The Gentrys were a rock band from Memphis, Tennessee. The group formed
in 1963 and initially called themselves the Gents. The original members
were: Bruce Bowles (vocals), Bobby Fisher (keyboards), Jimmy Hart
(vocals), Jimmy Johnson (trumpet/keyboards), Pat Neal (bass), Larry
Raspberry (guitar/lead vocals), and Larry Wall (drums). They started
out playing at high school dances and signed with the independent label
Youngstown after winning a local Battle of the Bands contest. Their
debut single "Sometimes/Keep on Dancing" was picked up for wider
distribution by MGM Records. The infectiously bouncy and upbeat "Keep
on Dancing" sold a million copies and peaked at #4 on the Billboard pop
charts in 1965. The group capitalized on the success of "Keep on
Dancing" by not only doing guest spots on the musical variety TV shows
"Shindig," "Hullabaloo," and "Where the Action Is!," but also touring
with the Beach Boys and Sonny and Cher. The Gentrys appear as
themselves and perform the song "Spread It On Thick" in the silly
"Beach Party" teen comedy romp "It's a Bikini World." Alas, the band's
two follow-up singles failed to crack the Top 40 and they subsequently
broke up in 1966. In 1969 Jimmy Hart relaunched the Gentrys with a new
line-up. This particular incarnation of the group recorded covers of
such hit songs as "Cinnamon Girl" and "Wild World" as well as original
compositions like "He'll Never Love You" and "Why Should I Cry" for the
Sun label before folding in 1974. Hart went on to become a highly
colorful professional wrestling manager. Moreover, fellow original band
member Larry Raspberry now fronts his own blues-rock outfit called
Larry Raspberry and the High-Steppers.
It's a Bikini World(1967)as The Gentrys
My Music: 50s & 60s Party Songs(2014)
Shindig!(1964)
Hollywood a Go Go(1964)
Hullabaloo(1965)
American Bandstand(1952)as Themselves - Musical Guests
Upbeat(1964)as Self
Where the Action Is(1965)as Themselves
The Lloyd Thaxton Show(1961)as Themselves
A Year in Music(2019)as Themselves