Eternity's Children
| Eternity's Children | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Cleveland, Mississippi, United States |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1965-1974 |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | The Phantoms Starbuck |
| Past members | Bo Wagner Bruce Blackman Charlie Ross Linda Lawley Mike McClain Roy Whittaker Johnny Walker Jerry Bound |
Eternity's Children was an American sunshine pop band that originated in Cleveland, Mississippi as a folk group known as the Phantoms. The Phantoms began with two students, composed of vocalist/keyboardist Bruce Blackman and drummer Roy Whittaker. Soon, the group added lead guitarist Johnny Walker, rhythm guitarist Jerry Bounds, and bassist Charlie Ross, and began developing the complex, overlapping vocal harmonies that were utilized when they became Eternity's Children in 1967. Their one and only hit, "Mrs. Bluebird", topped at number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1965, Bruce Blackman and Roy Whittaker, students of Delta College, founded The Phantoms, and added fellow students Jerry Bounds, Charlie Ross, and Johnny Walker. The band played locally within the college and gained a sizable local following. They released a single titled "Workin' Tired" b/w "Gonna Be Nice Tonight" on the local Flash label before relocating to Biloxi, Mississippi in 1966. Here, in Biloxi, the group became a house band in a basement nightclub of the Biloxi Hotel. The band, when they were not the lead performance, would back musicians like Charlie Rich and B.J. Thomas. In the same year, the band added folk singer Linda Lawley and changed their name to Eternity's Children. Another single, both songs composed by Blackman, titled "Can't Put A Thing Over Me" b/w "Time and Place" was released on another local label called Apollo. However, the single made little impact outside their local following.
As 1966 turned to 1967, the band recorded a demo after the manager of a club in Baton Rouge named Ray Roy watched one of their live performances. Roy convinced his business partner Guy Belello to sign the group to a recording contract and become their manager. Eternity's Children's quickly recorded a demo that made its way to A&M Records manager, Allen Stanton. In the spring of 1967, the group (relocated to Los Angeles) released their one and only single for the label called "Wait and See". It was produced by former Music Machine bassist Keith Olsen. The record flopped and, despite successful touring in which the band opened for bands like Strawberry Alarm Clock and The Blues Magoos, they were dropped from the A&M label.
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