The Beau-Marks
Canadian musical group
The Beau-Marks were a Canadian rock music group formed in 1958 in Montreal, Quebec. Their first release, the April 1959 single "Rockin' Blues" b/w "Moonlight Party", came out under the name The Del-Tones, but the group changed their name soon afterward in a nod to the Bomarc missile. Their breakthrough hit was "Clap Your Hands," which hit #1 in Canada and Australia, peaked at #45 on the US Billboard pop charts, and #40 on Cashbox. It reached #8 on the New Zealand Lever Hit parade. The tune was also released in French as "Frappe Tes Mains" and a Quebec version as "Tape des mains", lyrics by late Michel A. Lebel, as one of Rock n' Roll Queen Lucie Marotte's finale favorites. Their debut, ten-track full-length LP came out in 1960. They also appeared on American Bandstand and at a charity concert at Carnegie Hall soon afterwards. Two more albums followed before the group broke up in 1963; a 1968 reunion saw "Clap Your Hands" get a re-release which reached #74 on the RPM charts.
The Beau-Marks were the first Canadian band to be headliners at the Peppermint Lounge in New York City and to be invited to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Members
Raymond "Ray" Hutchinson - guitar (Died early November, 2021 at age 81)
Michel "Mike" Robitaille - guitar and bass
Joseph "Joey" Fréchette - piano and vocals
Gilles Tailleur - drums
Phillip "Shakin" Baker - lead guitar and vocals (alt/back-up)
Discography
The High Flying Beau-Marks (1960)
The Beau-Marks in Person!
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