Following the recent catter triumph, the question remains: WHERE IS GARY TROXEL (of the Fleetwoods)???
From: http://www.history-of-rock.com/fleetwoods.htm:
In 1958, Barbara Laine Ellis, and Gretchen Diane Christopher wanted to form a singing group in their hometown of Olympia, WA, to entertain at school functions during their senior year.In an attempt to come up with a trio or quartet, they auditioned other girls, but none qualified. They then decided to work as a duo with instrumental accompanist.. They enlisted Gary Robert Troxel from nearby Centralia, to play the trumpet.
The girls' harmonizing was fine, but the trumpet was out of place. A suggestion was made to have Gary wordlessly vocalize the trumpet part. Thus, by accident, was born the unique sound of the Fleetwoods - who were then known as Two Girls and a Guy. Immediately popular in Olympia, they performed quiet versions of rock and roll hits "Goodnight My Love,"Confidential," and "Runaround."
Up until that time, the Pacific Northwest had largely been ignored as a producer of rock and roll records.ΓΏ Still, in the area between Portland and Seattle, there was a sizable teen audience that was happy for entertainment.
The local success of Two Girls and a Guy did not go unnoticed in Seattle. Bonnie Guitar was preparing to launch her own Dolphin label and was looking for a musical group with appeal to teens. Miss Guitar put out the word she was auditioningrecording acts. A talent Scout in Olympia sent in a tape of a song co-written by Two Girls and a Guy called, "Come Softly."Miss Guitar was impressed enough to invite them to Seattle to audition. The group did a few rock and roll standards before they were asked to do "Come Softly," a simple tune which the female and male lead voices alternated. the group soon found themselves in the recording studio...
( I skip the years of triumph!!!).
The Fleetwood's last charted single came in the summer of 1963 with "Good Night My Love". The group continues releasing singles on Dolton - eight more over the next two years. After a six years of success, the Fleetwoods went their separate ways. The group reformed in the early 70s to meet the demand for oldies acts. By the late 1970s, Gary was working at a plywood plant near the Canadian border. Barbara managed a mobile home park in Ontario, CA. Gretchen continued to perform solo on occasion while becoming a housewife and instructor of modern dance. In 1982 Gretchen and Gary were working the oldies circuit with a new partner Cheryl Huggins. Gary was in and out of the group for a time, while Gretchen trained replacements. By 1984, the Fleetwoods were booked in Canada with Gretchen the only original member. Jobs for the Fleetwoods came in spurts: a week at Expo '86, an evening in Seattle. In the 1990s, the Fleetwoods consisted of Gretchen, Karen Cohn and Gene Howard. on the strength of their past hits, they performed across the country, from Southern California Exposition to Madison Square Garden in New York City.....
And now????
(I hope he isn't in prison with Darlene).
yours, Peter T.