DARWIN & the CUPIDS
Bobbi Brown, Darwin Lamm, Janet Peters, circa 1960
Homebase: Vancouver, WA.
Stats: 1960-1962
Misc Notes: Darwin Lamm was an 18 year-old singer/songwriter/guitarist living in Vancouver, Washington, when in 1960 he learned that the state's greatest country-pop star Bonnie Guitar was appearing in town at the “Frontier Dinner Club.” She'd enjoyed several hit records on her own but also found success producing the Olympia doo-wop trio, the Fleetwoods.
Not yet of legal drinking age, Darwin nonetheless grabbed up a couple of songs he had written with the Fleetwoods in mind, and headed for the club where Bonnie was singing. The doorman, of course, stopped him at the door for I.D., but, by claiming he had some important papers for Bonnie, young Darwin was allowed to enter and sit back by her dressing room.
After Bonnie finished her set, Darwin met her outside her dressing room, where he actually sang his compositions in a live audition. Little did Lamm know, but Bonnie was looking for another Fleetwoods-esque group. When she learned Darwin was working with Bobbi Brown and Janet Peters, two female singers known as The Cupids, Miss Guitar believed she had just found her next Fleetwoods trio.
At this time, Bonnie and Darwin met with Seattle music distributor Jerry Dennon who was anxious to start his own label. All that was missing was a singer and some songs, both of which were supplied when he signed Darwin & The Cupids to his new Jerden Records label. Within weeks “How Long” was the Northwest’s newest radio hit, reaching the top of the charts. Darwin & The Cupids were in constant demand, playing rapid-fire dates for 10,000 plus crowds, such as the 1960 Show of Stars. “How Long” was included on the album Original Great Northwest Hits Volume I.
On the heels of “How Long” came Darwin & The Cupids’ equally popular follow-up: “Goodnite My Love”. After the two Jerden hits, Lamm moved to Los Angeles, and from 1963 to 1965 recorded for Dore Records simply as “Darwin.” He also produced records by other artists for L.A.-based labels like Liberty, Dot and Dore Records.
Janet Peters, Bobbi Brown, Darwin Lamm
MISC NOTES: Artist credit on label: DARWIN and the CUPIDS
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FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:
Known Label Designs
1PA.) A - B promo label. 1st logo design. White background. Black numerals and letters except jerden in white. AUDITION COPY lower right of spindle hole. Artist name and song titles on two lines. Vocal With Orchestra. Distributed by Liberty Rec. Sales Corp. Los Angeles, Calif.
1PB.) A - B promo label. 1st logo design. White background. Black numerals and letters except jerden in white. AUDITION RECORD upper right of spindle hole. Artist name and song titles on single line. Vocal With Orchestra. Distributed by Liberty Rec. Sales Corp. Los Angeles, Calif. (One 1PB promo label has been found with date 11/16/60 hand written on label sticker.)
1RA.) A - B retail label. 1st logo design. Dark blue background. Silver numerals and lettering. Large (17.0 mm) artist name and song titles. "Goodnight My Love" on two lines. Vocal With Orchestra. Distributed by Liberty Rec. Sales Corp. Los Angeles, Calif.
1RB.) A - B retail label. 1st logo design. Dark blue background. Silver numerals and lettering. Small (19.0 mm) artist name and song titles. "Goodnight My Love" on one line "Won't You Give Me A Chance" on two lines. Vocal With Orchestra. Distributed by Liberty Records Sales Corp. Los Angeles, Calif.
1PA & 1RB ) Monarch Records delta numbers (^) point toward these discs being pressed November - December, 1960.
A-SIDE MATRIX:
1PA.) 9 - A
1PB.) 9 - A
1RA.) 9 - A
1RB.) 9 - A
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1PA.) 45-JERDEN 9A (etched) ^37148
1PB.) JERDEN 9A - 1 (etched)
1RA.) JERDEN 9A (etched)
1RB.) JERDEN 9A (etched) ^37148
A-SIDE COMPOSER: D. Lamm - D. Robertson
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: Don Robertson Pub. Co. (ASCAP)
B-SIDE MATRIX:
1PA..) 9 - B
1PB.) 9 - B
1RA.) 9 - B
19B.) 9 - B
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1PA.) 45-JERDEN 9B (etched) ^37148 - X
1PB.) JERDEN 9B - 1 (etched)
1RA.) JERDEN 9B (etched)
1RB.) JERDEN 9B (etched) ^37148 - X
B-SIDE COMPOSER: G. Moore
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: Snapper Music (BMI)
MISC NOTES:
LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Darwin Lamm (lead vocal); Bonnie Guitar (guitar); Don Robertson (?????)
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FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:
Known Label Designs:
1PA) A - B promo label. First design. White, grey and blue label coloration. Horizontal "darts"above Jerden. White background with vertical jerden left of spindle hole in dark blue rectangle. Blue grey coloring to left. Dark blue numerals and word lettering .AUDITION COPY right of spindle hole. Disc # bottom center of label: 1 - A / 1 - B.
1RA.) A - B retail label. First design. White, grey and blue horizontal "darts" above Jerden. Dark blue label background with dark blue jerden in silver rectangle. Lighter blue hue coloring to left. Silver numerals and word lettering. Disc # bottom center of label: 1 - A / 1 - B
1PA. & 1RA. ) Monarch Records delta (^) numbers point toward these discs being pressed April - May, 1960
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE: MATRIX:
1PA.) 1 - A
1RA.) 1 - A
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1PA.) JERDEN 1 A ^35402 (etched)
1RA.) JERDEN 1A ^35402 (etched)
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Darwin Lamm
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: Jerden Music (BMI)
B-SIDE MATRIX:
1PA.) 1 - B
1RA.) 1 - B
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1PA.) JERDEN 1 B ^35402 - X (etched)
1RA.) JERDEN 1 B ^35402 - X (etched)
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Moret - Kahn
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: Robbins Music Corp. (ASCAP)
MISC NOTES: Cataloged on Jerden, but never released as #109. See instead "Goodnight My Love" Jerden #9.
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