Tagged with the moniker "Diamond Dave," Somerville discovered The Diamonds during a talent show audition in 1953; he signed on as their coach and then became their lead singer, Billboard reported. Last Update. John Somerville. Star Trek TOS, Featured, Paramount David Somerville, also called Diamond Dave Somerville (October 2, 1933 July 14, 2015) was a Canadian singer operating primarily in the United States, best known as the co-founder, and original lead singer, of The Diamonds, one of the most popular vocal groups of the 1950s. The Diamonds' music influences many artists through the years including Elvis, Bob Dylan, Jan & Dean, David Bowie and Carole King to name a few. Somerville had one child, a son named David Orlando, according to his obituary. He was predeceased by his brother, Marc. After leaving the Diamonds, Somerville married Judy Corns of Evansville, IN, and began a six-year solo career as a folk artist, using the stage name David Troy. Somerville told Tom Meros in an interview that he was a radio . In the hallway of the C.B.C. He was 81. As such, they appeared in concert with Henry Mancini and Johnny Mathis and were regulars on The Tim Conway Show, a CBS-TV prime-time comedy series. There were three gold records: Little Darlin' (recorded one month after the original version by a group called the Gladiolas), Silhouettes and The Stroll, which became the Diamonds' second million-seller and a hit on American Bandstand that inspired a new dance craze. David Somerville's voice was once reportedly described by electric-guitar deity Les Paul as "God-given a distillation of Elvis and Bing." Born on October 2, 1933 in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, David grew up in the small nearby farming village of Rockwood. As such, he did extensive voice-over work and was heard in hundreds of radio, television and cable advertisements. Magnum P. I. Somerville became their lead singer and they scored 16 Billboard hits over the next eight years. Contrary to the rumor reproduced above, however, there is no familial connection between The Diamonds and Tom Hanks. Read More. Music historian and radio host Ron Farber recalled Somerville talking about the small house he had bought in the Hollywood Hills many years ago, and how for a time his next-door neighbor, who was a handyman, helped fix the place up. view all Andrew Somerville's Timeline. September 06, 1849. In that, she added, the Diamonds were not alone. Dave Somerville is a Regional Director, Sales at HUB Financial based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The smash finished as the No. (Somerville left The Diamonds in 1961, although from the late 1980s onwards he performed occasionally with original members of the group. 1) and Pat Boones Love Letters in the Sand (No. He was a popular figure among oldies fans, frequently appearing as a radio guest and telling an endless round of stories about the early days. This is a fan site of the "Original" Diamonds Singing Quartet of the 1950s. David Somerville in MyHeritage family trees (Ramage Web Site) David Somerville in MyHeritage family trees (Ramage Web Site) David Somervail in 1851 Scotland Census Extract view all Immediate Family Helen Somerville wife Janet Somerville daughter Private child William Somerville son Alexander Somerville son Margaret Hunter daughter David Somerville But it was as lead singer of the 1950s doo-wop group the Diamonds that he made his lasting mark with the iconic Little Darlin', a bouncy, hyperventilating tune that would become part of the soundtrack to poodle skirts, hot rods and hula hoops. His first childrens album was titled The Cosmic Adventures of Diamond Dave. Pretty Girls Walk has emerged as a phenomenon. The song has appeared on more than 250 albums and experienced new life when it was part of the soundtrack to the 1973 film American Graffiti. Somerville also co-wrote the theme song that inspired the ABC hit television show "The Fall Guy" starring Lee Majors. Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Dave Somerville, the lead singer of the fameddoo-wop group The Diamonds, best known for their 1957 hit Little Darlin, has died. According to a press release, "Diamond Dave". He is not dating anyone. The Diamonds have been honored and inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame, The Doo Wop Hall of Fame, The Rockabilly Hall of Fame and are recipients of Canadas prestigious Juno Award. It was the third-bestselling record of 1957 and according to Mr. Somerville, the sixth-biggest recording ever by a Canadian act. In 1957, Little Darlin' spent eight weeks at No. We have estimated They were the first white vocal group to have hits on both pop and rhythm and blues charts, and "were widely regarded as one of the pioneers of rock 'n' roll, known for their sparkling vocal harmony sound that was so vital in rock's early days," the website stated. Henry Mancini Special, Guest Star, NBC This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google. Diamond Dave Somerville, a popular singer among oldies fans, died Wednesday in Santa Barbara, Calif. (Scans). This digital version has been corrected. A year ago, he headlined the "Original Stars from American Bandstand" show at Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, Ont. He was 81. City of Simi Valley Send us a memory of someone we have recently profiled on the Obituaries page. "Little Darlin' has stood the test of time, becoming a seminal song of the era and enduring as an anthem of the rock and roll generation today.". In February 1956 with the recommendation of Clevelands genius DJ, Dr. Bill Randle, they signed a long-term contract with Mercury Records. CNR Clothiers He also received anomination for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. ", But hitting those exquisite tones into his golden years? There are 100+ professionals named "Dave Somerville", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. David-Troy Somerville, co-founder and original lead singer of the 1950's rock 'n' roll vocal group The Diamonds and known to music fans around the world as "Diamond Dave" Somerville, passed away early Tuesday morning in Santa Barbara from cancer. