Sonny and Cher

See Louis Prima. Ed King went on to join Lynyrd Skynyrd and several members of Strawberry Alarm Clock reunited in the '80s to perform on oldies tours. During the performance, Cher remained resistant to the reunion, while Bono felt the earnestness of the moment. In various forms the group managed to keep performing until 1971, when the band finally broke up. The couple made a surprise impromptu reunion performance in the 1980s on NBC's Late Night with David Letterman where they performed their hit song "I Got You Babe". Although the group followed up with more LPs in 1968 (The World in a Seashell) and 1969 (Good Morning Starshine) the band had begun to fall apart and the audience was mostly gone. The marriage and the musical duo ended in 1974 when Bono and Cher were divorced. Gary Lovetro left the band before the second album, Wake Up It's Tomorrow, (also 1967).

Their on-stage banter added to their audience appeal, with Sonny's eagerness and Cher's putdowns. Bunnell would also become their main songwriter. Membership changes were many. The couple hosted a number of television series and specials, including The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, which ran from 1971 to 1974, and The Sonny & Cher Show in 1976. After that success the band added George Bunnell (bass and rhythm guitar) before making their first LP in 1967. The song made a bit of a comeback when it was heavily featured as Bill Murray's wake-up call in the 1993 movie Groundhog Day. Interestingly, on their first and most famous single, "Incense and Peppermints," lead vocals were sung by Greg Munford, a 16-year-old friend of the band. Drumming on it, as he did on so many of the hits of that era, was master session drummer Hal Blaine. The group originally consisted of Ed King (lead guitar), Mark Weitz (keyboards), Lee Freeman (guitar), Gary Lovetro (bass), and Randy Seol (drums).

Sonny and Cher's biggest hit, I Got You Babe hit the #1 spot in July 1965. Strawberry Alarm Clock was a psychedelic rock band from Los Angeles, best known for their 1967 hit "Incense and Peppermints" and their appearance in the film Beyond The Valley of the Dolls. They were the first hippies with mainstream appeal, although Bono's hippiedom may have been for promotional purposes only. Sonny and Cher were an American rock and roll duo, made up of husband and wife team Sonny Bono and Cher in the 60s and 70s. Mama Was a Rock'n'Roll Singer, 1974.

2, 1974. Live in Las Vegas, Vol. All I Ever Need Is You, 1972. Sonny & Cher Live, 1971.