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.
Lorraine From Spain
The Skyliners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Interesting Facts ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was a warm and breezy day
She was a doin′ it there Lorraine
A dancin' in Cabaret
I couldn′t take my eyes away
Her magic I just couldn't explain
All that I knew was that I must stay
Until I met the girl Lorraine
With just one wink, I met her
I loved her and I lost her just as fast
Still know I'll never forget her
Even though I′m just out of her class
So, if you should come into her show
At that small cabaret in Spain
A you will find me and many more
A just a waitin′ here for our Lorraine
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Music
138
Oh, with just one wink, I met her
I loved her and I lost her just as fast
Still I know I'll never forget her
Even though I′m just out of her class
So if you should come into her show
At that small cabaret in Spain
Well, you will find me and many, many more
A just a waiting here for our Lorraine
(Whoa, oh, oh
Just a waiting here for our Lorraine
Mmmm, mmmm
Aah, Aah, Aah, uh
Aah, Aah, Aah, uh
The Skyliners' song "Lorraine From Spain" is a tale of love at first sight that ends in heartbreak. The singer meets Lorraine while he is in Spain and is immediately entranced by her as she dances in a cabaret. He cannot take his eyes off her, and he feels a kind of magic around her that he cannot explain. Despite his strong feelings, their romance is fleeting, as he quickly loses her after falling in love with her. However, despite his heartbreak, the singer remains hopeful, and he and many others continue to wait for her at the cabaret in hopes that they will see her once again.
One interpretation of this song is that it tells the story of a young man's first infatuation with an alluring woman. The singer's description of Lorraine is almost otherworldly, and he cannot explain the spell she seems to cast on him. However, as quickly as this spell is cast, it is broken when Lorraine disappears from his life. The song suggests that this kind of intense and fleeting love is powerful but ultimately unsustainable, and that even though it may end in heartbreak, it is worth seeking out.
Interesting Facts about "Lorraine From Spain":
Interesting Facts
Note: This section uses generative AI, which can be inaccurate.
Line by Line Meaning
I met her when I was in Spain
The singer met Lorraine while in Spain.
It was a warm and breezy day
The weather was warm and breezy when the singer met Lorraine.
She was a doin' it there Lorraine
Lorraine was performing at a cabaret when the singer first saw her.
A dancin' in Cabaret
Lorraine was dancing onstage at the cabaret.
I couldn't take my eyes away
The singer was completely captivated by Lorraine and couldn't take his eyes off her.
Her magic I just couldn't explain
The singer couldn't understand why he was so drawn to Lorraine - he simply felt an undeniable connection to her.
All that I knew was that I must stay
The singer felt a deep desire to stay near Lorraine and continue watching her perform.
Until I met the girl Lorraine
The singer didn't feel complete until he met Lorraine.
With just one wink, I met her
Lorraine and the singer made eye contact and that's when they first met.
I loved her and I lost her just as fast
The singer fell in love with Lorraine quickly, but their romance didn't last long.
Still I know I'll never forget her
Despite their brief romance, the singer will always remember Lorraine.
So if you should come into her show
If someone goes to see Lorraine perform at the cabaret, they might see the singer there as well.
At that small cabaret in Spain
Lorraine performs at a small cabaret in Spain.
Well, you will find me and many, many more
The singer is not the only one who is captivated by Lorraine's performances; many others are waiting to see her as well.
A just a waiting here for our Lorraine
Everyone is eagerly anticipating Lorraine's next performance at the cabaret.
Writer(s): Skyliners The, Joseph Rock
Contributed by Vivian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.