Johnny and the Hurricanes was a rock and roll band that began as The Orbits in Toledo, Ohio in 1957. Led by saxophonist Johnny Paris (born John Pocisk, 1940, Walbridge, Ohio - died 1 May 2006, Ann Arbor, Michigan), they were school friends who played on a few recordings behind Mack Vickery, a local rockabilly singer.
They signed with Harry Balk and Irving Micahnik of Twirl Records, which led to national engagements in 1959. Johnny and the Hurricanes recorded "Crossfire" in a vacant cinema to provide echo. That became a nationwide U.S. hit, and ranked No. 23 in the U.S. chart in the summer of 1959.
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Johnny and the Hurricanes followed with an instrumental version of "Red River Valley" on Warwick Records, that became a Top Ten hit on both sides of the Atlantic (No. 5 in the U.S., No. 3 in the UK), and sold over a million copies. The musicians in the band then were Paris on saxophone, Paul Tesluk on hammond organ, Dave Yorko on (guitar), Butch Mattice on bass), and Bill "Little Bo" Savich on drums.
Many recordings were cover versions of old tunes with a rock and roll beat. They chose these songs because they were well recognized and easier to accept with the rock and roll beat of the accordion which then led to the Hammond Chord Organ. Johnny Paris and the Hurricanes were the first rock and roll group to introduce these instruments to the rock and roll world. Tunes were credited to 'King, Mack' and sometimes one other name. In 1960, they recorded the United States Army bugle call, "Reveille", as "Reveille Rock", and turned "Blue Tail Fly" into "Beatnik Fly". Both tunes made the Top 40 achieving number 15 and 25 respectively. The band also recorded "Down Yonder" for Big Top Records. Still in 1960, they recorded "When The Saints Go Marching In" as "Revival", but it ranked in the charts for just one week, and peaked at No. 97. The track fared better in the UK as the B-side of "Rocking Goose", which reached No. 3 in the U.K. chart.
The band developed a following in Europe. In 1962, they played at the Star-Club in Hamburg, where The Beatles, then a little-known band,served as an opening act. Johnny and the Hurricanes cut records until 1965. Johnny continued to tour with the Hurricanes in Europe and United States until his death. Johnny had an uncle (Realtor) in Rossford, Ohio (Johnny's home town) who owned a building on the main street and offered Johnny's wife (Sharon Venier-Pocisk) space for an antique shop. When not on the road he helped out with the antique shop and vending machine business as payment for the store front for his wife.
Johnny Paris and his band toured Europe occasionally until 2006, shortly before Paris died. Paris claimed that over 300 musicians played in the band in its fifty years existence.
The band inspired the song "Johnny and the Hurricanes" on the album How I Learned to Love the Bootboys, by the band The Auteurs. They were namechecked as well in the Kinks' 1973 song "One of the Survivors."
Johnny and the Hurricanes was a rock and roll band that began as The Orbits in Toledo, Ohio in 1957. Led by saxophonist Johnny Paris (born John Pocisk, 1940, Walbridge, Ohio - died 1 May 2006, Ann Arbor, Michigan), they were school friends who played on a few recordings behind Mack Vickery, a local rockabilly singer.
They signed with Harry Balk and Irving Micahnik of Twirl Records, which led to national engagements in 1959. Johnny and the Hurricanes recorded "Crossfire" in a vacant cinema to provide echo. That became a nationwide U.S. hit, and ranked No. 23 in the U.S. chart in the summer of 1959.
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Johnny and the Hurricanes followed with an instrumental version of "Red River Valley" on Warwick Records, that became a Top Ten hit on both sides of the Atlantic (No. 5 in the U.S., No. 3 in the UK), and sold over a million copies. The musicians in the band then were Paris on saxophone, Paul Tesluk on hammond organ, Dave Yorko on guitar, Butch Mattice on bass, and Bill "Little Bo" Savich on drums.
Many recordings were cover versions of old tunes with a rock and roll beat. They chose these songs because they were well recognized and easier to accept with the rock and roll beat. Tunes were credited to 'King, Mack' and sometimes one other name, King and Mack were in fact pseudonyms for Harry Balk and Irving Micahnik, the band's managers[1]. In 1960, they recorded the United States Army bugle call, "Reveille", as "Reveille Rock", and turned "Blue Tail Fly" into "Beatnik Fly". Both tunes made the Top 40 achieving number 15 and 25 respectively. The band also recorded "Down Yonder" for Big Top Records. Still in 1960, they recorded "When The Saints Go Marching In" as "Revival", but it ranked in the charts for just one week, and peaked at No. 97. The track fared better in the UK as the B-side of "Rocking Goose", which reached No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart.[2]
The band developed a following in Europe. In 1962, they played at the Star-Club in Hamburg, where The Beatles, then a little-known band, served as an opening act. Johnny and the Hurricanes cut records until 1965. Johnny continued to tour with the Hurricanes in Europe and United States until his death. Johnny had an uncle (Realtor) in Rossford, Ohio (Johnny's home town) who owned a building on the main street and offered Johnny's wife (Sharon Venier-Pocisk) space for an antique shop. When not on the road he helped out with the antique shop and vending machine business as payment for the store front for his wife.
Johnny Paris and his band toured Europe occasionally until 2006, shortly before Paris died. Paris claimed that over 300 musicians played in the band in its fifty years existence.
The band inspired the song "Johnny and the Hurricanes" on the album How I Learned to Love the Bootboys, by the band The Auteurs. They were namechecked as well in the Kinks' 1973 song "One of the Survivors."
   | History of Rock Johnny and the Hurricanes - Johnny and the Hurricanes |
| | ''The Independent Online'' "Johnny Paris obituary - Johnny Paris - Obituaries, News - The Independent |
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