Rock and Roll

The Buckinghams formed in 1965 when Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna of The Centuries joined up with Jon Jon Poulos and Dennis Tufano of The Pulsations. After adding keyboard player Dennis Miccoli, the group won a 'Battle of the Bands' for a Chicago TV show called All Time Hits and became regulars on the show for 14 weeks. The British invasion was happening at that time and the TV show wanted the band to have a more British sounding name. A security guard that worked for the TV station suggested the name The Buckinghams.

Landing a contract with Chicago's USA Records in 1966, the group was sent to Chess studios where they were paired with producer Dan Belloc. Their first releases were all cover versions of other artists songs: James Brown's "I'll Go Crazy", the Beatles' "I Call Your Name" and the Hollies' "I've Been Wrong Before." While these songs did well in the Chicago area, it took the wistful, Jim Holvay written, "Kind of a Drag" to break the group nationally. The song featured the powerful vocals of Dennis Tufano and a punchy, soul-styled horn section that was the brainchild of James Guercio, who would later go on to produce the band Chicago. Soon after "Kind Of A Drag" was recorded, Dennis Miccoli was replaced by Marty Grebb, the keyboard player from the Chicago folk-rock band The Exceptions.

In just a few weeks, the Buckinghams had a million-selling, chart-topper on their hands. "Kind of a Drag" did for The Buckinghams what no other act seemed to be able to do at that time...knock the Monkees' monster hit "I'm A Believer" out of the #1 spot.

After the demise of USA Records, the Buckinghams signed with Columbia Records and followed "Kind Of A Drag" with a cover version of Lloyd Price's, "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" that quickly stalled at number 36. Columbia wasted no time in going back to the formula that worked so well the first time out, releasing another song co-written by Jim Holvay along with Gary Beisbier called "Don't You Care". That effort secured another top ten hit, when it reached number 6 on the Billboard chart. Not all of their singles had quite as much success though, as "Back In Love Again" topped out at #32.

Cashing in on a good thing, The Buckinghams appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Jerry Lewis Show, American Bandstand, The Smothers Brothers, Entertainment Tonight, P.M. Magazine, and Classic Rock with Wolfman Jack. Between appearances, the band recorded a vocal adaptation of Cannonball Adderley's jazz standard "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy," that soared to number 5.

Still in 1967, Columbia kept pushing out Buckingham singles and a Holvay / Beisbier / Guercio composition called "Susan" made it up to number 11, while "Hey Baby" (They're Playin' Our Song) went to number 12.

Despite selling millions of records and being voted "The Most Listened-To Band of 1967" by Billboard Magazine, the band's Fortunas began to decline in 1968. Their cleverly titled album, "In One Ear and Gone Tomorrow" seemed to be a forecast of things to come, as the LP couldn't produce a hit single. Several line-up changes only undermined their sound and by late 1969, The Buckinghams had decided to pack it in.

Carl Giammarese and Dennis Tufano continued working as an acoustic duo. Work was tough to find and Chicago area clubs were not interested. A demo tape for Reprise Records was turned down. Jon Poulos had started to manage local bands and tried to help. Giammarese and Tufano recorded an entire album demo for Poulos to promote, but nobody wanted to sign them. From there the pair contacted producer Jack Richardson, who worked with The Guess Who. Richardson brought in members of Poco as studio musicians and they laid down three promotional tracks. Poulos sent the demo to every major label, but got no response. He finally contacted former Mamas and Papas producer Lou Adler, who now had his own custom label, Ode Records. Two days after receiving the tape, Adler called to say that he liked the sound and Giammarese and Tufano flew to Los Angeles to audition live. Adler was even more impressed and signed them.

A self-titled Tufano - Giammarese album was released on Ode in 1973 and the first single, "Music Everywhere" managed to climb to #68 on Billboard's Hot 100. A second tune called "Rise Up" was issued the same year, but did not chart. To promote the album, Tufano and Giammarese went out on a two month, nine state promotional tour with Cheech & Chong.

