They had three hit singles in 1969, "May I" (U.S. #39), "I've Been Hurt" (U.S. #35), "What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)" (U.S. #23).[2] Their single "Swingin' Tight" reached (U.S. #85) in December 1969.[3][4] "Nothing Succeeds Like Success" reached (US #63) on the charts in the spring of 1970.[5] The band disbanded in 1975, but reformed and still carries on the tradition even after the passing of Bill Deal.[1]
Freddy Owens murder
On March 4, 1979, band member Ernest Frederick "Freddy" Owens, joined after 1970 and served as lead vocalist as well as playing sax and bass. He was robbed and shot dead by Jeremiah Carr at a Holiday Inn motel in Richmond, Virginia, where the band had a show earlier that evening. He had attempted to stop Carr from escaping after Carr raped his wife. Two shots wounded another band member in the room.[6] While Bill Deal kept going on with the Rhondels for another four years, he never really got over this incident and quit the music business in 1983.[1]
Members
Bill Deal (born July 8, 1944, died December 10, 2003) - vocals, organ, electric piano, bass pedals (1959–1983)[1][7][8][9]
Ammon Tharp (born Ammon Chester Tharp on July 5, 1942, in Norfolk, Virginia, died September 22, 2017)[10][1] - vocals, drums (1959–1983)[7][8][9]
Bill Deal and the Rhondels, Vintage Rock, Heritage HTS 35,003, 1969
The material for this album was recorded in New York City between July 25, 1968 (May I) and March 10, 1969 (multiple), with the most tracks recorded at Bell Sound Studios on March 10, 1969.[11] The "Swingin' Tight" track ("Swinging Tight" is often cited, but is not the official title spelling of the song. "Swinging Tight" is the title to the album released in 1980), first recorded March 10, 1969, is distinct from the similarly-named track on the second album, below and is a slow version of the song.[11]
The Best of Bill Deal & The Rhondels, Heritage HTS 35,006, 1970
The material for this album, which substantially overlaps the Vintage Rock album, was recorded in New York City between July 25, 1968 ("May I") and October 30, 1969 ("Harlem Shuffle"), with the most tracks recorded at Bell Sound Studios on March 10, 1969.[11] The "Swingin' Tight" track, recorded on October 3, 1969, is distinct from the similarly named track on the first album, above and is a faster single edit version.[11]
