Dante & The Evergreens

Dante & the Evergreens were an American pop group formed at Santa Monica College in California in 1959.

Dante & the Evergreens came to the attention of Dean Torrence (Jan & Dean), who took them to his managers, Herb Alpert and Lou Adler. The group's music was arranged by Tony Moon, who also played guitar on their records. The group hit the U.S. pop charts in 1960 with the song "Alley Oop", written by Dallas Frazier. Their version of the tune hit #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went #1 on Cashbox; while The Hollywood Argyles' version went to #1 on the Billboard charts, the Evergreens recording was a bigger hit on the East Coast. A follow-up single, "Time Machine", hit #73 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The group toured for several years after the successful singles. All of its members were white, and the group became one of the first all-white acts to play at high-profile venues for black music such as the New York Apollo Theatre, the Philadelphia Uptown Theater, and the Washington, DC, Howard Theater. However, further chart success eluded them, and when group member Frank Rosenthal fell ill in 1964, the group disbanded. Rosenthal eventually returned to college, and Bill Young sought a career as a solo artist and actor. Donald Drowty--the group's "Dante"--later recorded as Dante and His Friends, and wrote and produced for Mellin Music Publishing. Among his credits are recordings by The Isley Brothers, The McCoys, and Herb Alpert. Tony Moon, after the break-up of the group in 1962 moved to Nashville and become the guitar player and conductor for Brenda Lee for the next several years. After leaving the road he became a successful songwriter (several awards), and one of only two writers in Nashville to have a song released by The Beatles [a live at the BBC cover of The Shirelles' "Soldier of Love" ](Citation?) and Pearl Jam. He also produced three chart singles by The Vogues ("5 O'Clock World"). He later formed Crescent Moon Talent. He currently lives in Sarasota, Florida, having previously lived in Franklin, Tennessee.

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