Four tracks for a second album for Ode had been finished when Lou Adler took sick and had to keep leaving the sessions. A discouraged Giammarese decided he'd had enough and began doing session work. During this period, Adler's health declined to a point where he could not make records anymore, but eventually, the second album, titled "The Tufano & Giammarese Band" came together. When the subject of a third album came up, Adler said he will not do another unless he had assurance that Giammarese would stick around for the whole project. To get back on track, the pair assembled a new band, worked clubs and learned new songs. Lou Adler agreed to produce a third LP called "The Other Side". By now Ode was being distributed by Epic Records. Adler hired Hank Cicalo as an engineer and Tom Scott to arrange. On the first day of recording, Adler announced 'I cannot produce anymore, I lost my ear. I want to make movies.' Tom Scott and Hank Cicalo became the producers. The record was finished and made it into record stores, but one week later, Adler cut off the distribution deal with Epic. He wanted to be distributed by Columbia instead. Adler re-released the album, but Columbia had little interest and failed to promote it.

In 1980 The Buckinghams were invited to do a reunion by Chicago radio station WLS. Marty Grebb had to decline because he was working with Leon Russell. 32 year old Jon Jon Poulos died of drug-related causes earlier in the year. It had been eleven years since anyone had seen The Buckinghams play, but after they rehearsed, the pulled off three shows like they had never been apart. The exposure brought a lot of other offers to appear, but Tufano lived in Los Angeles and had other commitments. Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna however, decided to reunite as The Buckinghams.

The band toured extensively as a nostalgia act with Giammarese and Fortuna and released new recordings, the album "A Matter Of Time" and the single "Veronica" in 1985 for Red Label records. They were also a part of the highly successful Happy Together Tour which featured The Turtles, The Grass Roots and Gary Lewis. The tour was consistently one of the Top 10 grossing tours.

During the '80s and 90s, Tufano was not only involved in acting, but joined up with Elton John's songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin in a band called Farm Dogs. An album by Farm Dogs, "Last Stand In Open Country" was released in July, 1996 on Discovery Records.

The Buckinghams continued to be a very impressive band, playing festivals, concerts, casinos, cruises, and corporate dates around the world as interest in 60's hits and the bands that made them famous continued. Their clean and tight musical ability combined with trademark vocals made them a popular draw.

More recently, the latest edition of The Buckinghams released some new recordings that include, 1998's "Terra Firma" and "Made In Chicago" in 2001. In October, 2004, The Buckinghams sang the national anthem at Comiskey Park in Chicago before game one of the American Baseball League playoffs. They also toured the country with the "Solid Gold Sixties Tour" along with Tommy James, The Turtles, The Grass Roots, Paul Revere and the Raiders and Gary Puckett.

Singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett has translated his easy-going Gulf Coast persona into more than just a successful recording career -- he has expanded into clothing, nightclubs, and literature. But the basis of the business empire that keeps him on the Fortune magazine list of highest-earning entertainers is his music.

Buffett was born on Christmas Day on the shores of the Gulf Coast in Pascagoula, Mississippi and later moved to Mobile, Alabama where he was raised. This is where he developed his early Cajun influences and appreciation for country/folk music. The Gulf Coast is also where Jimmy developed his love for the sea and sailing, largely due to the influences of his grandfather.

Jimmy attended Auburn University, and later received a B.S. in History from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1969.

Jimmy's own words describe his early days:
"I got into music basically to meet girls, no doubt about it. Women have always been an influence on my music, good and bad. It looked like the greatest job in the world. I was in college at the time, a freshman at Auburn University. I was a shy, awkward kid from Mobile, kind of a wallflower. My roommate had a guitar, and even though he knew only three chords, he always seemed to be the center of attention with women. I said, 'Teach me those chords'."

So I learned the guitar and started hanging around folk clubs, watching the bands. They all had big shiny Martin guitars; I would've given my right arm for a Martin guitar. And the women -- all the time women -- were hanging around the band. I thought: this is the job for me"

Before he signed his first record contract in 1970, Jimmy worked as a writer for Billboard Magazine in Nashville, Tennessee.

