Forgotten Rock Bands: The Happenings

Welcome to Rock and Roll Flashback!  I'm Jumpin' John, and in this episode of Forgotten Rock Bands I will feature the Happenings!  This Paterson, New Jersey pop vocal group would, for four brief years in the 1960's, chart nine singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and become known for bringing new life to old pop standards.

All podcasts on the Rock and Roll Flashback Podcast are produced by brothers-in-law Bill Price and "Jumpin' John" McDermott.  The Podcast Theme Song, "You Essay", was written by John.  It was initially recorded by Bill and John on April 1, 2004 with several revisions since then. 
Multiple promo videos and photos for Rock and Roll Flashback Podcasts are available on the following social media sites:

https://www.youtube.com/@RockandRollFlashback

https://www.facebook.com/rockandrollflashbackpodcast

https://www.instagram.com/jumpinjohnmcdermott/

Bill and John welcome your feedback and comments, and they can be emailed to rockandrollflashback@outlook.com.
Thank you for listening to Rock and Roll Flashback Podcasts!
Until next time...
Rock On!

Transcript

Thank you for that introduction, and welcome to Rock and Roll Flashback!  I'm Jumpin' John, and in this episode of Forgotten Rock Bands I will feature the Happenings!  This Paterson, New Jersey pop vocal group would, for four brief years in the 1960's, chart nine singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and become known for bringing new life to old pop standards.

The Happenings is a pop music group that originated in the 1960's.  In the spring of 1961 the original vocal group was formed.  Initially they called themselves "The Four Graduates" because they all had just graduated from high school in Paterson, New Jersey.  Group members were Bob Miranda, David Libert, Tom Giuliano, and Ralph DiVito.  The band's original concept and much of its commercial success came as a cover band playing classic songs in a unique style.  Bob Miranda has said that the group's plan was to [and I quote] "take a song that's already proven it could be a hit and put our spin on it" [end quote].  That "spin" consisted of a combination of rich harmonies on vocals and upbeat tempos marked by prominent percussion and sometimes elaborate orchestration.  The Happenings early harmonies were reminiscent of those of groups like the Four Seasons and the Vogues.  

In the late 1950's Sid Wayne and Sherman Edwards wrote a song called "See You in September".  The tune was first recorded in New York City by the Pittsburgh vocal group the Tempos and has since been recorded by multiple artists.  The cha-cha version of the Tempos peaked at #23 in the United States in the summer of 1959, and the Tempos version later received renewed interest in 1973 by virtue of its inclusion on the American Graffiti movie soundtrack.

Bob Miranda of the Happenings recalls that he and the other band members considered the original version of "See You in September" to be a great song and kind of a bad record.  They felt that they could revise it and put their own sound to it.  So they worked with arranger Herb Bernstein, dropping the cha-cha beat and picking up the pace.  Recorded in the spring of 1966, the Happenings' version of "See You in September" was produced by Bob Crewe for the B.T. Puppy label.  The record label erroneously credits the producer to "Bright Tunes Productions".  After its release the song initially broke out in Boston, Massachusetts, where the track reached the Top Ten that June.  Then by July "See You in September" had gained enough national support to enter the Billboard Hot 100.  It reached that Hot 100's Top Ten the third week of August 1966. Despite peaking at #3 the first week of September 1966, the single remained in the Billboard Top Ten throughout the rest of the month.  That December, the Happenings were awarded a Gold disc for "See You in September" having sold a million units.  The song ended up being on the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks and was ranked #15 on Billboard magazine's list of the Top Hot 100 songs of 1966.  The song climbed to #1 in Canada and in Brazil. 

Here is the Happenings version of "See You in September":

The staying power and influence of the Happenings version of "See You in September" continues to this day.  On September 8th, 2020 Sirius XM listed their top 400 Summer Songs of the '60's.  The Happenings version of "See You in September" was ranked at #3 on that list, just behind #1 "Summer In The City" by the Lovin' Spoonful and #2 "California Girls" by the Beach Boys, and just ahead of #4 "I Get Around" by the Beach Boys and #5 "Under The Boardwalk" by The Drifters.

The Happenings would chart two more songs in 1966.  "Go Away Little Girl" reached #12 on the Hot 100, and "Goodnight My Love" reached #51.  Then in 1967 the group had another successful Top 10 hit, this time a cover of the Gershwin tune, "I Got Rhythm".  The group took the classic Gershwin song and updated it in the group's sunshine pop musical style.  "I Got Rhythm" reached #3 in the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 in Canada.  On June 3rd, 1967 "I Got Rhythm" reached #1 on the Cashbox Top 100 singles chart.  It's success was no doubt enhanced by an appearance that The Happenings made on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour show on CBS TV.  "I Got Rhythm" was on the Billboard Hot 100 for 13 weeks and ended up being ranked #37 on Billboard magazine's list of the Top Hot 100 songs of 1967.  Disc sales for "I Got Rhythm" exceeded one million copies, resulting in RIAA gold record recognition.  Also in 1967 the Happenings charted with three more singles:  "My Mammy", "Why Do Fools Fall in Love", and "Music Music Music". 

By 1968 the group's commercial appeal had began declining, as their sunshine pop cover concept was losing fans to heavier and more experimental rock and roll.  They did manage to get another tune on the Hot 100 in 1968: "Breaking Up is Hard to Do".  Their 1969 single, "Hare Krishna", which was a version of a song from the musical Hair, was the group's last Hot 100 hit.

In addition to appearing on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, the Happenings performed on such popular TV shows as The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson and The Merv Griffin Show.  As they continued touring the USA they shared the concert stage alongside such notables as the Beach Boys, Roy Orbison, Joan Rivers, John Denver, the Drifters, and the Kingston Trio, among others.

By the 1970's the group was evolving and composing more of its own songs.  Since then the Happenings has seen their lineup change from time to time, but founding member and lead singer Bob Miranda has been a constant member through it all.  To this day the band continues to perform, with Miranda as the only remaining original member.  They remain very popular on the oldies circuit.  In November 2026 they will be appearing on the Malt Shop Memories Cruise with Wayne Newton, the Temptations, Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone, Darlene Love, and many others.

Thank you for listening to another episode of Forgotten Rock Bands here on Rock and Roll Flashback podcasts!  This episode was devoted to the New Jersey sunshine pop vocal group from the 1960's: the Happenings!   I will close out this episode with the Happening's lip-synching performance of "I Got Rhythm" during their appearance on the 1967 Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour show.  So fellow travelers, may your path be smooth and your music always be rockin'!  And until next time...Rock On!