The Valentines

In the winter of 1960/61, Vancouver, B.C. residents Miki Shannon, Irene Butler, and Jay Findlay briefly captured local attention as the Valentines when the A-side of their novelty single "The Sock" b/w "Sixteen Senoritas" (Iona 1003) climbed to #3 on the regional charts. Milkman Al Parker, adopting the pen name "Sipson P. Kloop," supplied the unlikely song about Elvis Presley's hosiery. That regional showing led to a broader Canadian pressing on the Sparton label. Earlier, as backing vocalists, the Valentines appeared on Les Vogt's hit single "The Blamers" b/w "Moon Rocketin'" (Iona 1001, July 1960). Butler, who subsequently married and divorced Vogt, later built a career as a country and western singer. "The Sock" later appeared on the 1987 anthology History Of Vancouver Rock, Volume 1 (Vancouver Record Collectors' Association VRCA 003).