THE VIBRANTS

The band started out as the backing group for singer Bobby James, with the original instrumental lineup comprising Geoff Skewes (organ), Terry Osmond (guitar), Terry Radford (guitar), Brenton Hay (saxophone), Jeff Gurr (bass) and Rick Kent (drums). In this guise they recorded two singles for EMI's Columbia imprint, "Jezebel / Darlin' Look At Me'' in 1965 and ''I've Learned / Almost Eighteen'' in 1966. After a trip to Melbourne to play at Pinocchio's nightclub in early 1966, James left to form the Bobby James Syndicate. 

Skewes got together a new lineup for the group. In April 1966, with Rick Kent (drums), John Perry (vocals), Mike Wade (guitar), Billy Pfeifer (bass) and John "Hoss" Hossen (saxophone) (all these members had previously been involved with other bands, apart from John Perry who had worked as a soloist), they were a popular act in their hometown. They frequently backed local and visiting solo artists, such as Bev Harrell and Johnny O'Keefe, before moving permanently to Melbourne in July 1966.

Don La Roche became their new manager, and had them signed with EMI's Columbia label, at which point Mick Hamilton (ex-The Moods) replaced Idris Jones (The Jones Boys) who had temporarily replaced Mike Wade on guitar. Their first single, "I've Got To Go" (September 1966) did not chart, but the follow-up, a cover of The Four Tops' "Something About You, Baby" (January 1967) was a Top 20 hit in Australia. It has since become the track for which they are best known and has been anthologised on several compilation albums of Australian 1960s pop music. It was followed by "The Letter Song" and, in October, by "My Prayer / Don't Let Your Left Hand Know", which was a major double-sided hit in Melbourne (#5 and "My Prayer" also charted in other states). They supported overseas act Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass in Melbourne in 1967. John Perry was replaced as lead singer by Marc Leon (ex-Impulse), and Bill Pfeiffer left not long after, with Barry Rogers taking over on bass. Their next single, a cover of the Bee Gees' "Terrible Way to Treat Your Baby" was released in late June 1968. It sold only moderately in Adelaide and Melbourne and reached #51 nationally.

In October 1968, a major split took place, with Leon, Hossen and Rogers leaving with their manager, La Roche, to form a new group called The Graduate. Skewes, Hamilton and Kent formed The New Vibrants with Penny Parsons (vocals) and Bob Flynn (bass). They released two singles on the Air label including "I Can't Let Go Of Your Love", their biggest hit, which climbed to #55 in 1970, and "Give Me Just A Little More Time". In 1971 Ken Leroy (ex-John Rupert Group) replaced Flynn on bass, and Trevor Courtney (ex-Chants R&B, Cam-Pact) replaced the long serving Kent on drums. This final version of the band broke up in 1973. In 2017 The Vibrants were inducted into the South Australian Music Hall of Fame. John Hossen died from heart failure in 2007. John Perry died in 2017. Geoff Skewes died in 2019. Marc Leon died in 2024.

Members

Bobby James (vocals) Geoff Skewes (organ), Terry Osmond (guitar), Terry Radford (guitar), Brenton Hay (saxophone), Jeff Gurr (bass), Rick Kent (drums), John Perry (vocals), Mike Wade (guitar), Billy Pfeifer (bass), John "Hoss" Hossen (saxophone), Marc Leon (vocals), Barry Rogers (bass), Mick Hamilton (guitar), Penny Parsons (vocals), Bob Flynn (bass), Ken Leroy (bass), Trevor Courtney (drums)

SINGLES

''Jezabel / Darlin' Look At Me'' [with Bobby James] 1964 Parlophone

''Furry Legs / Maybe Tomorrow'' [with Roger Dee] 1965 W&G

''I've Learned / Almost Eighteen'' [with Bobby James] 1966 Columbia

''I've Got To Go / Someody Help Me'' 1966 Columbia
''Something About You, Baby (#15) / Danger Zone'' 1967 Columbia
''The Letter Song (#65) / How Sweet It Is'' 1967 Columbia
''My Prayer (#10) / Don't Let Your Left Hand Know'' 1967 Columbia
''Terrible Way To Treat Your Baby (#51) / I Don't Need Nobody'' 1968 Columbia
''Give Me Just A Little More Time / Gonna Be A Man Again'' 1970 Air
''I Can't Let Go Of Your Love (#55) / Looking For Someone'' 1970 Air

EPs

'Something 'Bout The Vibrants' 1967 Columbia
'My Prayer' 1967 Columbia

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vibrants

http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/