The Skyliners were best known for their 1959 hit "Since I Don't Have You". Covers by the Four Seasons, Trini Lopez, Chuck Jackson, Don McLean, Guns N' Roses, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, Ronnie Milsap, Art Garfunkel and Buckaroo Banzai kept the song in the public consciousness.
They also hit the Top 40 with "This I Swear" and "Pennies from Heaven". Other classics include "It Happened Today" (1959), "Close Your Eyes" (1961) and "Comes Love" (1962). The original group dissolved in 1963, but re-united eleven years later (without Jack Taylor), for what would become their last charted record, "Where Have They Gone?"
In 1965, Jimmy Beaumont recorded two notable singles for the Bang label: the first, "Tell Me"/"I Feel Like I'm Falling in Love", were medium-tempo soul-styled tracks. For his second Bang 45, "I Never Loved Her Anyway"/"You Got Too Much Going for You", Jimmy transformed into an impressive soul singer, sounding nothing like his previous more pop-styled efforts, leading some to question in later years, if it actually was his singing. These two tracks are now considered Northern Soul collectibles. The second 45 was also issued on UK London HLZ 10059 in 1966.
Jack Taylor was drafted in 1965. In 1975 Wally Lester and Joe Versharen left the group; they were replaced by new members, Jimmie Ross and Bob Sholes.
In 1978, the Detroit based record producer Don Davis — who produced Marilynn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., Johnny Taylor, the Dramatics, and the Dells — picked up one of his favorite groups (the Skyliners) to record in his United Sound Studios. They recorded the group's "comeback" album for the RCA subsidiary, Tortoise International Records.[6] The songs "Oh, How Happy" and "The Love Bug" were included, as was a hefty re-make of Dan Schafer's original RCA Victor single, "A Day Without You, Dear".
Janet Vogel committed suicide in 1980, Cathy Cooper joined the group as a replacement. She and Ross left two years later to form a duo, they were replaced by Rick Morris and Donna Groom.
Morris retired in 1993. Also in 1993, David Proch was singing with another group. At first listen the Skyliners' original lead singer, Jimmy Beaumont, invited Proch to join the group; Proch joined as a replacement. Also performing with the group at this time was Tom Sholes, brother of Bob Sholes. The two were local to the group, they attended St George High School in the Allentown neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The group became Beaumont, Groom, Proch, and Nick Pociask.
David Proch (at age 44) the third person to sing first tenor for the Skyliners, died on October 19, 1998, in a car accident. His car collided with a truck hauling asphalt on U.S. Route 30 near Ligonier, PA, about 45 miles east of Pittsburgh. Proch's place was taken by Dick Muse, a former member of The Laurels. Rick Morris replaced Muse in 2011. Frank Czuri replaced Morris in 2013.
Their longtime manager and producer Joe Rock, who also co-wrote "Since I Don't Have You", died on April 4, 2000, at age 63, after complications from quadruple bypass heart surgery.
Four of the original members have died:
Janet Vogel committed suicide on February 21, 1980, she was 37,
Joe Verscharen died of cancer on November 2, 2007, he was 67,
Wally Lester (b. Walter Paul Lester, Jr. on October 5, 1941 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) died of pancreatic cancer in Southport, North Carolina on April 21, 2015, he was 73,
Jimmy Beaumont died on October 7, 2017 age 76.
Until his death on October 7, 2017, Jimmy Beaumont performed with the Skyliners in their current line-up of Nick Pociask, Frank Czuri, and Donna Groom (whose husband, Mark Groom, has been the group's drummer/conductor for more than 25 years).
Chart hits
"Since I Don't Have You" (1959), U.S. No. 12, Cashbox No. 7
"It Happened Today" (1959), U.S. No. 59
"This I Swear" (1960), U.S. No. 26
"Pennies from Heaven" (1960), U.S. No. 24
"The Loser" (1965), U.S. No. 72
"Where Have They Gone" (1975), U.S. #100
Discography
The Skyliners (1959)
Close Your Eyes (1961)
Since I Don't Have You (1963)
Once Upon a Time (1971)
The Skyliners (1978)
Pennies from Heaven (1960)
The Skyliners were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002.
