Genres Pop Active until 1969 Genre Pop music | Years active 1961–1969 Active from 1961 Record label Musicor Records | |
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Origin Cincinnati, Ohio, United States Labels Saxony Records
Musicor Records Past members Dorothy Sunni Dyer
Linda Lin Schroeder
Pat Strunk
Wanda Wendy Sheriff
Tinker Smiddy
Bobbie Frost
Susie Leight Albums Tears Come Tumbling, Highway Is My Home, You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had, Daddy Told Me Similar Shawn Holt & the Teardrops, Magic Slim and the Teardrops, Ray Camacho, Magic Slim, John Primer | ||
The Teardrops were an American girl group popular during the 1960s.
Contents
Career
The Teardrops were formed around 1961 by two friends, Dorothy Dyer and Linda Schroeder, (both girls were 14 years of age at the time) in Cincinnati, Ohio. They later recruited Hughes High School student and school friend Pat Strunk as the third voice. During 1962-63 the trio were performing at local teen tenues in Cincinnati until they were spotted by musician/arranger George Bud Reneau, who then introduced them to his partner, songwriter, Paul Trefzger. The trio signed with Bud and Paul's Saxony Records in 1964 along with the deal came fourth member, Wanda Sheriff. the now quartet recorded "Tonight I'm Gonna Fall In Love" / "That's Why I'll Get By" in the fall of 1964, It received local airplay in Cincinnati, and in other cities across the US. The Teardrop's local success had them opening for The Beach Boys and Sonny and Cher.
In early 1965, they followed up with "Call Me and I'll Be Happy", which featured Schroeder on lead. After the single's release, founding member Dyer decide to leave the group, and was replaced by Tinker Smiddy. Their third single "Tears Come Tumbling" was granted national distribution by Musicor Records, who also issued their final single, "I Will Love You Dear Forever", in 1966.
By late 1966, other founding members, Sheriff and Strunk both left with Smiddy departing the group the following year. Dyer later returned to the group, rejoining Schroder along with two new members, Bobbie Frost and Susie Leight, for the final incarnation, until marriage and career changes caused the group to break up in 1969.
By the 1980s, all of the Teardrops recordings resurfaced on vinyl in the United Kingdom, including the unreleased track "Here Comes Loneliness" which went on to become a Northern soul favorite along with the B-sides, "Bubblegummer", You Won't Be There, and "I'm Gonna Steal Your Boyfriend". In 2001, Saxony Records released a compact disc of all the Teardrops material.
Linda Schroeder-Milazzo passed in 2003. Dorothy Dyer-Wethington and her husband still live in Cincinnati. Pat (Punkin) Strunk-Howard lives near lake Cumberland with her husband. Wanda (Wendy) Sheriff-Engelhardt lives part-time in Cincinnati and part-time at her retirement cabin in Daniel Boone National Forest. They reunited around 1989 for a reunion ball at the Clarion in Cincinnati, and performed various places for a few months. Author John Clemente included The Teardrops in his book "Girl Groups... Fabulous Females Who Rocked the World", and The Teardrops performed at Yesteryears Club for the premier book signing at the release of his book. Dorothy remained in Doo-Wop music the longest, still singing with groups in the Cincinnati Area. And fun was had by all!!
Members
Singles
Albums
Songs
Tears Come TumblingTears Come Tumbling · 2011
Daddy Told MeDaddy Told Me · 2013
Here Comes LonelinessTears Come Tumbling · 2011