The Gentrys

The Gentrys were a rock band from Memphis, Tennessee. The group formed in 1963 and initially called themselves the Gents. The original members were: Bruce Bowles (vocals), Bobby Fisher (keyboards), Jimmy Hart (vocals), Jimmy Johnson (trumpet/keyboards), Pat Neal (bass), Larry Raspberry (guitar/lead vocals), and Larry Wall (drums). They started out playing at high school dances and signed with the independent label Youngstown after winning a local Battle of the Bands contest. Their debut single "Sometimes/Keep on Dancing" was picked up for wider distribution by MGM Records. The infectiously bouncy and upbeat "Keep on Dancing" sold a million copies and peaked at #4 on the Billboard pop charts in 1965. The group capitalized on the success of "Keep on Dancing" by not only doing guest spots on the musical variety TV shows "Shindig," "Hullabaloo," and "Where the Action Is!," but also touring with the Beach Boys and Sonny and Cher. The Gentrys appear as themselves and perform the song "Spread It On Thick" in the silly "Beach Party" teen comedy romp "It's a Bikini World." Alas, the band's two follow-up singles failed to crack the Top 40 and they subsequently broke up in 1966. In 1969 Jimmy Hart relaunched the Gentrys with a new line-up. This particular incarnation of the group recorded covers of such hit songs as "Cinnamon Girl" and "Wild World" as well as original compositions like "He'll Never Love You" and "Why Should I Cry" for the Sun label before folding in 1974. Hart went on to become a highly colorful professional wrestling manager. Moreover, fellow original band member Larry Raspberry now fronts his own blues-rock outfit called Larry Raspberry and the High-Steppers.