I Can Dream Can't I?
The Skyliners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Interesting Facts ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ohhh, ohhh, ohhh, ohhh, ohhh, ohhh, ohhh)
I can see
No matter how near you′ll be
You'll never belong to me
But I can dream, can′t I
Can't I pretend that I'm locked in the bend of your embrace
And I am drunk with mine
I′m aware
My heart is a sad affair
There′s much disillusion there
But I can dream, can't I
Can′t I adore you
Although we are oceans apart
I can't make you open your heart
But I can dream, can′t I
Can't I adore you
Although we are oceans apart
I can′t make you open your heart
But I can dream, can't I
Ohhh, ohhh, ohhh, ohhh, ohhh, ohhh, ohhh, ohhh,ohhh, ohhh, ohhh,
Ohhh,ohhh, ohhh, ohhh, ohhh, ohhh, ohhh, ohhh, ohhh, ohhh, ohhh
The Skyliners' song "I Can Dream Can't I?" is a poignant ballad about unrequited love. The lyrics express the desperate yearning of someone who knows that the person they love will never truly love them in return. Despite this painful realization, the singer clings to the hope that they can at least continue to dream about being together. This is necessary for them to maintain their sanity, as the lyrics suggest that without this dream, they would be left with nothing but a "sad affair." It's as if the dream is a lifeline that prevents them from sinking into despair.
The first verse expresses the singer's understanding that no matter how close they are physically, they will never truly be together. However, this knowledge does not stop them from imagining what it would be like to be held in the arms of the person they love. The metaphor of dreams as wine is particularly apt, as both can provide a temporary escape from reality. The second verse continues in this vein, emphasizing the despair that the singer feels. The lines "I'm aware / My heart is a sad affair / There's much disillusion there" are particularly evocative. It's clear that the singer is trapped in a cycle of unrequited desire, and that there is little hope of escape.
Despite the sadness of the lyrics, there is a kind of beauty to the way they express the pain of unrequited love. The melody is haunting and wistful, and the harmony is lush and powerful. Even though the singer knows that they can never be with the person they love, they are still able to find solace in their dreams. It's a moving reminder that even when we are faced with disappointment and heartbreak, our dreams can still provide a measure of comfort and hope.
Facts about the song:
Interesting Facts
Note: This section uses generative AI, which can be inaccurate.
Line by Line Meaning
I can see
I understand and accept that no matter how close we are physically, you will never truly belong to me.
No matter how near you'll be
It doesn't matter how close you are physically to me, you will never truly belong to me.
You'll never belong to me
I understand and accept that you will never truly belong to me.
But I can dream, can't I
Despite this knowledge, I can still imagine and hope for a different outcome.
Can't I pretend that I'm locked in the bend of your embrace
I want to imagine that I am held closely in your arms, enjoying a warm embrace with you.
For dreams are just like wine
Dreaming and imagining a different reality is like getting drunk on the idea of it.
And I am drunk with mine
I am lost in the pleasant feeling of imagining a different reality.
I'm aware
I understand and am conscious of my situation.
My heart is a sad affair
I am aware of my own sadness and disappointment in this situation.
There's much disillusion there
I am slowly losing hope and faith in the possibility of a different outcome.
Can't I adore you
Even though we are distant and will never truly belong to each other, can I still have deep affection for you?
Although we are oceans apart
Despite the great distance between us, physically and emotionally, can I still feel love for you?
I can't make you open your heart
I accept that I cannot control your feelings or force you to love me.
But I can dream, can't I
Despite this lack of control, I can still hold onto my hopes and dreams for us.
Writer(s): Irving Kahal, Sammy Fain
Contributed by Maria B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.