He released one album for Barnaby Records, called "Down to Earth" in 1970, the single from which, a socially conscious song called, "The Christian," suggested he might be more at home protesting in Greenwich Village. Barnaby "lost" his second album, "High Cumberland Jubilee", though they would find it and release it after he became successful. Instead, he moved to Key West, FL, where he gradually evolved the beach bum character and tropical folk-rock style that would endear him to millions.

Jimmy tells the story:
"I was always a lover of the lyrical song, and I think the people who influenced me in those days typified my upbringing. I grew up in Mobile, and my relatives on my grandmother's side were a kind of Cajun, Indian, wild people from that area. My grandfather was a sailing-ship captain who migrated from Nova Scotia. So it was a gumbo type of musical experience. I'd listen to the radio from New Orleans -- Benny Spellman, Irma Thomas, and great old black New Orleans artists -- which is contrary to what most people think. They assume if you come from Alabama, you listen to country music. I didn't really like it much; all my early influences were out of New Orleans".

"I first started playing in folk clubs, and I drew on all this great Gulf Coast, New Orleans, black input. I was also listening to people like Gordon Lightfoot and Joni Mitchell, who were great writers above everything else. I wanted to write clever, good songs like those people".

"I was in Nashville in 1971. I'd been turned down by 26 record labels and couldn't get songs published. I had wrecked my first wife's car, and I had no alternative, I thought, but to look toward warmer climates. So I took an expired Diner's Club card, held my thumb over the expiration date, went to the TWA counter, and bought a ticket to Miami. I was supposed to have a job at a little coffee house called the Flip, the "in" place for folkies in south Florida then. At any rate, I got to Miami, and of course there was no job. I was in Florida, with no job, and I was broke. Fortunately my old friend Jerry Jeff Walker had a house there and took me in. So I lived in Coconut Grove for about 6 months and worked the folk circuit. I had always wanted to go to Key West. Watching Edward G. Robinson and Humphrey Bogart in Key Largo was the catalyst that sent me farther South. So we got into Jerry Jeff's '47 Packard and took the old overseas highway to Key West. We got there sometime in November; the temperature was about 85 degrees, there was a sailboat race going on, I found a bar, and the rest is history".

Signing to ABC-Dunhill Records, Buffett achieved notoriety but not much else with his second (released) album, White Sport Coat & a Pink Crustacean (1973), which featured a song called, "Why Don't We Get Drunk" ("... and screw?," goes the chorus).

Buffett revealed a more thoughtful side on "Living & Dying in 3/4 Time" (1974), with its song of marital separation "Come Monday," his first singles-chart entry.

"I was in Europe on a film documentary, shopping in a department store in London, when I heard "Come Monday" over the loudspeaker. I thought I'd better call home and see what was happening, and by that time it was #10 or so. I had to stay in Europe for three more months, yet everything had taken off in the U.S."

But it took the Top Ten song "Margaritaville" and the album in which it was featured, "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes" (1977), to capture Buffett's tropical worldview and, for a while, turn him into a pop star. The next release, the title track from the album, sounded so much like Margaritaville that it received little air-play and follow-ups got even less. Still, Buffett's beach bum image made fans flock to his concerts and he became a top draw.

By the start of the '80s, Buffett's yearly albums had stopped going gold, and he briefly tried the country market again. But by the middle of the decade, it was his yearly summer tours that were filling his bank account, as a steadily growing core of Sun Belt fans he dubbed "Parrotheads" made his concerts into Mardi Gras-like affairs. Buffett launched his Margaritaville line of clothes and opened the first of his Margaritaville clubs in Key West. He also turned to fiction writing, landing on the book bestseller lists. He also found time for his passion of flying, purchasing his own sea-plane and taking off in an F-14 Tomcat from the deck of an air-craft carrier.

His recording career, meanwhile, languished, though a hits compilation called "Songs you know by heart", sold millions, a 1990 live album, "Feeding Frenzy", went gold, and a 1992 box-set retrospective, "Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads", became one of the bestselling box sets ever.

