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The groop
The history of Australian band The Groop is divided into two
distinct periods. The original line-up issued several novelty
singles, while the second, more-successful line-up boasted a
strong R&B style.
The original version of The Groop formed in 1964 and included
English-born guitarist Peter Bruce, who had been a member of The
Dave Clark Five (albeit in their pre-fame Skiffle days). The band
became popular around Victoria and eventually signed a record deal
with CBS.
The first record was a novelty version of Ol' Hound Dog,
followed by Best In Africa and I'm Satisfied. All
the releases made the Top 20 in Melbourne, and the band also
recorded two albums before virtually disintegrating and
re-grouping with a fresh line-up.
Recruiting Ronnie Charles on vocals, Don Mudie on guitar and
Brian Cadd (then known as Brian Caine) on keyboards, The Groop
moved in a more adventurous R&B direction. The new band
released covers of Solomon Burke's
Sorry and Bo Diddley's Who
Do You Love?, but it was to be the new band's third single, Woman
You're Breaking Me, which became an Australian Sixties
classic.
The Groop took out first place in the 1967 Hoadley's National
Battle of the Sounds, winning return tickets to the UK on a Sitmar
Lines cruise. In the UK the band gigged regularly but made little
headway. CBS UK released two Groop singles in Britain during 1968
- Woman You're Breaking Me and Lovin' Tree, and the
band toured Germany to some acclaim.
The band returned to Australia in October 1968 as a four-piece,
issuing Such A Lovely Way in February, and You Gotta
Live Love in June.
The Groop broke up in May 1969, and their last recorded work
was never even credited to them - It is The Groop who provided the
instrumental backing to the classic Russell Morris track, The
Real Thing.
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Peter McKeddie
Vocals
Peter Bruce
Guitar
Max Ross
Bass
Richard Wright
Drums
Ronnie Charles
Vocals
Brian Caine (Cadd)
Keyboards
Don Mudie
Guitar, Bass
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