Biography
Originally hailing from Alabama, the Candymen gained their lasting recognition chiefly as Roy Orbison’s regular touring ensemble. They originated in Dothan during the mid-1960s as the Webs, a combo launched by guitarist John Rainey alongside young lead singer and guitarist Bobby Goldsboro. Early on the musicians drew from Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis as well as the pop-rock leanings of Ricky Nelson. Local producer and Birmingham studio owner Ed Boutwells took notice and captured several of their performances on tape. Even after Goldsboro left to launch a major solo career, the group sustained itself on the regional circuit; drummer-turned-vocalist Rodney Justo, formerly of Rodney & the Mystics, stepped in as frontman. Buddy Buie, a Goldsboro associate, functioned informally as the band’s in-house songwriter.
Opportunity arrived when the musicians learned that Roy Orbison required a backing unit for an upcoming local date. Already familiar with his catalog, they quickly mastered its subtleties, prompting the Texas-born vocalist to hire them as his permanent road band. In tribute to one of Orbison’s signature hits, the Webs adopted the name the Candymen. Buie joined the organization as tour manager, relocated to Atlanta, and later established himself as a leading producer. Throughout the latter half of the 1960s the Candymen supported Orbison onstage, though commercial fortunes in the United States remained modest; after signing with MGM in 1965, the singer enjoyed stronger sales in Europe while domestic audiences largely overlooked both his releases and concerts despite their quality and the band’s solid execution. For one MGM single the musicians reverted to the Webs moniker, issuing “People Sure Act Funny” backed with “You Pretty Fool,” yet the record failed to register.
Independent of Orbison, the Candymen cultivated a reputation for powerful live shows, notably delivering the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and other ambitious material rarely attempted by comparable groups. They also recorded several albums for ABC Records under their own name. When the association with Orbison concluded, a British act called the Art Movement replaced them for his English engagements. Through Buie’s subsequent songwriting and production activities, several Candymen members joined forces with musicians from the Classics IV to form the Atlanta Rhythm Section, which enjoyed a string of hits and sustained album sales over the following decade. Keyboardist Dean Daughtry, who had played with the Candymen, passed away in Huntsville, Alabama, on January 26, 2023, at the age of 76.
Opportunity arrived when the musicians learned that Roy Orbison required a backing unit for an upcoming local date. Already familiar with his catalog, they quickly mastered its subtleties, prompting the Texas-born vocalist to hire them as his permanent road band. In tribute to one of Orbison’s signature hits, the Webs adopted the name the Candymen. Buie joined the organization as tour manager, relocated to Atlanta, and later established himself as a leading producer. Throughout the latter half of the 1960s the Candymen supported Orbison onstage, though commercial fortunes in the United States remained modest; after signing with MGM in 1965, the singer enjoyed stronger sales in Europe while domestic audiences largely overlooked both his releases and concerts despite their quality and the band’s solid execution. For one MGM single the musicians reverted to the Webs moniker, issuing “People Sure Act Funny” backed with “You Pretty Fool,” yet the record failed to register.
Independent of Orbison, the Candymen cultivated a reputation for powerful live shows, notably delivering the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and other ambitious material rarely attempted by comparable groups. They also recorded several albums for ABC Records under their own name. When the association with Orbison concluded, a British act called the Art Movement replaced them for his English engagements. Through Buie’s subsequent songwriting and production activities, several Candymen members joined forces with musicians from the Classics IV to form the Atlanta Rhythm Section, which enjoyed a string of hits and sustained album sales over the following decade. Keyboardist Dean Daughtry, who had played with the Candymen, passed away in Huntsville, Alabama, on January 26, 2023, at the age of 76.
Albums
