Vogues

The Vogues originated in 1958 as the Val-Aires in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, formed by high school friends Bill Burkette (lead baritone), Don Miller (baritone), Hugh Geyer (first tenor), and Chuck Blasko (second tenor). Their early career involved regional performances and support from local DJs such as Porky Chedwick and Clark Race of KDKA radio, who featured them on rock and roll shows and television. After serving in the military and completing college, the group decided to record again, funding a demo tape with $100 each. They then collaborated with producer Nick Cenci, who had previously guided Lou Christie to mainstream success. In 1965, Cenci produced a recording session at Gateway Studios in Pittsburgh, resulting in a cover of Petula Clark’s “You’re the One.” Released initially on their own Blue Star label, the song gained local airplay after Cenci persuaded KQV program director John Rook to feature it.

Following its regional success, the single was distributed nationally under the Co & Ce label, with the group officially renamed “The Vogues,” climbing to number four on the Billboard Hot 100. This breakthrough was quickly followed by another success in late 1965 with “Five O’Clock World,” which also reached number four. The group continued to produce hits in 1966, including “Magic Town” (No. 21) and “The Land of Milk and Honey” (No. 29). Despite a period of declining interest in their sound, Co & Ce leased them to Reprise Records in 1968, where they adapted their style. This shift led to further chart success with cover versions of “Turn Around, Look at Me” (No. 7), “My Special Angel” (No. 7), “Till” (No. 27), and “Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)” (No. 42). Throughout the late 1960s, The Vogues were prominent on national television, appearing on shows like “American Bandstand,” “The Tonight Show,” and “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Their contributions to vocal music were recognized with an induction into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.

The group experienced lineup changes and legal disputes over the use of their name throughout the 1970s and beyond. By the 1980s, original members began to depart, and varying iterations of The Vogues continued to perform. Key members Bill Burkette (died 2018) and Don Miller (died 2021) remained influential figures. In recent years, The Vogues, featuring members like Troy Elich, Royce Taylor, and Elliott McCoy, have continued to tour, notably participating in The Turtles’ “Happy Together Tour” multiple times since 2020. In 2022, they released a new album, “Still Tickin’,” re-recording some of their favorite hits, demonstrating their ongoing presence in the music industry.