Harpers Bizarre

Formed in Santa Cruz, California in 1967, Harpers Bizarre was a sunshine pop / rock band best known for their hit cover version of Simon & Garfunkel’s “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy).” The group was founded by Ted Templeman (vocals / drums / guitar), Dick Scoppettone (vocals / guitar / bass), Eddie James (guitar), Dick Yount (bass / vocals) and former Beau Brummels member John Peterson (drums). Originally known as the Tikis in 1965, the band released two singles before being approached by producer Lenny Waronker to record an upbeat and breezy cover version of Simon and Garfunkel’s 1966 song “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy).” Arranged by Leon Russell, the Tikis recorded a harmony laden version of the song but in order not to alienate their growing rock audience, they released the single in 1967 under the band name Harpers Bizarre. The song was a smash it and rose to number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, prompting the band to keep the ‘new’ band name and move forward under the guidance of producer Waronker. Moving away from rock and embracing the popular vocal-layered sunshine pop and sophisticated arrangements of baroque pop. Rather than writing a majority of their own material, Harpers Bizarre put new spins on old standards and recorded songs by their contemporaries like Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Van Dyke Parks, and others. In 1967, the group scored more chart hits with tracks like “Come to the Sunshine” (number 37), “Anything Goes” (number 43), and “Chattanooga Choo Choo” (number 45). While the band remained busy in the studio and recorded songs for TV and films, their soft rock style fell out of favor as harder rock took over the charts. After four albums – Feelin’ Groovy (1967), Anything Goes (1967), The Secret Life of Harpers Bizarre (1968), and Harpers Bizarre 4 (1969) – Harpers Bizarre split in 1970. Ted Templeman went on to be a popular producer (Doobie Brothers / Van Halen / Van Morrison / Captain Beefheart / Montrose / Carly Simon) while the remainder of the group reunited for one more album – As Time Goes By – in 1976. Drummer John Peterson died of a heart attack on November 11, 2007. Bassist Dick Yount died in March 2019.

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