The Rivieras

The Rivieras were a US rock band formed in South Bend, Indiana, in 1962. The original lineup included Marty "Bo" Fortson on vocals and guitar, Joe Pennell on guitar, Otto Nuss on organ, Doug Gean on bass, and Paul Dennert on drums. Initially known as Playmates, they changed their name to The Rivieras due to a naming conflict with another band. The Rivieras gained significant attention in 1964 with their cover of "California Sun" by Joe Jones, which reached Number 1 on the charts, displacing "I Want to Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles. Following this success, several members left to join the US Army, leading to lineup changes that included Jim Boal on guitar and Willie Gaut on vocals. Despite these shifts, the band continued to release albums such as Let's Have a Party (1964) and Campus Party (1965). However, the group disbanded in 1964 due to changing musical tastes and pressures from their parents. In the 1980s, Fortson, Gean, and Nuss reunited for performances. They later reformed under the name Wildcat in 2000 with a harder rock style. Founding member Joe Pennell died on April 21, 2011 while Marty "Bo" Fortson passed away on September 26, 2012.

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