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1910 Fruitgum Company

The 1910 Fruitgum Company is an American bubblegum pop band of the 1960s. The group's Billboard Hot 100 hits were "Simon Says", "May I Take a Giant Step", "1, 2, 3, Red Light", "Goody Goody Gumdrops", "Indian Giver", "Special Delivery", and "The Train".[1]

Career

The band began as Jeckell and The Hydes in New Jersey in 1966. The original members were Frank Jeckell, Mark Gutkowski, Floyd Marcus, Pat Karwan and Steve Mortkowitz – all from Linden, New Jersey.[2][3]

During 1967, they were signed to Buddah Records, where they released five LPs under their own name and a variety of singles, as well as appearing on the LP The Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus.[citation needed] Their first hit single, "Simon Says", reached #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at #2 on the UK Singles Chart.[4]

The original five members of the 1910 Fruitgum Company circa 1966; photo taken at the home of Floyd Marcus. Shown on top from the left are Floyd and Steve. On the bottom are Pat, Frank and Mark.

The band started touring, opening for major acts such as The Beach Boys.[5] They also released these other chart hits: "May I Take a Giant Step" (U.S. #63), "1, 2, 3, Red Light" (U.S. #5), "Special Delivery" (U.S. #38), "Goody, Goody Gumdrops" (U.S. #37), "Indian Giver" (U.S. #5) and "The Train" (U.S. #57).[6]

The original group disbanded in 1970.[7]

Late 70s Fruit gum Co.

In 1999, original member Frank Jeckell and Mick Mansueto put the act back together.[7] As of 2019, Fruitgum currently performs its own hits, in addition to other songs from the 1960s.[8]

Million sellers

"Simon Says" sold three and a half million. "1, 2, 3, Red Light" and "Indian Giver" each sold over one million copies. All three were awarded gold discs.[2]

Band members

Current lineup

Former members

1980s road band members

Discography

Singles

Albums

References

  1. ^ "Interview With The 1910 Fruitgum Company". Classicbands.com. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 244 & 264. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  3. ^ Voger, Mark. "1910 Fruitgum Company: From Linden to the Top 10", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, February 28, 2014, updated March 29, 2019. Accessed November 25, 2019. "Jeckell's fellow founding members were Mark Gutkowski (lead vocals, keyboards), Pat Karwan (guitar), Steve Mortkowitz (bass), and Floyd Marcus (drums).... And so five young men from Linden with aspirations to be the next Vanilla Fudge scored a Top 10 hit ... with a bubblegum song."
  4. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 395. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. ^ "Floyd Marcus of 1910 Fruitgum Co : Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts.com. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  6. ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 904. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  7. ^ a b Bower, Carolyn. "Remembering 1968: The Music of 50 Years Ago!". Boomermagazine.com. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  8. ^ Price, Robert. "'60s return to Newton Theatre". New Jersey Herald. Retrieved April 19, 2019.[permanent dead link]

External links