Buffett finally got around to making a new album in 1994, when "Fruitcakes" became one of his fastest-selling records, reaching "platinum" status. The title track received plenty of radio air-play and the LP entered Billboard's Top 200 album chart at number 5. It was followed in 1995 by "Barometer Soup", which entered the charts at number 6 and went "gold" (with some help from The Weather Channel even), and the number 4 platinum selling "Banana Wind" in 1996, from which he got airplay with a radio single of James Taylor's "Mexico". The following year, Buffett began working on a musical adaptation of Herman Wouk's novel Don't Stop the Carnival with the author himself. After Broadway producers expressed little interest, the production ran for six weeks in Miami during 1997. In spring of 1998, Buffett released "Don't Stop The Carnival", an album based on the book and the play. He began mulling over the idea of taking the play on the road (it went to Miami and the Bahamas). He also released another book - the number one selling A Pirate Looks At Fifty.

1999 brought more successful live shows and the release of two new albums, "Beach House On the Moon" and "Buffett Live - Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays", both of which went "gold".

March of 2002 saw the release of "Far Side of the World", Buffett's first studio album for his new self-run label, Mailboat Records. In mid 2003 a double-album hits compilation "Meet Me In Margaritaville" was released and his 2003 Tiki Time Tour shows were recorded and released on Mailboat. Amidst the summer tour was a number one single with Alan Jackson on "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" - Buffett's first ever number one in music. The Tiki Time Tour ended in January of 2004 in Hawaii (the live album and DVD was released through Mailboat in the fall of 2004 and was released nation wide in the spring of 2005 with the same DVD from the two shows). In December, before the Hawaii shows, he recorded a new record in Key West with a group of country stars and various well respected musicians. Originally called Conchy Tonk , (and later changed to) "License To Chill" debuted at number one on the Billboard LP chart in mid-July of 2004 - Jimmy's first ever number one album. It spun off two Top Ten videos on CMT - the Hank Williams cover of "Hey Good Lookin'" and the Buffett / Martina McBride duet "Trip Around The Sun". Jimmy was even featured in Rolling Stone - the summer of 2004 was truly Buffett's summer. Part of the Chill tour was playing Fenway Park in Boston.

Just in time for Christmas of 2004, he released another book, a continuation of the travels of Tully Mars (from Tales From Margaritaville). A Salty Piece of Land did not get to number one but it did sell very well. Its first printing run included a song called "A Salty Piece Of Land" that was a leftover from the Conchy Tonk / License To Chill sessions.

A Salty Piece Of Land 2005 Summer Tour saw Jimmy playing in football stadiums (Pittsburgh) and another baseball stadium (Wrigley in Chicago for two nights) along with the usual ampitheatres.

In February, 2006, Buffett announced that he would take the summer off from touring. "I'm kinda taking it easy now," he said in a conversation with Radio Margaritaville DJ Miles Hampton. "It's the last summer with my kids before they go off to boarding school, so I'm gonna travel with them and work the spring and the fall. I don't want to do much right now."

Buffett has also been putting in time at his Shrimp Boat Studios in Key West, Fla., recording the follow-up to 2004's "License to Chill".

Jimmy Buffett remains one of the hottest concert draws ever, playing sold out shows to legions of "Parrot Heads" where ever he goes.

Here is one of the Best Party Songs By Jimmy..

One million performances is the equivalent of approximately 50,000 broadcast hours, or more than 5.7 years of continuous airplay!

Over 8 Million Times

The Righteous Brothers - You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'

Over 7 Million Times

The Association - Never My Love
The Beatles - Yesterday
Ben E. King - Stand By Me
Otis Redding - Dock Of The Bay

