Gary Puckett & The Union Gap - Pandora Internet Radio

Create a Station

Bookmark This Artist

"Gary Puckett & The Union Gap" has been added to your list of bookmarked artists

Go to your profile

People Listening to
This Artist

Gary Puckett & The Union Gap

Biography

During the late '60s -- a period forever distinguished as rock's most radical, innovative, and far-reaching -- Gary Puckett and the Union Gap forged a series of massive chart ballads almost otherworldly in their sheer earnestness and melodrama. Likely the only pop band of the era to play two nightly shows in the Catskills -- the early gig for their younger fans, the later appearance for the fans' parents -- the group pioneered the hip-to-be-square concept two decades before spiritual descendants Huey Lewis and the News; clad in Civil War-era get-ups (complete with fictitious military ranks) and bizarrely pedophilic lyrics, Puckett and the Union Gap were in their own way as far-out and singular as any other act of the period.

Frontman Puckett was born October 17, 1942, in of all places Hibbing, MN, (where Bob Dylan went to high school). Raised primarily in Yakima, WA, he picked up the guitar as a teen, and while attending college in San Diego played in a number of local bands before quitting school to focus on music. Puckett eventually landed with the Outcasts, a hard rock group comprised of bassist Kerry Chater, keyboardist Gary "Mutha" Withem, tenor saxophonist Dwight Bement, and drummer Paul Wheatbread. Despite earning a strong local following, in 1966 Wheatbread relocated to Los Angeles to serve as the house drummer on the television series Where the Action Is; the remaining members of the Outcasts toured the Pacific Northwest, and on their return, Wheatbread also moved back to San Diego and rejoined the lineup. For reasons unknown, manager Dick Badger -- convinced his charges needed a strong visual hook -- then sent the group to Tijuana, where they were outfitted with Union Army-style Civil War uniforms.

A demo was soon cut in L.A., and Badger arranged a meeting with CBS producer Jerry Fuller. Though impressed by Puckett's soaring baritone, Fuller believed the band's gritty, R&B-influenced approach was all wrong, but agreed to check out their live show at the San Diego bowling alley the Quad Room. Believing Fuller was due to arrive on Saturday, the Outcasts opted to save their energy, delivering an atypically mellow set on Friday night. Fuller, who was in the crowd for both shows, signed the group contingent on their willingness to foster their latent soft rock leanings. Re-christened the Union Gap in honor of a suburb of Yakima, on August 16, 1967, the band recorded its first single, "Woman Woman." Suggesting a mellower Righteous Brothers sans producer Phil Spector's majestic firepower, the single reached the Top Ten late in 1967 and was a million-seller by February of 1968; concurrent CBS press releases gave each member his own imaginary military rank -- Puckett was the general, Bement the sergeant, Chater the corporal, and both Withem and Wheatbread were relegated to privates.

In the spring of 1968, the Union Gap scored their biggest hit, "Young Girl," written by Fuller in the style of "Woman, Woman," but exchanging the age-old theme of infidelity for the age-old theme of the temptation of underage romance: "My love for you is way out of line/you better run, girl, you're much too young, girl," an anguished Puckett wailed. The juggernaut rolled on, and the group continued rattling off hits -- "Lady Willpower," "Over You," and "Don't Give in to Him" among them -- and also headlined at the White House and Disneyland. But there was dissension in the ranks: the Union Gap wanted to write and produce their own material, and Puckett found himself increasingly confined within the CBS-mandated ballad formula. In 1969, stalemate: Fuller assembled a 40-piece studio orchestra for a new song he had written, but Puckett and the Union Gap refused to cut the tune. The session was ultimately canceled, and Fuller never again worked with the group. For the Union Gap, it was a pyrrhic victory.

The band immediately returned to the Top Ten that autumn with the Dick Glasser-produced "This Girl Is a Woman Now," but it was to be their last hit. The follow-up, "Let's Give Adam and Eve Another Chance," tanked, and after management dictated that Puckett's bandmates now receive a weekly salary instead of a percentage of the revenue, Chater and Withem left the band. Bement assumed bass duties, keyboardist Barry McCoy and horn player Richard Gabriel were added, and gospel vocalists the Eddie Kendrick Singers also signed on. The Civil War gear was soon jettisoned, but even so, prospects did not improve. In 1970, Puckett began recording as a solo act, but his efforts were not well-received; the Union Gap remained his live backing unit, until they were dismissed following an appearance at the 1971 Orange County Fair. Puckett's contract with CBS was terminated one year later.

