About J. Frank Wilson & The Cavaliers
Hometown
San Angelo, TX, United States
Formed
1955
Genre
Rock
This US outfit was formed in the mid-50s in San Angelo, Texas, by Sid Holmes (guitar), Lewis Elliott (bass), Ray Smith (drums), Rob Zeller (saxophone) and Alton Baird (vocals). After years of little success, the group teamed up with new vocalist Frank Wilson (b. 11 December 1941, Lufkin, Texas, USA, d. 4 October 1991). Wilson was serving in the Air Force in San Angelo, Texas, and upon his discharge in 1962 the band stayed together to play in the area. Their lone US hit, ‘Last Kiss’ was one of the last of the particular genre known as ‘death rock’, in which teenagers sang about teenage lovers who meet horrifying deaths from accident, suicide, and fatal disease. (Others in this area included the Shangri-Las’ ‘Leader Of The Pack’, Mark Dinning’s ‘Teen Angel’ and Ray Peterson’s ‘Tell Laura I Love Her’.) ‘Last Kiss’ first charted in 1964, when it zoomed to number 2, and briefly charted again in 1973. The song was written and originally recorded without success by Wayne Cochran who, during the 60s had built up a career as a Caucasian version of James Brown. Shortly afterwards the line-up sundered, with Wilson forming his own version of the Cavaliers and recording ‘Hey Little One’, but the song had none of the inspiration of its predecessor and charted at only number 85. Wilson’s former bandmates, minus the ousted Holmes, continued playing as the Cavaliers with new members James Thomas (vocals) and Gene ‘Buddy’ Croyle (guitar). Further line-up changes ensued but these Cavaliers enjoyed as little success as the outfit led by Wilson. The latter embarked on a solo career in the mid-60s, but his progress was blighted by the alcoholism that took his life in 1991.
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