Early 1964 for The Marketts. "Surfer's Stomp" was a top 40 hit in '62 (no. 17), but the delightful "Balboa Blue" (also from '62) didn't make the top 40. (This should have been a top 10 hit; it's truly that good! ) "Batman Theme" was another hit for the group in 1966 ( no. 17).
The brother duo of Santo and Johnny (Farina) had a no. 1 smash with "Sleep Walk" (1959). Other hits included "Tear Drop"(1959), "Caravan"(1960), "Hop Scotch"(1961), and "I'll Remember (In The Still Of The NIght)" (1964).
And an instrumental honorable mention should be given to The Fireballs (Yes, THE Fireballs with Jimmy Gilmer), who had "Bulldog" (no. 24, 1960) and "Quite A Party" (no. 27, 1961).
Them (Yes, THE Them with Van Morrison), who charted with "Mystic Eyes" (no. 33, 1965
Junior Walker and The All Stars, who had several instrumental hits ( including "Cleo's Mood"" and "Cleo's Back") as well as vocal ones.
In addition to all the abovementioned, The Bar-Kays, B. Bumble and The Stingers, Mr. Acker Bilk, Dave "Baby" Cortez, Vince Guaraldi Trio, Al Hirt, Cannonball Adderley, The Dave Brubeck Quartet (featuring Paul Desmond on sax, their hit "Take Five" was a Top 10 smash, but it only reached no. 25 in 1961.), Lonnie Mack, Link Wray ( and His Ray Men), Bill Pursell, Boots Randolph, Nelson Riddle, David Rose, The Meters, Jimmy Smith, and The T-Bones, plus others too numerous to all mention here, through their innovative talent, have made the instrumental a timeless, enduring part of the 1960s. -
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