The Playmates were an American late 1950s vocal group led by the pianist Chic Hetti (born Carl Cicchetti, 26 February 1930), drummer Donny Conn (born Donald Claps, 29 March 1930 – September 2, 2015), and Morey Carr (31 July 1932 – 1987), all from Waterbury, Connecticut, United States.[1]

Career

The Playmates—Donald Claps (a.k.a. Donny Conn), drummer and lyricist; Carl Cicchetti (a.k.a. Chic Hetti), pianist music composer; and Morey Cohen (a.k.a. Morey Carr), lead vocalist—were an instrumental and vocal trio, from Waterbury, Connecticut, and, in the early 1950s, at the University of Connecticut.[1] After graduation in 1952, they began touring small lounges and night clubs in the United States and Canada, originally as "the Nitwits", later as the Playmates.[1]

Signed to Roulette Records in 1958 as the label's first vocal group,[2] and anticipating a Calypso craze, the group recorded an album called Playmates Visit the West Indies. They then released two notable Top 40 singles — "Jo-Ann" and "Don't Go Home" — before having a number 4 hit (July 9, 1958) with the tempo-changing novelty song "Beep, Beep",[1] which became a regular feature for Dr. Demento.

The "Beep, Beep" song was on the Billboard Top 40 chart for twelve weeks. It sold more than one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[3] Concurrently with the popularity of "Beep Beep", American Motors Corporation (AMC) was setting production and sales records for the Rambler models.[4] Because of a directive by the BBC at the time that songs did not include brand names in their lyrics, a version of "Beep Beep" was recorded for the European market, replacing the Cadillac and Nash Rambler with the generic terms limousine and bubble car.

The group followed up with a chart listing single in 1959 with "What Is Love" and then again in 1960 with "Wait For Me".[5] After four albums for Roulette, the novelty group — known for its between-song comedy and banter as much for its repertoire[1] — broke up in 1965. Morey Carr died from lung cancer in 1987.[6] Donald Claps died in Malibu, California, on September 2, 2015 at the age of 85.

Discography

Charted singles (U.S.) / 45 rpm. (Release Month/Year), Title, (Label), Billboard Chart peak

• (January, 1958), "Jo-Ann" (Roulette), #19
• (April, 1958), "Let's Be Lovers" (Roulette), #87
• (June, 1958), "Don't Go Home" (Roulette), #22
• (September, 1958), "The Day I Died" (Roulette), #81
• (November, 1958), "Beep Beep" (Roulette), #4
• (March, 1959), "Star Love" (Roulette), #75
• (July, 1959), "What Is Love" (Roulette), #15
• (October, 1960), "Wait for Me" (Roulette), #37
• (March, 1961), "Little Miss Stuck-Up" (Roulette), #70
• (July, 1962), "Keep Your Hands in Your Pockets" (Roulette), #88

Album

• At Play with the Playmates [1958]

Side one

1. "Jo-Ann" – 2:35
2. "Your Love" – 2:09
3. "Darling It's Wonderful" – 2:35
4. "Substitute for Love" – 2:13
5. "Magic Shoes" – 2:10
6. "While the Record Goes Around" – 2:10

Side two

1. "Beep Beep" – 3:01
2. "The Day I Died" – 2:20
3. "Give Me Another Chance" – 2:25
4. "Lovable" – 2:16
5. "Intimate" – 2:20
6. "Don't Go Home" – 2:30

References

External links

• The Playmates discography at Discogs