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.
Since I Don't Have You
The Skyliners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I don't have hopes and dreams
I don't have anything
Since I don't have you
I don't have fond desires
And I don't have happy hours
I don't have anything
I don't have happiness, and I guess
I never will again
When you walked out on me
In walked old misery
And he's been here since then
I don't have love to share
And I don't have one who cares
I don't have anything
Since I don't have
You, you, you, you
You, you, you, you
You, you, you, you
(You)
The lyrics to "Since I Don't Have You" by The Skyliners are a heartbreaking admission of the singer's despair and sorrow after being left by a lover. The lyrics are brutally honest, expressing the emptiness and loneliness that the singer feels since losing the person they love. The chorus of the song consists of the refrain "I don't have anything since I don't have you," which is repeated over and over, emphasizing just how profound the loss is.
The first verse of the song conveys a sense of hopelessness and despair. The singer reveals that they have no plans or dreams and feels that their life is incomplete without the one they love. The second verse highlights the misery and sadness that has set in since the person left them. The final verse details how the pain of losing the love has left the singer feeling empty and alone, as they don't have anyone to love or care for them anymore.
Overall, the lyrics to "Since I Don't Have You" are a poignant and powerful portrayal of heartbreak and the profound sense of loss that can come with losing the person you love.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't have plans and schemes
I don't have any goals or strategies in my life.
And I don't have hopes and dreams
I don't have any aspirations or ambitions either.
I don't have anything
I have nothing to look forward to or to cherish.
Since I don't have you
All of this is because I lost you.
I don't have fond desires
I don't have any passions or yearnings in my heart.
And I don't have happy hours
I don't have any joyful moments or times of laughter.
I don't have happiness, and I guess
I'm not happy, and I don't think I ever will be again.
I never will again
I don't see a future where I'll find joy.
When you walked out on me
When you left me, my world crumbled.
In walked old misery
Despair took over my life.
And he's been here since then
And he hasn't left me since.
I don't have love to share
I don't have any love left in me to give.
And I don't have one who cares
I don't have anyone who loves me and cares for me.
I don't have anything
I have nothing to live for.
Since I don't have you
All of my losses are because I lost you.
You, you, you, you
You're the one I lost, and you're the only thing I want back.
You, you, you, you
I'm consumed with thoughts of you.
You, you, you, you
And my longing for you is overwhelming.
(You)
You're everything to me, and without you, I have nothing.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music
Written by: BOB GARFRERICK, WALT ALDRIDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel Corless
This song is dedicated to my lovey wife of 49 years. Carol passed away after a courageous battle with Pancreatic Cancer. I am writing this in her Honor. This is her page, Mrs. C. I Love and miss you...
Hansel D'silva
Wow even your username is dedicated to her
thomasine butler
My deepest sympathy
Daniel Corless
@Hansel D'silva Thank you for posting. I have my own page under Daniel C.
Daniel Corless
@thomasine butler Thank You! She enjoyed love songs and young hearts in love. They all wrote the best tunes about growing up and falling in love. This is for her...
who ever threw that your mom's a hoe! !
I don't even know you that shit made me cry may she Rest In Paradise
James Escue
I'm 57 and after losing my wife/soulmate to breast cancer I ran across this oldie and the words couldn't describe how I feel any better. I truly miss you and will always love you my darling Kathy.
Carol Little
Lost my guy David in May, suddenly. Prayers for you.
CLIFF
Darn
Susan Burke
Sorry😭