Vanilla Fudge was an American rock and roll band formed in San Francisco, California, in 1968. The band's members were:
- Lead vocalist David Soul.
- Guitarists John Duran and Gary Bonner.
- Drummer Jerry Nolan.
- Bass player Mark Andes.
- Keyboards player Billy Mundi.
- Saxophonist Chuck Findley.
They became popular during the late 1960s and early 1970s for their hard rock, R&B, and psychedelia sound. They gained national attention when their debut album, On the House, was released in 1970.
Early Days of Vanilla Fudge
At its inception in 1968, Vanilla Fudge consisted of David Soul, a singer, keyboard player, songwriter, and occasional guitarist also known as Davy Soul.
John Duran, an ex-member of the R&B group, The Coasters; Gary Bonner, formerly a member of the popular band, The Turtles, was also a songwriter and a guitarist.
More so, Jerry Nolan, a former member of The Turtles and a drummer who later founded the San Francisco band, The Niteflights; Billy Mundi, a keyboard player who had also been part of The Turtles; and Chuck Findley, a former member of The Turtles and a saxophone player.
David Soul and Chuck Findley were former band members of The Turtles. They started playing together in their school band called The Teenagers. After completing their high school education, Soul and Findley moved to San Francisco in 1967 to pursue their musical careers.
In addition, Soul and Findley met up with John Duran and Gary Bonner and became close friends in the city.
Soon the four of them, plus Nolan, decided to form a band. They went to a recording studio to record a few songs they played together. The studio owner liked the sound that they made and encouraged them to perform live, which resulted in the formation of the band Vanilla Fudge.
In the summer of 1968, a friend of theirs, a keyboardist named Randy Brecker, recommended that they visit an acquaintance, Bernie Pearl.
Pearl agreed to meet with the four at his house, and the band began rehearsing at Pearl's apartment. During the rehearsals, a couple of the musicians left the band, adding Mark Andes as bass guitarist and Rick Marotta on drums.
Mark Andes was a former member of The Young Rascals, and he used to play with a group called, The Bumpkins. He played electric guitar and had to be switched to bass to replace a departing member of the band.
Randy Brecker quit his job simultaneously and joined as a replacement for John Duran. David Paich replaced Chuck Findley after the first two shows.
The band played regularly for about a year. Then, in 1969, the band changed its name to The New Vanilla Fudge. By this time, John Duran had left the band, replacing guitarist John Cipollina.
Vanilla Fudge's Albums and Songs
- Secret Life of Plants" is Vanilla Fudge's highest-selling album.
- "Secret Life" has sold more than three million copies in the US and was released as a single.
- However, "Secret Life of Plants" and "The Secret Life" were the band's first releases.
- Vanilla Fudge's biggest hit song was "The House That Jack Built," written by Pete D'Angelo and John Christian Hall.
- The band's first and only live album is titled "A Date with Vanilla Fudge."
- "Granada," the second of Vanilla Fudge's three Grammy Awards, is for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
- Founded in 1969, Vanilla Fudge is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- On March 25, 2000, Vanilla Fudge won two Grammy Awards, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance for "The House That Jack Built" and Album of the Year for "The Secret Life of Plants."
Abstract
Vanilla Fudge was a band from Boston formed in 1968 by three guys: Jerry McGee (guitar), Chris Bailey (vocals), and Jim Belushi (drums). They had four number 1 hits: "Tell Me Why," "Dream Baby Dream," "Sweet Talkin' Guy," and "I Love You Too." The band released five studio albums.
FAQs
1. What was the first song Vanilla Fudge recorded?
The first song Vanilla Fudge recorded was "I Just Want to Make Love to You."
2. How many singles did Vanilla Fudge release?
Vanilla Fudge released two singles. The first single was "I Just Want to Make Love to You." The second single was "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me."
3. Who were the original members of Vanilla Fudge?
The original members of Vanilla Fudge were David Paich, John McLaughlin, Carl Wilson, and Jeff Porcaro.
4. What is the best song to describe Vanilla Fudge?
The best song to describe Vanilla Fudge is "Sweet and Innocent."
5. What is the band's style of music?
The band's style of music is hard rock.