They began as the Orbits in Toledo in 1957. Led by saxophonist Johnny Paris (born John Matthew Pocisk in Walbridge, Ohio, 29 August 1940 - 1 May 2006, Ann Arbor, Michigan), they were school friends who played on a few recordings behind Mack Vickery, a local rockabilly singer.
They signed with Harry Balk and Irving Micahnik of Twirl Records, which led to national engagements in 1959. Johnny and the Hurricanes recorded "Crossfire" in a vacant cinema to provide echo. It became a nationwide U.S. hit, and ranked No. 23 in the U.S. chart in the summer of 1959.
Johnny and the Hurricanes followed with "Red River Rock", an instrumental version of "Red River Valley", on Warwick Records, that became a top ten hit on both sides of the Atlantic (No. 5 in the U.S., No. 3 in the UK), and sold over a million copies. The musicians in the band then were Paris on saxophone, Paul Tesluk on a Hammond Chord organ, Dave Yorko on guitar, Lionel "Butch" Mattice on bass, and Bill "Little Bo" Savich on drums.
They specialised in versions of old tunes with a rock and roll beat. They chose these songs because they were well recognized and easier to accept with the beat. Tunes were credited to 'King, Mack' and usually one other name: King and Mack were in fact pseudonyms for Harry Balk and Irving Micahnik, the band's managers. In 1960, they recorded the United States Army bugle call, "Reveille", as "Reveille Rock", and turned "Blue Tail Fly" into "Beatnik Fly". Both tunes made the Top 40 achieving number 15 and 25 respectively. The band also recorded "Down Yonder" for Big Top Records. In the same year, they recorded "When The Saints Go Marching In" as "Revival", but it ranked in the charts for just one week, peaking at No. 97. The record was flipped over in the UK, where "Rocking Goose" reached No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart.
The band developed a following in Europe. In 1962, they played at the Star-Club in Hamburg, where the Beatles, then a little-known band, served as an opening act. Johnny and the Hurricanes cut records until 1987, with "Old Smokie" (their cover of "On Top of Old Smokey"), and an original tune, "Traffic Jam", both on Big Top Records, being their last releases to chart in America. Johnny Paris, the only constant member of the band, continued to tour with his Hurricanes in Europe and the United States until his death. He had an uncle, a realtor, in Rossford, Ohio, Johnny's home town, who owned a building on the main street and offered Johnny's first wife, Sharon Venier-Pocisk, space for an antique shop. When not on the road he helped out with the antique shop and vending machine business as payment for the store front for his first wife.
Johnny Paris and his band toured Europe occasionally until the end of 2005. He died on 1 May 2006 at the University Clinic of Ann Arbor, Michigan, of hospital-borne infections after an operation. Paris's second wife and widow, the German journalist, novelist and vocalist Sonja Verena (Reuter) Paris, took over his business (Atila Records, Sirius 1 Music and Johnny and the Hurricanes Incorporated) and the rights to his songs and trademarks. Paris claimed that over 300 musicians played in the band in its fifty-year existence.
The band inspired the song "Johnny and the Hurricanes" on the album How I Learned to Love the Bootboys, by the band the Auteurs. They were also namechecked in the Kinks' 1973 song "One of the Survivors", and in "Bridge in Time" on the 1990 Burton Cummings album Plus Signs.
Drummer Bill "Little Bo" Savich died on 4 January 2002. Bassist Lionel "Butch" Mattice died on October 16, 2006. Guitarist David Yorko died on 17 February 2017 at the age of 73.
That's All
Johnny & The Hurricanes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just what I'll say when we know this is ending
You open the door and you take my hand
Nothing's according to plan
I'm trying to understand
If this is the happiest I've ever been
Why do I feel so afraid of it?
I'm thinking about all the things that could go wrong
If you said "Forever" and nothing could change
Why can I see you walking away?
I try to believe this is where I belong
While I'm thinking about all the things that could go wrong
You came at a time when I needed to meet you
Just say we're all right and I'll try to believe you
But we sat on the lawn and you let out a tear
A realization of the same kind of fear
Wish I could help you understand
If this is the happiest I've ever been
Why do I feel so afraid of it?
Holding your hand as we're walking along
I'm thinking about all the things that could go wrong
If you said "Forever" and nothing could change
Why can I see you walking away?
