Rick & The Keens

Rick & The Keens (Wichita Falls, Texas)



Personnel :

Richard A. Cook (Lead)

John Bland

Max Ray Evans

Cook' Sister

Hugh Alexander



Discography :

1961 - Peanuts / I'll Be Home (Austin 303/LeCam 721/ Smash 1705)
1961 - Maybe / Popcorn (Smash 1722)
1962 - Your Turn To Cry / Tender Years (Jamie 1219/LeCam 958)
1963 - Be Bop-A-Lula / You Can't Go On (Troy 1002)
1964 - Darla / Someone New (Le Cam 113/Tollie 9016)
N/A - Peanuts / You Can't Go (Charay 36)
N/A - Hippie! / I Cry (Charay 71)



Biography :

Rick and the Keens, a fivesome from Wichita Falls, had a major hit with Mercury Records, and they took a little song called Peanuts to # 1 in New York, LA and Chicago (a remake of the 1957 record of "Peanuts" by Little Joe and the Thrillers) . It then stayed in the top 100 of the Nation for 16 weeks.

This sizable hit from 1961 was recorded in Texas by this Caucasian Quintet whose career was hindered by the reclusive tendencies of their lead vocalist, Richard Cook. The group, who included John Bland on guitar and Cook'sisters on Piano, hailed from Wichita Falls in North Texas.

  
Richard Cook                                                      Rick & The Keens

"Peanuts"  was a rock and roll version of the R&B original, complete with soaring falsetto. It was first issued locally on Austin 303, then on the regional LeCam label (LeCam 721) before Smash (Mercury's Subsidiary label out of Chicago)  obtained the master and reissued it as Smash 1705. it Immediately went #1 in Chicago on'Station' WLAS and sold 18,000 Copies there.

The group did a promotional tour and was invited to appear on american Bandstand...



Songs :

   
Peanuts                                Maybe / Popcorn                               Darla    

     
I'll Be Home                           Someone New                    Tender Years    

Your Turn To Cry