Puckett continued making solo appearances in the months to come, but by 1973 he had essentially disappeared from music, opting instead to study acting and dance. He performed in theatrical productions in and around L.A., but his acting career never really took off, and in 1984 he signed on with the Happy Together oldies package tour. Two years later, Puckett was tapped to open for the Monkees on their 20th Anniversary tour, and he remained a staple of the revival circuit into the next century. Among his original bandmates, Bement later joined the oldies act Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids, while Chater relocated to Nashville, where he plied his trade as a songwriter. Wheatbread, meanwhile, turned to concert promotion, and Withem returned to San Diego to teach high-school band. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide

Continued…

Selected Discography

Young Girl: The Best Of Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
2004

Greatest Hits
1984

Gary Puckett & The Union Gap Featuring Young Girl / Incredible
1968

Woman Woman

Similar Artists

Jay & The Americans
The Righteous Brothers
Neil Diamond
Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
Johnny Rivers

rsgantt2663 says:

10-27-2009

I remember when Gary Puckett came to the Buffalo Rose in Golden CO and a friend on mine told Gary he should hear me sing. I didn't know this. Then the 2nd part of the concert he called me out of the audience and had me join them on stage for several songs. How many performers would do that especially not knowing how good/bad the person could be. It was so amazing though. Not the last time that happen to me with icons like Gary.

sparker112 says:

10-06-2009

BOY,THIS GROUP REALLY BRINGS BACK MEMORIES! GREAT BAND ALSO.

expectingtof l y says:

09-06-2009

Barry Bucket and Rebel Yell....hey now !!!

cstasell says:

08-29-2009

i saw him about 5-7 years ago. if you thought he had a great voice 40+ years ago he even sounds better now.

jdherschberg says:

07-03-2009

Gary Puckett & the Union Gap are one of those groups whose unique sound and lyrics will always be special and they'll still be playing their songs for many years to come. Really special.

Robert W, Thrush Jr. says:

06-13-2009

I've never heard Gary in person. But, he has a very Strong Voice that takes me back to a wonderful time in my life........ . . Super Songs!

slasater6 says:

06-12-2009

I love these guys! What a voice Frontman Puckett has - I never tire of hearing him.

JAMES M DOUGLAS says:

05-02-2009

GARY PUCKETT & THE UNION GAP SURE TAKES ME BACK IN TIME,NEVER GOT TO SEE THEM WHEN I WAS MUCH YOUNGER BUT STILL LIKE ALL THAT GARY PERFORMED,AL W A Y S HAD A STRONG VOICE...

tomgolde1938 says:

04-16-2009

one of the loveliest voices I have ever heard. His sound is absolutely thrilling.

rainernte says:

02-11-2009

I still catch Gary Puckett whenever I can @ the Minnesota State Fair. He puts on an incredible show! At every performance he asks all the veterans in the audience to stand and then has the rest of us shake their hands and applaud. When he sings "Home," there isn't a dry eye to be found... A great guy with a big voice and bigger heart.

edna shaffer says:

01-23-2009

you know this really brings back i was younger than a teen when i first got their albulm ; woman ; woman ;; i loved the 60s then and gary pucket and the union gap were definetely one of my favorites ; my older sister WAS the teenager then ; and i hung arond with the older kids ; anyways ; will always love their songs!

renomaile says:

edited on 01-23-2009

Gary Puckett & The Union gap, what an awesome group, love them when I was little, still do. Woman Woman, Young girl, what and incredible voice, harmony still tight. aloha renomaile

e_dunn04 says:

01-09-2009

My older brother had an 8-track of their greatest hits? best of? I don't- good grief! It was an 8-track, for crying out loud! (ha) But there was a couple of songs on it, one was called "Home" and the other "Reverend Posey"- both were so sad- and so beautiful.

lrahlfs says:

07-10-2008

Dick Badger is my brother in law and I was there during the formation of the band and recordings etc. He now lives in Palm Springs and still keeps in contact with Gary. This was the first article I've read on Gary that even mentions Dick and his contribution s were way more than said here, he sacrificed years of his life and money to get the group together.

cathy a dawley says:

07-08-2008

gary puckett ,has a sexy voice and was one of my favorites as i grew up!it brings back so many memories i listen to himstill today alot ,cathy ct.

jbutkis says:

edited on 06-26-2008

great voice, great group, great albums, great songs and great memories, does it get any better than that!?

johnstafford s r says:

05-09-2008

brings back good memories in the 60'

g. mogan says:

04-18-2008

saw him in Terre Haute Indiana 2007 What a voice Still.

glesstreet says:

03-22-2008

i saw puckett a couple years ago in Boston at an oldies show. the man still has a tremendous voice

lynntpotts says:

edited on 12-27-2007

this group brings back memories for me what lovely voice he has,listenin g to this on the back seat of a car in my younger days wow they were the best times

pumpkinpiela d y says:

11-21-2007

Gary Puckett hmmmmm another fabulous one for sure!! These songs bring back so many wonderful memories for me. WOW!!!

report abuse