The Vibrations were formed in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., in 1955.
The group were originally known as the Jayhawks.
The group comprised:
Dave Govan (b. 2nd August 1940, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.)
Carl Fisher (b. 27th December 1939, Wharton County, Texas, U.S.A.)
James Johnson (b. 13th September 1939, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.)
Richard Owens (b. 24th April 1939, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. d. 6th December 1995)
Don Bradley (b. 7th August 1936, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.)
and
Carver Bunkum (solely performing with the Jayhawks)
The Vibrations were an R & B band that enjoyed great successes due largely to their stage performances.
Carl Fisher was born in Wharton County, Texas in 1939.
He relocated to Los Angeles in 1948 and, eventually, graduated from Dorsey High.
Carver Bunkum became part of the Jayhawks, but never made it to the ranks of the Vibrations.
The group released the song 'Oh Cindy' in 1962, followed by 'Sloop Dance' two years later.
Previously they went under the name of the Jayhawks, who recorded the original version of 'Stranded In The Jungle', a song they shared with the Cadets.
The group recorded several sides for the Flash Records imprint.
Richard Owens replaced Bunkum, with Don Bradley joining the ranks later on.
The group became the Vibrations in 1959 and had a hit with 'The Watusi' two years later.
In 1961 they recorded the single, 'Peanut Butter', under another name, the Marathons.
Following on, as the Vibrations, the group recorded the song 'So Blue' for the Chess Records label, out of Chicago.
'My Girl Sloopy' followed in 1964 and was a U.S. Top 30 single, on the CBS imprint , along with 'Love Up In Them Hills' around the same time.
'Hang On Sloopy', a later chart-topper by the McCoys, utilising the Vibrations song as a template.
The group enjoyed several follow up successes up until 1968.
These included 'Misty' in1965 and 'And I Love Her' in 1966.
Richard Owens briefly joined the Temptations in 1971, however, he sadly passed away in 1995.
Carl Fisher resides in Los Angeles, today, and is still singing and songwriting.
Albums:
Watusi! (Checker Records 1961)
Misty (OKeh Records 1964)
Shout! (OKeh Records 1965)
New Vibrations (OKeh Records 1966)
Vibrations (OKeh Records 1972)
