Sandpipers
Originally signed to A&M Records as the Grads in February 1966.
It was producer Tommy LiPuma's idea to record "Guantanamera" because he knew the group could sing in Spanish. LiPuma did the recitation that appears in the song. It was recorded on June 8, 1966. The musicians who appeared on the track were Tommy Tedesco (guitar), Hal Blaine (drums), Gary Coleman (percussion), Joseph Gibbons (guitar), Mike Melvoin (piano), Lyle Ritz (bass), Dennis Budimir (guitar) and Max Bennett (bass). The song peaked at #3 on Billboard's Easy Listening Chart on September 17, 1966. It was #58 on Cash Box's Top 100 Chart Hits of 1966.
"Guantanamera" internationally:
#7 in Flemish Belgium and #5 in Walloon Belgium
#1 in Mexico on December 24, 1966.
Canada included "Guantanamera" as one of its best selling singles of 1966.
Top 5 In Britain
#6 in the Netherlands
#4 in Australia
"Louie, Louie" entered Billboard's Easy Listening chart on October 30, 1966. It peaked at #26 on November 26, 1966.
Billboard named the Sandpipers the #3 Best Selling Folk Artist of 1967 in its Top Artists On Campus and Billboard's Best Selling Popular Groups of 1967 ranked the Sandpipers at #14. The #10 Best Selling Pop Standard Album was Guantanamera.
The Apollo 12 crew took a tape of The Sandpipers The Wonder of You to the moon.
Come Saturday Morning sold more than 500,000 copies in the U.S. by June 1970.
The Greatest Hits album of 1970 were the most requested songs from radio play and concerts.
Pamela Ramcier was the uncredited female vocalist on the Sandpipers recordings.
- A&M 'Greatest Hits' LPs Due The Month. Record World, February 24, 1970.
- Tommy LiPuma 35th Anniversary. Michael Bourne. Billboard, September 16, 1995.
| Name | Member Years | Instruments |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Brady | 1966-1972 | vocals |
| Michael Piano | 1966-1972 | vocals |
| Richard Shoff | 1966-1972 | vocals |
| Name | Birth | Death |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Brady | 1944-08-24 | 2019-05-05 |
| Michael Piano | 1944-10-26 | 2014-12-29 |
| Richard Shoff | 1944-04-30 |