Over 6 Million Times


Simon and Garfunkel - Mrs. Robinson
Johnny Rivers - Baby, I Need Your Loving
Ray Charles - Georgia On My Mind
The Police - Every Breath You Take
Roy Orbison - Oh Pretty Woman
Gladys Knight - I Heard It Through The Grapevine
The Everly Brothers - All I Have To Do Is Dream
The Platters - Only You
The Chi-lights - Oh Girl
Elton John - Your Song
James Taylor - How Sweet It Is
Rita Coolidge - Higher & Higher
Ray Charles - I Can't Stop Loving You
Bette Midler - Wind Beneath My Wings
The Beatles - Michelle
The Fifth Dimension - Up, Up and Away
The Drifters - On Broadway
The Platters - Twilight Time
Frank Sinatra - Strangers in the Night
Neil Sedaka - Breaking Up Is Hard to Do
The Drifters - Save the Last Dance for Me

Over 5 Million Times

Roberta Flack - Killing Me Softly With His Song
Marcello Ciorciolini - More
Dolly Parton - I Will Always Love You
Percy Sledge - When A Man Loves A Woman
Glen Campbell - Gentle On My Mind
The Beatles - Something
Simon and Garfunkel - Sounds Of Silence
Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon and Garfunkel - Scarborough Fair
Glen Campbell - By The Time I Get To Phoenix
Merilee Rush - Angel Of The Morning
The Association - Cherish
The Supremes - You Can't Hurry Love
Credence Clearwater Revival - Proud Mary
Bobby Hebb - Sunny
Nilsson - Everybody's Talkin'
Little Anthony and The Imperials - Goin' Out Of My Head
Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds
The Classics IV - Traces
Guy Lombardo - Canadian Sunset
The Turtles - Happy Together
Ray Charles - Georgia On My Mind
Johnny Rivers - Baby I Need Your Lovin'
The Cascades - Rhythm Of The Rain
The Four Seasons - Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You
Willie Nelson - Always on My Mind
Bette Midler - The Rose
Don Henley - The Heart of the Matter
The Box Tops - The Letter
The Casinos - Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye
Englebert Humperdinck - Release Me
The Drifters - Up on the Roof
Eric Clapton - Layla
Sam Cooke - You Send Me

Over 4 Million Times


Ray Price - For the Good Times
The Carpenters - We've Only Just Begun
Sam Cooke - What a Wonderful World
Anne Murray - Snowbird
Carl Carlton - Everlasting Love
The Vogues - My Special Angel
Charlie Rich - The Most Beautiful Girl
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
Stevie Wonder - My Cherie Amour
The Association - Windy
Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes - If You Don't Know Me By Now
Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville
Engelbert Humperdinck - Spanish Eyes
The Monkees - Daydream Believer
Elton John - Daniel
The Eagles - Take It Easy
The Bellamy Brothers - Let Your Love Flow
Elvis Presley - Don't Be Cruel
The Doobie Brothers - Listen to the Music
Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders - A Groovy Kind of Love
Roy Orbison - Crying
Jackie DeShannon - Put A Little Love In Your Heart
Elton John - Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
Sami Smith - Help Me Make It Through the Night
Eagles - Best of My Love
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Mr. Bojangles
James Taylor - Fire and Rain
Roy Orbison - Blue Bayou
Matt Monro - Born Free
Brook Benton - It's Just A Matter Of Time
The Beatles - Let It Be
Olivia Newton John - I Honestly Love You
Lynn Anderson - I Never Promised You A Rose Garden
Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now

