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 BillboardHot 100chart and peaked at #2 on the UK Singles Chart.[4]
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]
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
Frank Jeckell (Original Member Guitar and Vocals)
Mick Mansueto (Lead Vocals and Percussion)
Glenn Lewis (Bass and Vocals)
Eric Lipper (Keyboards and Vocals)
Keith Crane (Drums)
John Roginski (Guitar, Keyboards and Vocals)
Former members
Mark Gutkowski (Original Member Lead Singer on all the hits and Hammond B3 Organist)
Pat Karwan (Original Member Lead Guitarist and Vocals)
Steve Mortkowitz (Original Member Bass Player and Vocals)
Floyd Marcus (Original Member Drummer and Vocals)
Mick Mansueto (Lead vocals)
Jerry Roth (Tenor Sax)
Bob Brescia (Keyboards, Vocals and Music Director)
Thomas "Bart" Bartleson (Drums)
Mike Edell (Keyboards and Vocals)
John Korba-Guitar/Vocals
Ralph Cohen (Douglas) (Trumpet)
Pat Soriano (Hammond B3 Organist)
Bruce Shay (Bass and Vocals)
Rusty Oppenheimer (Drums and Vocals)
Larry Ripley (Bass, Woodwinds and Vocals)
Chuck Travis (Guitar and Vocals)
Richie Gomez (Guitar and Vocals)
Michael Stoppiello (Guitar and Vocals)
Philip Thorstenson (Drums and Vocals)
1980s road band members
Randy Monaco (Lead Vocals)
Jim Bulkowski (Lead Guitar)
Russ Hoffmaster (Drums & Vocals)
Rick Gainor (Bass & Vocals)
John Siroky (Keyboards)
Discography
Singles
Albums
References
^"Interview With The 1910 Fruitgum Company". Classicbands.com. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
^ a bMurrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 244 & 264. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
^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."
^Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 395. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
^"Floyd Marcus of 1910 Fruitgum Co : Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts.com. Retrieved August 19, 2015.