The Vogues

Career

The group, originally named the Val-Aires, formed in 1958 at Turtle Creek High School. They signed with Pittsburgh manager Elmer Willet, who produced their first recording release "Which One Will It Be/Laurie My Love". DJ Porky Chedwick became a supporter booking the group for his rock and roll shows and record hops. Chedwick put them on bills with the Drifters, the Platters, and the Dells. Clark Race of KDKA radio promoted the group on his KDKA TV dance show. Having strong regional sales it was picked up for national distribution by Coral Records.

After high school, several members of the group joined the Army while others went to college. A few years later with their enlistments completed and degrees in hand, they decided to record again. They pitched in $100 apiece to record a demo tape. They hired Nick Cenci, who had broken Lou Christie, to produce the recording. In 1965, Cenci produced recording sessions for the Val-Aires at Gateway Studios in Pittsburgh. The band recorded vocals for a cover of the Petula Clark song "You're The One." It was released on the band's own Blue Star label. Cenci persuaded John Rook, program director of KQV, to play the single. With local airplay and sales Cenci signed them to the Co & Ce label as the "Vogues". He had the single distributed nationally. The song became a national hit reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100. Later in 1965, Cenci produced another Vogues recording session giving the world the no. 4 Billboard hit, "Five O'Clock World".

In 1966 Co & Ce Records released the singles "Magic Town", which reached no. 21 in February, and the no. 29 "The Land of Milk and Honey". The singles "Summer Afternoon" and "Lovers Of The World Unite" were released on Co & Ce in 1967. Co & Ce leased the Vogues to Reprise Records (distributed by Warner Bros.) where they scored a no. 7 hit with the song "Turn Around, Look at Me". They continued to hit the charts with cover versions of "My Special Angel", "Till" ,"No, Not Much", "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)", "Moments To Remember," and Green Fields".

From 2004 until 2006, original member Hugh Geyer toured with Blasko's group in the 14 Western Pennsylvania counties that Blasko's group was permitted to tour in. This limitation on Blasko's group was awarded to him by a Pennsylvania court. After creative differences with Blasko, Geyer left that group at the end of 2006.

In March 2007, Geyer joined the national touring group of The Vogues of "trademark" owner Stan Elich. Geyer continued to perform with this group until his retirement in December 2012.

In May 2008, original lead vocalist Bill Burkette joined Geyer in touring the USA with the "trademark" Vogues. The members of this group included Burkette, Geyer, group owner Stan Elich, Troy Elich and Jim Campagna. Stan Elich died in December 2010. His son Troy now owns the trademark "The Vogues".

The Vogues line-up, as of January 2016, is original lead singer Bill Burkette, Troy Elich and Royce Taylor. Taylor had previously been a member of The Vogues from 1991–1997. Current band members are Albert Pavlik (Lead Guitar), Artie Deleonardis (drums), JR Wright (keyboards), and Rich Gooch (bass).

The original group made many TV appearances in the 1960s, including The Tonight Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, Shindig, The Red Skelton Show, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, American Bandstand, Hullabaloo and several appearances on The Mike Douglas Show.

The original group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.

Studio albums