Over 3 Million Times


Engelbert Humperdinck - After The Lovin'
Gilbert O'Sullivan - Alone Again, Naturally
The Beatles - And I Love Her
Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street
Charlie Rich - Behind Closed Doors
The Everly Brothers - Bye Bye Love
The Beach Boys - California Girls
The Everly Brothers - Cathy's Clown
Mason Williams - Classical Gas
Elton John - Crocodile Rock
Sam Cooke - Cupid
B J Thomas - Hooked On A Feeling
Eagles - Desperado
Orleans - Dance With Me
Martha Reeves - Dancing In The Street
The Lovin' Spoonful - Do You Believe In Magic
Diana Ross - Do You Know Where You're Going To
Jackson Browne - Doctor My Eyes
Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds - Don't Pull Your Love
Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop
The Beach Boys - Don't Worry Baby
Credence Clearwater Revival - Down On The Corner
Bobby Darin - Dream Lover
Stevie Nicks - Dreams
Eddie Rabbit - Drivin' My Life Away
Kansas - Dust In The Wind
Marty Robbins - El Paso
Don Henley - The End Of The Innocence
Bryan Adams - Everything I Do, I Do It For You
Harpers Bizarre - Feelin' Groovy
Roberta Flack - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
The Carpenters - For All We Know
Stevie Wonder - For Once In My Life
Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth
The Youngbloods - Get Together
Donnie Osmond - Go Away Little Girl
The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Chicago - Hard To Say I'm Sorry
Olivia Newton John - Have You Never Been Mellow
Eagles - Heartache Tonight
Todd Rundgren - Hello It's Me
The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun
The Beatles - Hey Jude
B.J. Thomas - Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song
Steve Winwood - Higher Love
Simon and Garfunkel - Homeward Bound
Michal Bolton - How Am I Supposed To Live Without You
The Bee Gees - How Can You Mend A Broken Heart
The Bee Gees - How Deep Is Your Love
The Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself
Eagles - I Can't Tell You Why
Elton John - I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
Eddie Rabbit - I Love A Rainy Night
Barrie Manilow - I Write The Songs
England Dan and John Ford Coley - I'd Really Love To See You Tonite
John Lennon - Imagine
Bertie Higgins - Key Largo
Roger Miller - King Of The Road
Steam - Kiss Him Goodbye
The Beach Boys - Kokomo
Neil Sedaka - Laughter In The Rain
Bill Withers - Lean On Me
Olivia Newton John - Let Me Be There
Little Eva - The Loco-Motion
The Beatles - The Long and Winding Road
Elvis Presley - Love Me Tender
Captain and Tennille - Love Will Keep Us Together
Barrie White - Love's Theme
Rod Stewart - Maggie May
Barrie Manilow - Mandy
Chuck Berry - Memphis
Tommy James - Mony Mony
Frankie Valli - My Eyes Adored You
George Harrison - My Sweet Lord
Frank Sinatra - My Way
Eagles - New Kid In Town
Carly Simon - Nobody Does It Better
Stephen Bishop - On and On
The Beatles - Penny Lane
Johnny Rivers - Poor Side Of Town
Paul Anka - Put Your Head On My Shoulder
The Four Tops - Reach Out, I'll Be There
Little River Band - Reminiscing
The Rolling Stones - Satisfaction
The Supremes - Someday We'll Be Together
Dan Hill - Sometimes When We Touch
The Righteous Brothers - Soul and Inspiration
Glen Campbell - Southern Nights
Blood, Sweat and Tears - Spinning Wheel
The Classics IV - Spooky
Orleans - Still The One
Seals and Crofts - Summer Breeze
Eddie Cochran - Summertime Blues
Eagles - Tequila Sunrise
Buddy Holly - That'll Be The Day
Tony Orlando - Tie A Yellow Ribbon
The Zombies - Time Of The Seasons
The Bee Gees - To Love Somebody
The Byrds - Turn Turn Turn
The Drifters - Under The Boardwalk
The Everly Brothers - Wake Up Little Suzie
Dave Mason - We Just Disagree
The Fifth Dimension - Wedding Bell Blues
The Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go?
Michael Murphy - Wildfire
Joe Cocker - You Are So Beautiful
Firefall - You Are The Woman
Roy Orbison - You Got It
Blood, Sweat and Tears - You Made Me So Very Happy




In May, 2004, The British performing rights group Phonographic Performance Ltd celebrated its 70th anniversary by listing the 70 songs that have played most in Great Britain on the radio, in clubs and on jukeboxes. No indication was given of how many times the songs were played. The Top Ten are:

1. Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale
2. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
3. Wet Wet Wet - Love Is All Around
4. Everly Brothers - All I Have To Do Is Dream
5. Bryan Adams - (Everything I Do) I Do It For You
6. Abba - Dancing Queen
7. Elvis Presley - All Shook Up
8. Rod Stewart - Maggie May
9. The Beatles - Hello Goodbye
10. The Beatles - Get Back