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Offers may be subject to change without notice. The Diamonds recorded almost all cover versionsincluding "Little Darlin'," which originally was an R&B hit for the Gladiolas. Most recently he performed a single act as "Dave Somerville Original Lead Singer of The Diamonds" recreating those early days of rock 'n' roll on that Greyhound bus by singing the hit songs of those artists on that tour and telling road stories. Check your horoscope to learn how the stars align for you today. And it showed. 2 in the early spring of 1957. Join Facebook to connect with David Somerville and others you may know. The Diamonds were born, and their first performance was in a Christmas minstrel show in the basement of Toronto's St. Thomas Aquinas Church. But hey, it was good to be next to the King." Avia Shoes The Diamonds charted with 16 Billboard Hits between 1956 and 1961, 15 of which were Top 40 and 3 were Top 10 on Pop Charts (4 Top 10 on R&B Charts) and 3 Gold Records ("Little Darlin'," "The Stroll" and "Silhouettes"). He was predeceased by his brother, Mark, a Toronto lawyer. "After you've sung Little Darlin' the first few thousand times, you no more think about how to do it than you'd think about how to put on your suit jacket. In 1988, he rejoined the Four Preps and in 2000, the Diamonds reunited to tape Doo Wop 51, a PBS retrospective. Mr. Somerville was told by American soldiers that while fighting in Vietnam during the 1960s and 70s, they used the catchy lyrics as signals in the jungle. The family asks that memorial contributions in his name be made to Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care in Santa Barbara. The Diamonds charted 16 hit singles on Billboards various charts in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including top 10s with Little Darlin, Silhouettes and The Stroll.. David Mikkelson founded the site now known as snopes.com back in 1994. Somerville is survived by his wife, Denise, and his son, David. Multiple appearances on American Bandstand, The Perry Como Show and The Steve Allen Show boosted the group's profile. Welcome to the Quantum Realm. Mr. Somerville's wife, Denise Biron, sighed at the excruciating fate of Little Darlin'. Mr. Somerville was inducted into the Doo Wop Music Hall of Fame in 2014. In 1969, he and Bruce Belland, the Four Prepss original lead singer, concentrated on a folk/comedy act as the duo of Belland & Somerville. Previously, Dave was a Financial Advisor at The Carson Group and also held positions at Dynamic Funds. In the fall of 1957, The Diamonds joined what would be a legendary rock n roll bus tour with such other rising stars as Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Paul Anka, LaVernBaker, The Everly Brothers andBuddy Holly, performing one-nighters for a two-month stretch. The Fall Guy (1981-1986)as Music Department, The Daring Dobermans (1973)as Businessman, Your email address will not be published. "Propelled by Dave's voice, the Diamonds became the most prominent white male vocal group of the mid-to-late 1950s," broadwayworld.com proclaimed in a tribute to Mr. Somerville. All but one registered in the Top 40, three cracked the Top 10 on the pop charts and four songs made the Top 10 on the R&B charts. "It was on the charts for 26 weeks [in 1957] and No. Dr. Bill Randle, who led them to a recording contract with Mercury Records in Chicago in 1956. Spider-Man, principal, Universal 1997 - 1999. David Somervilles income source is mostly from being a successful Music Department. "It was very easy," he insisted. ", Elvis was a fan of the Diamonds, Mr. Somerville once pointed out, and Bob Dylan and Carole King cited the group as an influence. He was 81. In 1969, he left The Four Preps with fellow lead singer Bruce Belland and formed a new duo called Belland and Somerville. He and Belland went on to collaborate on many songs including "The Troublemaker" that would become a platinum recording and title song for Willie Nelson's No. Coleman Camping Gear So, how much is David Somerville worth at the age of 82 years old? Not to mention their clothes. Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 46 years old? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Unlike many of his 1950s vocal group peers, Somerville parlayed his early success into a musical career. After Central Technical high school, he went to work as a radio operator for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). View the profiles of professionals named "Dave Somerville" on LinkedIn. Born in Guelph, Ontario, Somerville grew up in a musical family in the nearby farming village of Rockwood, 50 miles west of Toronto. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter, He also co-wrote The (Ballad of the) Unknown Stuntman, the theme from TV's 'The Fall Guy,' and appeared on such TV shows as 'Star Trek' and 'McCloud.'