Biography
In the mid- to late 1960s, Bill Deal & the Rhondels ranked among the earliest large-ensemble rock groups to reach national audiences. Unlike the more experimental Blood, Sweat & Tears, the septet pursued a readily commercial path, issuing five singles that charted across the country during 1969 and 1970 through a dance-oriented blend of soul and rock energy. Deal assembled the Rhondels in 1965; over the following years the musicians earned both recognition and steady income by performing in clubs throughout Virginia and the Carolinas. Their regional popularity grew steadily, leading in 1968 to the recording of their debut single—an inventive version of Maurice Williams’ “May I”—for the Beach label. The song had already formed a long-standing part of their live repertoire, to the point that the band had grown weary of performing it, until an unplanned audience request prompted an impromptu rearrangement during one evening’s set. The fresh interpretation proved striking enough that the group entered the studio the following day to capture it. The resulting release propelled Bill Deal & the Rhondels into the Top 40, where it reached number 39 and stood as one of the era’s most energetic and danceable examples of white soul. Success arrived against considerable odds: the Rhondels projected the appearance and attire of a lounge ensemble rather than a rock band, and certain recordings, such as “Nothing Succeeds Like Success,” leaned toward middle-of-the-road territory. Even so, their strongest tracks retained a soulful character supported by a compelling rhythmic drive. Their subsequent single, a treatment of Ray Whitley’s “I’ve Been Hurt,” climbed to number 35 on the national charts. Another Whitley composition, “What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am),” advanced still further, peaking at number 23 and marking the height of the group’s commercial achievement.