Did you ever "Do the Freddy"?

[Auburn Annie]

Freddie and the Dreamers star dies

British pop star Freddie Garrity, former lead singer with 1960s band Freddie and the Dreamers, has died at the age of 69.

Garrity died on Friday in hospital in North Wales, his agent said on Saturday.

His five-piece band had hits in Britain and the United States with "I'm Telling You Now," "You Were Made For Me" and "Over You."

Garrity, who lived in Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, was on holiday with his wife Christine when he was taken to hospital.

He had been suffering from emphysema for several years and had been unable to work since 2001.

Friends paid tribute to his memory. A family friend, Eric St John-Foti, told the BBC: "He was so full of life, and full of jokes. He was exactly the same as he was on stage, he did not have two personas.

"It is a sad loss, Freddie was part of the 1960s and drew comparisons with the Beatles."

Born in Manchester, Freddie -- a former milkman -- came to prominence at the start of the British music revolution in the early 1960s and his success mirrored that of his Liverpool rivals.

But he became famous not just for his music but for his humorous approach to rock 'n' roll. His wild antics on stage and television endeared him to millions around the world.

Freddie's first single, a cover of the James Ray U.S. chart hit "If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody," gave him his first Top 10 success in the UK.

It was followed over the next two years by hits including "I'm Telling You Now," "You Were Made For Me," "Over You," "I Love You Baby" and "I Understand."

In 1965 Freddie and the Dreamers topped the U.S. charts with "I'm Telling You Now" which went on to sell over 1 million copies.

It was on an American television show shortly afterwards that Freddie was asked about his stage antics. "It's a dance," came the reply. "It's called the Freddie" -- and a dance sensation was born.

Within weeks, the band was back in the charts with a song called "Do The Freddie."

Freddie disbanded the original group in 1969 and concentrated on solo work. But the band reformed in 1976, touring the globe for the next 25 years.


Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Musi...die/index.html

[Borderstone]

You must have been reading the article about the same time as I,Annie. I was just coming here to post this news myself.

I recall seeing an old clip of Freddie & The Dreamers on a historic Rock & Roll special that looked back at (then) 25 years of rock & roll.

I was 12 and laughed at the antics of Freddie because,at that time I just thought his dance was really weird. I later understood,he simply didn't take himself that seriously and was just having a good time.

Y'know,last I saw of him was on the Judd Hirsch sitcom "Dear John". John (played by Judd) tries to help a fictitious 60s rocker make a come-back by getting him a gig. The rocker chickens out but Freddie & the guys show up ! :D After their set,Hirsch (John) goes onstage,pretending to be the guy he tried to help.

I'll bet Freddie had to be somewhat releived he wasn't a one hit wonder here.

May he rest in peace and may his spirit dance as we knew him too.

[Auburn Annie]

His was one of the many smaller fun acts that made up the kaleidoscope of the sixties. I was 13 when "I'm Telling You Now" was on the charts. There had to be something in the air (uh, no, not THAT) that brought out so many happy performers -- or maybe it just seemed that way.

[charlene]

I read that news yesterday morning while reading the paper in bed....
Later on I told Lisa (my 18 yr.old daughter) and then tried to sing "I'm Telling You Now"....it was not pretty I admit and after a few lines she declared I was crazy and it was probably because of that kind of music I listened to as a kid!
lol
thankfully I didn't try to show her the dance too....
Char

[Borderstone]

I read in my top 40 book that the four songs mentioned in the CNN article were his and the Dreamers only hits in the U.S. and before the summer of '65 was over,they were done.

Pretty well remembered for not being around very long.

[Jim Nasium]

I recall reading somewhere that Freddy's dance was a parody of a slick little routine that 'The Shadows' used to do. 'The Shadows' being a very popular instrumental group, who enjoyed considerable success here in Blighty in the 60's. Everybody wanted to be Hank B Marvin.

Sorry to hear that Freddy has left us, I could not believe my eyes when I saw him bouncing around on TV all those years ago. You need a fair amount of breath to sing, let alone sing and jump around the way he did. One of a kind.