J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers

The Cavaliers formed around 1955 with leader/guitarist Sid Holmes, bassist Lewis Elliott, saxophonist Rob Zeller, drummer Ray Smith and vocalist Alton Baird. Baird was drafted shortly after the group formed; the band brought in J. Frank Wilson, stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base, in the early 1960s. Wilson left after a short time.

Sonley Roush [http://home.roadrunner.com/~hifiebay/Sonleyrouschbizcard.jpg] became the manager of the group. He brought to them a song originally done by Wayne Cochran named "Last Kiss". Wilson was located, and they recorded it in 1964. It became an instant hit.

In 1964 the band played in the Knights of Columbus Hall for the San Angelo, Texas Central High School junior prom. The fee paid them by the class officers for a six-hour performance that year was $75, plus one fifth of bourbon — the drink, it was said, had become the sole sustenance of the drummer, Snake, an early incarnation both in stick style and appearance of the very great Ginger Baker in his Cream manifestation. "Last Kiss" was then a current hit, and in the wide-open West Texas of the day, with lots of teens regularly driving full-bore by dark on the surrounding two-lane blacktop highways and listening after sunset to Oklahoma City mega-station KOMA, everyone at the prom thought they knew personally the crashed couple, or supposed they might be next.

Shortly following the hit, the group began to have problems. Holmes and Zeller were becoming irritated with Roush's management. Wilson began leading a party lifestyle. After only a few gigs, Wilson and the rest of the band parted ways. Wilson and Roush formed a new Cavaliers band. While driving in Ohio later that year, Roush fell asleep at the wheel. They collided head-on with another vehicle. Roush was killed and Wilson injured- he was on crutches for his American Bandstand performance a short time later. The second Cavaliers band split. Wilson recorded, backed by session musicians, "Hey Little One" the next year, to little success.

Meanwhile, the remaining original Cavaliers had continued. Holmes was out shortly after Wilson left, and Elliott took over leadership of the group. James Thomas came in as the new vocalist, and Buddy Croyle filled Holmes' vacancy. Shortly after that, Zeller and Smith were out, and were replaced by Snake Atkinson (guitar) and Mike Hodges (piano).

Thomas remained with the Cavaliers for 33 years. He is now a realtor. Atkinson is also no longer with the group but is still making music, he recently released a CD entitled Still Rockin After all These Years. J. Frank Wilson died in 1991.Mike Hodges is alive and well living in the greater Cincinnati area.He played with several well known bands such as Dickey Betts and Great Southern,the Van-Dells,Gregg Allman Band and the Daps (James Browns fabulous Flames)just to name a few.He still writes songs and does work as a studio musician but the thing that he enjoys the most is playing with the Praise and Worship team at his church,Covenant Way Christian Center in Lebanon,Oh.He will soon be releasing his first Christian album entitled "In the Key of God".You may contact him by e-mail at [e-mail]

External links

* [http://koti.mbnet.fi/wdd/jfrankwilson.htm Discography (complete?)]
* [http://music.yahoo.com/ar-289424-bio--J-Frank-Wilson Yahoo! Biography]
* [http://hammer.prohosting.com/~snake45/jfrank.htm Snake Atkinson]
* [http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2323 Songfacts]