. Dave Somerville is on Facebook. More recently, he reunited with Mr. Belland, joined by Jim Yester, formerly of the Association, in a group aptly called Triple Gold. Wayne Rogers (c.), who played the hilarious Trapper John McIntyre on "M.A.S.H.," was among the most beloved characters on one of the most popular shows of all time. Doo Wop 51, Star, PBS Special Accessed 13 March 2017. The Diamonds, a Canadian vocal quartet that also featured original members, In addition to their million-selling version of Little, Somerville, a baritone with a four-octave vocal range, exited the group in 1961 to pursue a folk singing career as, He and Bellandalso collaborated on such songs as The Troublemaker, a hit for. 2 on the Best Sellers in Stores chart, which was the leading singles chart before the launch of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1958. International House of Pancakes We dont have much information about Hes past relationship and any previous engaged. (Somerville. Immediate Family: Son of Samuel Somerville, Sr and Susannah Somerville. ), Tom Hanks' father, Amos Mefford Hanks, was born in Glenn County, California, in 1924 and died in 1992. Select this result to view David O Somerville Jr's phone number, address, and more. Somervilles home in the Hollywood Hills was used as the set for the home of Majorss character, Colt Seavers. So, how much is David Somerville worth at the age of 47 years old? This article was published more than 7 years ago. Bogart, Stephen Humphrey. (CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images, Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic). The family asks that for those interested in making memorial contributions they be made in his name to Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care/Serenity House, 509 E. Montecito Street #200, Santa Barbara, CA 93103-9963 or on their website http://www.vnhcsb.org/serenity-house/. This landmark recording is joined by fifteen other Billboard hits by The Diamonds, including "Silhouettes", "Why Do Fools Fall in Love", "Love, Love, Love", and "The Stroll." He is not dating anyone. during the fall of 1953, Somerville met by chance an unnamed quartet (Stan Fisher, Ted Kowalski, Phil Levitt and Bill Reed) and soon became their vocal coach. He represented the United Kingdom at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Facebook gives people the power. The 1960s, including the David Troy years. The Diamonds never managed to crack No. He left the group in 1961 to pursue a solo career as a folk singer under the name David Troy, before joining The Four Preps in 1967. Those suits! In later years, Rolling Stone magazine would cite that tour as "planting the seeds of early rock and roll from coast to coast.". They never saw any accounting." They weren't the only clean-cut fifties doo-wop group to have roots in Canada: The Four Lads and the Crew-Cuts also owed origins to Toronto. To submit an I Remember: obit@globeandmail.com. Worked at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. In 1967, Somervilles only child from his marriage to Corns, David Orlando Somerville, was born; as an adult, he too became a singer-songwriter like his father, calling himself Landa Somerville. David Somerville's net worth David Somerville Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. Phil Levitt, Ted Kowalski, Dave Somerville and Bill Reed of The Diamonds photographed in 1954. There, they met Mr. Somerville, who was working as an "operator" the guy who put the discs on the turntable and cued up the tone arm. Sister of Janet Somerville; Private; William Somerville; Alexander Somerville and David Somerville. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. He was 81. 2 for eight - the same eight weeks that Elvis's All. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. 3 song on Billboards year-end recap of the Best Sellers in Stores chart, behind only Elvis Presleys All Shook Up (No. The third result is David John Somerville age 80+ in Eureka, CA in the Eureka City neighborhood. Follow us on Twitter: @globeartsOpens in a new window. Discover David Somerville's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from Coffy to Jackie Brown. Somerville left The Diamonds in 1961 to pursue a career as a folk artist under the name David Troy, before joining The Four Preps in 1967. Dave Somerville Memorial Fund $5,845 raised The organizer has currently disabled new donations to this fundraiser. During this period, Somerville also studied acting, with Leonard Nimoy as his teacher, and made numerous guest-starring appearances, often credited as David Troy, on various television programs. David-Troy Somerville, co-founder and lead singer of 50s rock n roll band The Diamonds, died in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Tuesday. Diamond Dave Somerville, a popular singer among oldies fans, died Wednesday in Santa Barbara, Calif. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. It featured several familiar trappings of 1950s vocal group harmony, including a talking bass interlude and its signature high "yi-yi-yi" chorus. Somerville "was a wonderful and gracious guy and a true talent," said Farber. Over the years, Mr. Somerville kept a bruising schedule entertaining at concerts, recording soundtracks, performing voice-overs and writing hundreds of songs. As songwriters, Bruce and Dave co-wrote The Troublemaker, which became the title track of two Willie Nelson albums; and the duo sang in a later roster of the Four Preps with Jim Pike of The Lettermen. He was 81. 1822 1822. The video is co-directed by Arjun Ram Srivatsa & Lena Greene. She lives together with Wade in Boston. David Somerville was born on 2 October 1933 in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. In all, the Diamonds had 16 Billboard Hits between 1956 and 1961, including a cover of Why Do Fools Fall in Love? David Somerville. Later that year when Fisher opted for college, Dave became the groups lead singer. Recently, Somerville performed "Dave Somerville Original Lead Singer Of The Diamonds'," where he received entry to five halls of fame. Magic Moments, The Best of 50s Pop, Star, PBS Special, TRW (For the record, it was kept out of the No. The Diamonds were the first white vocal group to have hits on both pop and rhythm and blues charts. Family and Friends, Somerville has been inducted into five music halls of fame: the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Doo Wop Music Hall of Fame, Vocal Group Hall of Fame, Doo Wop Hall of Fame of America and Rockabilly Hall of Fame. At around three minutes, Thomas sings his final vocals, and a Beach Boys sound (provided by Dave Somerville and three members of the Ron Hicklin Singers: Tom Bahler, Gene Morford & Hicklin) begins then carries the track to over 4 minutes. 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