Gary and the Hornets was a Franklin, Ohio based garage rock band who were known for their single "Hi Hi Hazel".

Gary and the Hornets
OriginFranklin, Ohio
GenresGarage rock
Years active1966-1968
Past membersGary Calvert
Greg Calvert
Steve Calvert

History edit

The band's first single was their version of "Hi Hi Hazel" which slipped into the Billboard Hot 100 charts at #96. Gary was eleven, Greg was fourteen and Steve was seven at the time they recorded their first material in 1966. This was followed by "There's a Kind of Hush" (titled "Kind of Hush" on their version) that was a local and regional hit; it also "bubbled under" the Billboard charts at #127. The brothers recorded three more singles in 1967 and 1968. They also appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1967 singing a cover of "Devil With a Blue Dress On."

In the 1960s the group did a commercial for Oscar Mayer wieners in which they sang and played the music to the "Oscar Mayer Weiner" jingle. https://flatfieldrecords.com/gary-the-hornets-the-grooviest-band-to-ever-sing-about-weiners/

Greg's son, guitarist Casey Calvert, member of the rock band Hawthorne Heights died in 2007, at age 26.[1]

Members edit

  • Gary Calvert - vocals, guitar
  • Greg Calvert - bass guitar
  • Steve Calvert - drums

Discography edit

Singles

  • "Hi Hi Hazel" b/w "Patty Girl" - Smash Records [2061] (1966)
  • "Kind of Hush" b/w "That's All for Now Sugar Baby" - Smash Records [2078] (1967)
  • "Times are Fine" one-sided flexi-disc - Smash Records (1967)
  • "Baby It's You" b/w "Tell Tale" - Smash Records [2090] (1967)
  • "Turn On the World" b/w "Holdin' Back" - Smash Records [2145] (1968)

References edit

  1. ^ "Casey Calvert". Journal-News. November 29, 2007. Retrieved June 4, 2021.

External links edit