The Buckinghams

Formed in 1965 in Chicago, Illinois, The Buckinghams are a pop / rock band best known for the 1966 hit “Kind of a Drag,” which accented their brass-led rock sound. Founded by members of various local bands, the line-up included guitarist Carl Giammarese, bassist / guitarist Nick Fortuna, drummer John Poulos, keyboardist Marty Grebb and vocalist Dennis Tufano although there would be line-up changes along the way. Originally calling themselves The Pulsations, they became the house band on a variety show on WGN-TV, although they were asked to change their name to sound more like they were part of the British Invasion. Signing to USA Records, they released a series of singles that sold well locally but they did not score a national hit until 1966’s “Kind of a Drag,” which went to number 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100. While The Buckinghams’ sound was initially leaning towards a raw garage rock sound, the success of the soulful, horn fueled “Kind of a Drag” – and the album of the same name - inspired a move into a new blue eyed soul / pop direction. After hooking up with producer James William Guercio, they signed to Columbia Records and released their second album, Time & Charges (1967), and the hit singles “Don’t You Care” (number 6) and “Mercy Mercy Mercy” (number 5). Later that year, they released the Guercio-produced album Portraits and the hit singles “Hey Baby (They’re Playing Our Song)” (number 12) and “Susan” (number 11). The Buckinghams became one of the biggest groups of 1967. However, Guercio abandoned the producer’s chair, and Jimmy Wisner produced their next album, In One Ear and Gone Tomorrow (1968), which was not as successful as their first three full-length albums. The album’s single, “Back in Love Again,” didn’t even make the Top 40 and subsequent singles didn’t even make the Top 100. The Buckinghams soldiered on after several more line-up changes, but they finally called it quits in 1970. In 1980, most of the group reunited for a Chicagofest event and decided to continue performing together. Since then, there have been several different variations of the band’s line-up performing live and releasing occasional albums including A Matter of Time (1985), Terra Firma (1998), Reaching Back (2007), and The Joy of Christmas (2008).