I try to believe this is where I belong
While I'm thinking about all the things that could go wrong
If you said "Forever"
If you said "Forever"
These lyrics from the song "That's All" by Johnny & The Hurricanes seem to be about a person who is in love but is struggling with fears and doubts about the relationship. The singer has already planned what they're going to say when the relationship ends, but they find themselves holding the hand of the person they love as they walk together, contemplating all the things that could go wrong. The singer is afraid of being hurt or left, but they also deeply want to believe that this is where they are supposed to be.
The second verse suggests that the person the singer loves may also be struggling with fears and doubts. The singer sees them let out a tear, and wishes they could help them understand their own feelings. The chorus repeats the same questions about why the singer feels afraid even when they are supposedly the happiest they've ever been, and why they can't shake their worries even though everything seems perfect.
Overall, the lyrics seem to be grappling with the complexity of emotions that can arise in a relationship, especially when there is a lot of investment and vulnerability involved. The singer wants to believe in forever, but their doubts and fears hold them back from fully embracing the happiness they've found.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm at your door like I've already planned it
I arrived at your doorstep as if it was planned beforehand.
Just what I'll say when we know this is ending
I've prepared what to say knowing that this could be over soon.
You open the door and you take my hand
You welcome me and hold my hand.
Nothing's according to plan
However, things don't always go according to plan.
I'm trying to understand
I'm trying my best to comprehend the situation.
If this is the happiest I've ever been
Although this might be the happiest moment of my life,
Why do I feel so afraid of it?
I can't help but feel scared about losing it.
Holding your hand as we're walking along
As we walk together while holding hands,
I'm thinking about all the things that could go wrong
I can't help but think of all the things that could potentially ruin this moment.
If you said "Forever" and nothing could change
In the case where you were to say the word "Forever" with no possibility of change,
Why can I see you walking away?
I still can't shake the feeling that you might leave me someday.
I try to believe this is where I belong
Despite my fears, I'm desperately trying to hold onto the hope that this is where I'm meant to be.
While I'm thinking about all the things that could go wrong
Even though my mind continues to be filled with worries and doubts.
You came at a time when I needed to meet you
You entered my life at a moment when I needed you the most.
Just say we're all right and I'll try to believe you
Even if it may be difficult, I'll try to believe everything is okay if you say it is.
But we sat on the lawn and you let out a tear
However, while we were sitting on the grass, I noticed you shedding a tear.
A realization of the same kind of fear
I then understood that you too, are experiencing some level of fear or worry.
Wish I could help you understand
I wish I could do something to make you feel better and help you understand your own fears.
If you said "Forever"
If you were to promise me forever,
If you said "Forever"
If you said "Forever"
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Johnny Orlando, Darian Orlando, Scott Helman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bernie Kester
Hard to believe that these guys were just teenagers when this song was recorded, a lot of talent there!!
C C
When Buddy Holly was killed, Rock&Roll took a serious nosedive into boy idol purgatory until the Beatles revived it. But between 1959-61, this killer band released some great singles that helped us endure the boy toy era.
Silkiestream
The Beatles actually stopped the progressive trends in music for a couple of years.
GeraldThe BusDriver
@C C oh and wym Rock&Roll took a serious nosedive into boy idol purgatory?
GeraldThe BusDriver
The plane crash with Buddy Holly, Richie Valens & The Big Bopper was probably one of the biggest tragedies in American history I really wish it never happened god bless Mr. Johnny Paris and The Beatles for reviving the beautiful music of Rock and Roll
János Gadnai
Sorry: Was killed.....?
The Bandit
my dad played with them for bout 2 years then my mom made him stop cause i was in the tummy then bout a year they hit big but still have his rec contract an can remember them stopping over when they were in town to play at our house an my dad would jump an play with them
おにころ
亡くなった父がいつも車の中で流していたことをよく覚えています。
久しぶりに聴いて、父が生きていたあの日のことを思い出しました！
János Gadnai
Look:"The band developed a following in Europe. In 1962, they played at the Star-Club in Hamburg, where the Beatles, then a little-known band, served as an opening act. "
jean ht
Bonjour à vous j'adore les musiques instrumentales et de ce groupes et d'autres comme les Venture