The Catalinas
The Catalinas are an American beach music band from the late 1950s.
Since the Catalinas formed in Charlotte, North Carolina, in late 1957, over 60 accomplished guitarists, keyboardists, trumpet players, drummers, bass players & singers have been a part of the band. Most have come from communities along the Interstate 77 corridor from Statesville to Charlotte.
Gary Barker, a Statesville resident who plays guitar and sings, is the current owner of the band. He started with the band in 1965, and has been the steadying influence for the last thirty years. In his own words, "I just did not get it into my head that I was getting paid to do something I love."
Barker attributes the band's long success to the ongoing popularity of beach music and the great tunes that the band has composed and recorded over the years. Some of their classics include, "You Haven't The Right," "Facts Of Love," "Dancin'-Romancin'," "Hey Little Girl (aka Rainy Day Sunshine)," and their signature song "Summertime's Calling Me" from 1975.
The band has had its down moments including the death of lead vocalist, Tommy Black in a plane crash in 1968 and the death of band member Ronnie Gittens on October 28, 2005. Gary Barker has been the band's glue, keeping it going even when rock & roll in the late '60s & early '70s threatened to submerge the Catalinas and beach music. The Catalinas had little choice but to play their share of Crosby, Stills & Nash, Grand Funk Railroad, etc. "You either played it or you didn't get any work," said Gary Barker.
A rare song by the Catalinas is entitled "Boss Barracuda", which is a song about the Plymouth Barracuda.[1]
The Catalinas Album "Fun" 1964 RK Records M1006
"Fun" was produced by Bobby Darin's T. M. Productions in two sessions (March 26 and May 20, 1964) at RCA Victor Studios in Hollywood, California. The ones that really created The Catalinas Band from 1957 up thru the late 60's and kept people flocking to their shows whether,Mertle Beach Pavilion or The Cellar Bar or Park Center in Charlotte, N.C. the longest musicians were as follows:Rob Thorne, Sidney Smith,Jack Stallings,Johnny Edwards,Tom Plyler,Johnny Barker,& Gary Barker. They were the foundasion of the band during that time that drew people to their jammin' music to set themselves free for a few hours. And Tom Black wrote & sang the famous song,"You Haven't The Right",just before his plane crash somewhere around 1965.Gary Barker wasn't the so called glue of the band until way later. That's The Truth of It All! I was there with them from 1957 till I volunteered for Vietnam in 1969. Came back in the seventies, The Catalinas were still going strong especially at all the colleges up thru North Carolina. I should know, I was their roady at the time going from one college to another day after day. who am I? Rob Thorne's younger brother Scott Thorne. Just wanted to set the records straight so Gary Barker doesn't try to claim all the Fame & Self Glorification over the other band members. It took each & every one of them together to create such a Hell of a band & they didn't ask for much in return.
References
Just a couple corrections to previous comments. Tommy Plyler, March 23, 1944-October 23, 2017, wrote "You Haven't The Right" and Tom Black, April 14, 1941 – April 10, 1968, was lead vocalist. Gary Barker has never claimed to be the "glue" in the band but many others have credited him with that. He has consistently been with the band since 1965 never missing a job. 2018 marks the 61st year for one of the most enduring groups in the country, The Catalinas from Charlotte. BTW, this band was not the group who recorded the album "Fun".
External links
Members:
- Gary Barker (lead guitar, vocals)
- Johnny Barker (keys, vocals)
- Lynn Barker (bass, keys, vocals)
- Dwight Nichols (lead vocals)
- Barry Duke (lead vocals, sax)
- Jody Rumple (drums/percussion, vocals)