The Aquatones

The Aquatones launched their recording career in 1956—the same year Elvis Presley dominated the airwaves—when their Top 40 single “You” later surfaced in Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets. Initially a rockabilly-leaning vocal and instrumental outfit called the Rhythm Kings, the Long Island teenagers included Larry Vannatta on alto and tenor saxophones, Gene McCarthy on tenor sax, and Dave Goddard handling lead vocals and piano. Sixteen-year-old Lynne Nixon of Malverne, Long Island, soon joined as a harmony singer and occasional female lead. After taking first place in a local high-school talent show, the combo was signed by independent label operator Lou Fargo and briefly billed as the Acquations; stage outfits of aqua shirts for the men and a matching dress for Nixon prompted the permanent switch to the Aquatones.

At their debut session the group presented two self-penned numbers: the uptempo rocker “She’s the Only One for Me,” fronted by Goddard, and the ballad “You,” spotlighting Nixon. Fargo financed two separate dates to capture a finished master of “You,” which became the quartet’s solitary chart entry, peaking at number 21 in 1958. Although its national ranking proved modest, repeated exposure in Mean Streets and on the television series I’ll Fly Away cemented the track’s lasting appeal. Subsequent releases offered further strong material, yet none returned the act to the charts. By 1962 the members had dispersed into college, military service, marriage, and other pursuits. Fargo Records belatedly released a complete album on the group in 1964; copies lingered in remainder bins for years before becoming scarce collector’s items valued at several hundred dollars. The Aquatones may be remembered as one-hit wonders, yet that single hit endures.