HISTORY: The Happenings
In 1966, a vocal trio from Paterson hit the top of the charts with a cover version of a song originally recorded by The Tempos seven years earlier called “See You In September.” It hit a chord with almost everybody. I know, because I was 15 and had a crush on a girl named Beverly who was in my class but who paid me no mind. I even wrote her a poem “I will build a house for Beverly Rouse.” Still, she ignored me. Yet when summertime came and class was out, and “See You In September” was all over the radio, all I could think of was her because I knew, indeed, I’d see her again when school started.
The song went to #1 in numerous countries around the world. It’s since been heralded as one of the top summer songs of all-time. Later that year, The Happenings recorded the Gerry Goffin-Carole King classic “Go Away Little Girl” and it hit the Canadian Top 10 (#12 in America). Their Bye Bye So Long Farewell album was a hit and more hit singles followed, most notably a Beach Boys-inspired version of George and Ira Gershwin’s 1930 “I Got Rhythm” and an even older chestnut, “My Mammy,” that first was a hit in 1918 by William Frawley, who would go on to achieve fame playing Fred Mertz on I Love Lucy.
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Original lead singer Bob Miranda still tours under The Happenings umbrella and will be in performance at the State Theatre in New Brunswick on November 16 as part of the “Rock’n’Roll Doo Wop Spectacular.” On December 7, he will be at the Saint Athanasius Church in Brooklyn.