The Barnyard Theatre in partnership with Luvroc Entertainment and LM Radio proudly present THE STACCATOS REVIVAL.
The band features the legendary founder, Brian Le Gassick (Guitar
Vocals) and the phenomenal Steve Ashley (a former Lead
Vocalist of the Staccatos on vocals again They are backed by a
four piece supporting band consisting of Connie Bentlage
(Keyboards Saxophone Vocals) Mias Lotz ( Trevor
Muller Bass Guitar) and Jaco Smit (Lead Guitarist)
The band was formed by Brian Le Gassick in 1961 while he was
studying at Damelin College During 1962 and 1963 the band
played many sessions and other gigs around Johannesburg and
the Reef
In
the latter part of 1963 a competition, which became known as
the “Beatles Of South Africa”, was organised and the band played
together with many other groups at cinemas in the East Rand,
throughout Johannesburg and also in the West Rand All the
competing bands would appear before interval and the main
feature movie This culminated in the finals featuring 4 bands at
the Colosseum Theatre in Johannesburg in April of 1964
The Staccatos won and part of the prize was a recording contract
with EMI SA’s first Super Group
“Come back Silly Girl” entered the charts on 17 December 1965
and reached the number two position on the Springbok Hit Parade.
The song put the Band on the map, as this was also their first
chart topper.
The Staccato’s entered the Springbok Radio hit parade in August
1968 (50 years ago) with the Terry Dempsey composition
‘Butchers and Bakers’. ‘B&B’ spent 10 weeks on the chart peaking
at number 2. A few months later Billy Forrest took them into the
Studio and recorded ‘Cry to me.’
The song went to #1 and spent 38 weeks on the chart during
1969!!!. No other local or international hit featured on Springbok
Radio hit parade could ever improve on this exceptional chart run
of 38 weeks. The song’s popularity surged after The Staccato’s
had performed the song live in the controversial movie ‘Katrina’.
We wonder if anyone knows how many copies of the single were
sold in SA in the late sixties/early seventies? They were the first
Band in SA to receive four Gold Records for ‘Cry to me’, for sales
in excess of 400 000 at the time. The Band also received a Sarie
award in 1970 as "Top Beat Group“.
The Band disbanded at the end of 1999.
To this day, most radio stations still play this monster hit, and it’s
a crowd favourite at any function.