Yost singing lead. Shortly after they received a letter stating that another group had the name, "The Classics" and had a hit call "Till Then". Not wanting to change the name they added IV because there were only 4 members. Kim Venable was hired after the name change. The Classics IV members were Dennis Yost (vocals & drums), James B. Cobb, Jr. (guitars), Wally Eaton (Bass) and Joe Wilson (guitar & keys). During live shows, Yost would stand in the front of the stage and play drums while singing the lead vocals. Cobb and Wilson left the band and Wilson was replaced by Dean Daughtry.
The Classics IV moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1967 and were discovered by Bill Lowery who produced their first national hit in 1968 with "Spooky", a song they recorded in 1967 on the Imperial Records label. Guitarist James Cobb and producer Buddy Buie added lyrics to an instrumental called "Spooky", a regional hit for saxophonist Mike Sharpe. The song made it to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S., and #46 in the UK. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[1]
Having achieved popularity, the group brought in Kim Venable on drums so that Yost could focus on singing. They changed the band name to Classics IV Featuring Dennis Yost and enjoyed two last Top 10 hits, "Stormy" (1968, #5) and "Traces" (1969, #2) and a Top Twenty hit, "Everyday With You Girl" (1969, #19) (Cobb and Buie borrowed heavily from 1936's "Everyday With Jesus" by Robert C. and Wendell P. Loveless).
"Stormy" and "Traces" both sold over one million units, and were awarded gold discs by the R.I.A.A..[1] "Spooky", "Stormy", "Traces", and "Everyday With You Girl" also appeared in the 1977 film The Chicken Chronicles.
They changed their name again, to Dennis Yost and the Classics IV, and had one more hit, "What Am I Crying For?" (1972, #39) on the MGM South label. Cobb, Daughtry and producer Buddy Buie joined the Atlanta Rhythm Section in 1974.
Later career
Dennis Yost was credited as the creator of the "Southern Soft Rock" sound. He was known as "the singer's singer" and "The Classic One" because of his smooth, unique voice, and was described as singing "with a tear in his voice". He was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1993, an honor he coveted most, because Ray Charles, his favorite singer, was inducted a few years before.
Yost continued to perform with Classics IV for the next thirty years. During the 1990s the lineup included Steve "Stevie G." Guettler (guitar, vocals), Jeff "JT" Strickler (bass guitar, vocals), Steve Farrell (guitar, vocals), Mike Wilson (keyboards, vocals) and Wes Armstrong (drums, vocals) of the Atlanta based group "The Rockerz". He also used the Nashville based group Steve Jarrell and "The Sons of The Beach Band". From 2000 to 2005 the lineup included Tom Vale (saxophone, backing vocals), Bill Johnson (keyboards), Brian Correll (guitar, backing vocals), Doug Reed (drums), and during 2005, Don Martin (bass), and Perry Williams (keyboards & sax at last 3 concerts). The final concert of "Dennis Yost" and the Classics IV was at Chenay Bay, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, on Sept.24, 2005.
Injury and death of Dennis Yost
On July 11, 2006, Yost fell down a flight of stairs and suffered serious brain trauma. To assist Yost and his wife with their medical bills, a benefit concert was held on March 25, 2007, at Rhino's Live in Cincinnati, Ohio. The benefit was originally conceived by Yost's close friend Jon "Bowser" Bauman, former vocalist with Sha Na Na. Many musical entertainers and some surprise guests from the 1950s through the 1970s performed some of their biggest chart-topping hits in tribute to Yost. Some of the artists performing that day were Denny Laine (The Moody Blues and Wings), Chuck Negron (previously of Three Dog Night), Ian Mitchell (Bay City Rollers), Pat Upton (Spiral Staircase), "Diamond" Dave Somerville, The Skyliners, Buzz Cason, Carl Dobkins Jr., Mark Vollman (The Turtles), and Classics IV guitarist Brian Correll. The concert did not significantly benefit Yost or his wife financially, as was hoped; expenses far exceeded the money raised, leaving the event in the red. However, it was a huge boost for Yost to visit with so many old friends.
