Wayback Wednesday: Gary Puckett
October 17th is the 76th birthday of one of the great pop voices of the ’60s and early ‘70s, Gary Puckett. Born in 1942 in Hibbing, Minn., he grew up in Yakima, Wash., close to Union Gap. He began playing in a hard rock band, The Outcasts…then formed his own group, Gary and the Remarkables.
They were re-named the Union Gap early in 1967, and his manager came up with the gimmick of outfits that resembled Civil War Union army style uniforms. Their first hit, Woman Woman reached #3 on the Billboard chart, and established their sound, which continued with Young Girl, Lady Willpower, and in the Fall of ’68..this classic. Here’s Gary and the group lip synching Over You on the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour (including for some reason, some Portugese subtitles) in 1969.
Unfortunately, Gary never achieved the success he gained early on with the Union Gap once he left for a solo career. But he still continues to actively tour, and still has that marvelous voice! Happy birthday Gary Puckett from WMTR’s Wayback Wednesday!