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.
The Loser
The Skyliners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someone's got to lose
That's the way it's got to be.
I guess that it's so
But now (I'd really like to know)
Just why does 'loser'
Always have to be me.
Someone's love will end
It's as simple as A... Abc.
That's not really news
You know (somebody has to lose),
But why does 'loser'
Always have to be me.
I don't ask much
Just that lady luck touch me one time
And maybe then I will win back
The love that was mine.
Someone's got to lose
And end up with the blues
But why does 'loser'
Always have to be me.
Why does loser
Have to be me.
The Skyliners' song The Loser talks about the inevitability of winning and losing in life, particularly in matters of love. The opening lines acknowledge this fact, stating that someone will come out on top while someone else will be left feeling defeated. The singer of the song seems to accept this reality, but at the same time, they can't help but wonder why they always end up being the one who loses.
The theme of the song seems to revolve around the idea of bad luck – the idea that no matter what they do, the singer always ends up on the losing end. They acknowledge that sometimes love doesn't last, and that someone has to be on the losing side. However, the repeated refrain of "why does loser always have to be me?" hints at a deeper frustration and sense of helplessness when it comes to their romantic endeavors.
The song ends on a note of hope, with the singer expressing a desire for a bit of good luck to come their way. They don't need much – just some small sign that things might turn around for them. The Skyliners capture a universal feeling of disappointment and frustration in The Loser, while also managing to infuse the song with a sense of optimism and resilience in the face of bad luck.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone's got to win
Someone has to emerge victorious
Someone's got to lose
Someone has to come up short
That's the way it's got to be.
It's an inevitable fact
I guess that it's so
I concede to the reality of the situation
But now (I'd really like to know)
However, I am wondering
Just why does 'loser'
Why is it always the 'loser'
Always have to be me.
that ends up being me?
Someone's love will last
Someone's love will endure
Someone's love will end
Someone's love will come to a close
It's as simple as A... Abc.
It's as easy to understand as the alphabet
That's not really news
That's not something new
You know (somebody has to lose)
You're aware that someone has to be the 'loser'
But why does 'loser'
But why is it always the 'loser'
Always have to be me.
that ends up being me?
I don't ask much
I don't request many things
Just that lady luck touch me one time
Just the chance for good fortune to come my way once
And maybe then I will win back
And possibly then I will regain
The love that was mine.
The love that once belonged to me
And end up with the blues
And be left feeling sorrowful
Why does 'loser'
Why is it always the 'loser'
Always have to be me.
that ends up being me?
Contributed by Jacob E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
boomerang905
This is one of the most beautiful, soulful sounds ever made. It takes me back to when I was about the graduate High School and some issues I had. I would listen to this at my sister's house and never talk about my problems. Those years could be bitter/sweet and yet the song is so beautiful. I loved me some Skyliners.
M Smith
I grew up with this group. Used to go to every concert. This song wasn't played enough. It was one of my favorites. The lyrics are beautiful
Nydeco 123
Just discovered this soulful song. Fascinating that it's sung by Jackie Taylor, the former bass singer of the original Skyiners. This is an offshoot Skyliners group, not the original Doo Wop legends the Skyliners fronted by the late, great Jimy Beaumont. Would love to know whatever happened to Jackie Taylor.
Behdoc1
I've always loved this song. Jack Taylor absolutely nails this on lead. Does anyone know what became of him?
Rick Knight
Somehow this old song just bubbled up from my teenage memory banks, and I had to track it down. It took a while but I was SO happy to find it. What a voice! I didn't know anything about the group but the song just stuck with me for all these 60+ years. Thank you pghppookie!
iVenge
wow... this guy had a nice voice. shame he didn't go further after this. i wonder why?
Aeryn 027
I first heard this song on pandora and I immediately gave it thumbs up. Its a good song.
Elzie Carrington
Blue eyed soul I love it 😎
Arthur Harris
Thank you so much for this great song!!!
pgh45rpms
This original version of The Loser by the Skyliners predates the Racket Squad's by 3 years. Both groups' recordings were released by Jubilee Records.