After Dennis' accident, he chose Tom Garrett to replace him as lead singer for The Classics IV. The plan was for Dennis to make a few yearly "special appearances," and gradually have Tom take over as the leader of the band. However, Dennis was able to perform with them for only one appearance in 2008. Tom and Dennis worked closely together to develop the current lineup. He chose Tom to help him keep The Classics IV music going in the Classics IV tradition. Dennis would listen to the band on recorded CDs, and during that time Tom and Dennis became close friends. The band Dennis chose three years ago to continue with The Classics IV trademark consist of Tom Garrett as lead vocalist, Kevin Lloyd on bass, Tim Ridgeway on drums, Joe Sadler on guitar, Garard Motague III on flute and saxophone, and James Yoder on keyboards.
Dennis Yost died of respiratory failure on December 7, 2008, at the age of 65[2] on the 40th anniversary of "Stormy"'s entrance into the Hot 100's top 10.
Covers
Yost owned the rights to the Classics IV name for performing and recording. Cover versions of "Spooky" have been recorded by several artists including Dusty Springfield, Gary Walker and The Rain, The Velvet Monkeys, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Lydia Lunch, Daniel Ash, Jazz Butcher, Puppini Sisters, David Sanborn, Shock of Pleasure, Marc Antoine and Imogen Heap for the soundtrack of the film Just Like Heaven.
Madlib sampled an instrumental version of "Stormy" by Reuben Wilson for his album Shades of Blue (Blue Note, 2003).
Barry Adamson sampled "Spooky" on his track "Something Wicked This Way Comes".
In 1969 The Ventures recorded an album track which featured an instrumental medley of "Spooky", "Traces" and "Stormy".
Diana Ross & The Supremes recorded a version of "Stormy" in early 1969, although it remained unreleased until the 1980s.
Santana (band) scored a hit with "Stormy" in December 1978, from their Inner Secrets album.
The Atlanta Rhythm Section hit the Top 20 with "Spooky" in 1979 on the album Underdog.
Singer John Legend recorded a song entitled "Save Room" in 2006 that samples Gábor Szabó's version of "Stormy".
Bloodhound Gang used a base from "Spooky" in the song "Why's everybody always pickin' on me"
Ron Sexsmith's single "Still Time" samples "Traces".
In 1994, Gloria Estefan recorded a cover version of "Traces" on her album Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me.
Discography
Albums
Vinyl LPs
- Spooky - Imperial 12371 - 1968
- Mamas And Papas/Soul Train - Imperial 12407 - 1968
- Traces - Imperial 12429 - 1969 (as Classics IV featuring Dennis Yost)
- Song - Imperial - 1970
- Golden Greats, Volume 1 - Imperial 16000 - 1969
- What Am I Crying For?/Rosanna/Make Me Believe It - MGM South - MSH-702 - 1972/73 (as Dennis Yost and The Classics IV)
CDs
- Lil' Bit Of Gold - Rhino R3 73004 - 1988 (this is one of Rhino's rare gold 3 inch CD singles featuring the band's four hits, "Spooky", "Traces", "Everyday With You Girl", and "Stormy") (as Classics IV featuring Dennis Yost)
- The Very Best of Classics IV - Capitol - 1988
- The Greatest Hits - EMI Special Products - 1992
- Best Of Dennis Yost & The Classics IV - Imperial/Capitol from the (Legendary Masters Series) 2003
- ' "Atmospherics" 28 hits of Dennis Yost and The Classics IV' Australian release 2003
- The soundtrack of "Six Feet Under" HBO series, "Spooky" 2004
Singles
- "Spooky" - Imperial 66259 - 1968
- "Stormy" - Imperial 66328 - 1968
- "Traces" - Imperial 66352 - 1969
- "Everyday With You Girl" - Imperial 66378 - 1969
- "Change Of Heart" - Imperial 66393 - 1969
- "Midnight" - Imperial 66424 - 1970
- "The Funniest Thing" - Imperial 66439 - 1970
- "What Am I Crying For?" - MGM South 7002 - 1972
References
- ^ a b Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp. 218 & 256. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ Associated Press, December 8, 2008 Classics IV singer Dennis Yost dies at 65; www.msnbc.msn.com
External links
Categories:- Music of Atlanta, Georgia
- Musical groups established in 1965
- Musical groups from Jacksonville, Florida
- Imperial Records artists
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