Musical Youth

. It ran until December 1976, but the group failed to garner any more success with its music, and they broke up shortly after. Musical Youth's members included:. The show was in the same vein as its predecessor, and became a Top 20 hit. The Grant brothers remain involved in music, while Seaton released a solo set in 1989 before going on to form his own band, XMY. In order to boost recognition among the public, CBS gave the group a variety show in the summer of 1974, after The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour ended its run. Plans to re-form were scotched when Patrick Waite, who had gone on to a career of juvenile crime, died of natural causes while awaiting a court appearance on drug charges. The group released a fourth single, "Say Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose," but the sales started to drop off.

A revival of Desmond Dekker's "007" saw them back in the Top 30, but after one final hit with "Sixteen", they fell from commercial grace and subsequently split up in 1985 when Seaton left the band. The group waited until 1973 to release their next single, "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree." In terms of sales, this single was the most successful in the group's career. Minor successes with "Heartbreaker" and "Tell Me Why" were succeeded by a surprise collaboration with Donna Summer on the UK Top 20 hit "Unconditional Love". He chose singers Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson to sing with him when he recorded "Knock Three Times." In early 1971, the single hit #1. The catchy follow-up, "Youth Of Today", also reached the UK Top 20 and early in 1983 "Never Gonna Give You Up" climbed to number 6. The single hit #3 and Tony Orlando decided to change career tracks. A US Top 10 hit also followed. After an insistence that he dub his voice over the male vocals in the original track, he had the single released under Dawn, so if the record did not succeed, he would not be known as the lead vocalist.

The infectious enthusiasm of the group's performance captured the public's imagination and propelled the record to number 1 in the UK charts. Orlando discovered a song, "Candida," which he decided to pass on recording. Based on the Mighty Diamonds" "Pass The Kouchie" (a song about marijuana), the title had been subtly altered to feature the patois "dutchie" (literally a "cooking pot"). He stopped singing entirely, publishing music for CBS records instead. During the winter of 1982, the group issued one of the fastest-selling singles of the year in "Pass The Dutchie". He had two Top 40 hits in the early 1960s but he did not have any success for the rest of the decade. By that time, founding father Frederick Waite had backed down to be replaced by Dennis Seaton as lead singer. In 1970, Tony Orlando was a failed cover singer.

An appearance on BBC disc jockey John Peel's evening show brought further attention to the group and they were signed to MCA Records. Tony Orlando and Dawn was a pop music group that was very popular in the 1970s. Their signature hits were "Candida," "Knock Three Times," and "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree.". Although schoolboys, the group managed to secure gigs at certain Birmingham pubs and released a single, "Political"/"Generals", on local label 021 Records. 1976 "Cupid" #22 US. The latter pair's father, Frederick Waite, was a former member of Jamaican group the Techniques, and sang lead with Junior at the start of the group's career in the late 1970s. 1975 "You're All I Need to Get By" #34 US. This pop/reggae-influenced group featured two sets of brothers, Kelvin and Michael Grant and Junior and Patrick Waite. 1975 "Look in My Eyes Pretty Woman" #11 US.

Musical Youth formed in 1979 at Duddeston Manor School, Birmingham, England. 1975 "Mornin' Beautiful" #14 US. Different Style (MCA). 1975 "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)" #1 US. The Youth Of Today (MCA). 1974 "Steppin' out (Gonna Boogie Tonight)" #7 US. Anthology (Musical Youth) (MCA). 1974 "Who's in the Strawberry Patch with Sally" #27 US; #37 UK.

Junior Waite. 1973 "Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose" #3 US; #12 UK (1974 release). 1969, d. February 18, 1993. 1973 "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree" #1 US; #1 UK. Patrick Waite - b. 1971 "What are You Doing Sunday" #39 US; #3 UK. Kelvin Grant. 1971 "Summer Sand" #33 US.

Michael Grant. 1971 "I Play and Sing" #25 US. Dennis Seaton. 1971 "Knock Three Times" #1 US; #1 UK. 1971 "Candida" #3 US; #9 UK. To Be With You (1976).

Skybird (1975). He Don't Love You (Like I Love You) (1975). Golden Ribbons (1974). Prime Time (1974).

Dawn's New Ragtime Follies (1973). Tuneweaving (1973). Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando (1971). Candida (1970).