The Clingers | |
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 The Clingers in 1969 (from left): Melody, Debra, Patsy, and Peggy | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Orem, Utah |
| Genres | Barbershop music, Rock music |
| Years active | 1966–1971 |
| Labels | Tollie Records, Columbia Records, Forward Records, MGM |
| Past members |
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The Clingers was one of the first rock-and-roll girl bands. They started as a barbershop quartet and recorded five singles before transitioning to playing their own instruments in a rock band in 1966. The members consisted of the four Clinger sisters: Patsy (drums), Debra (bass), Melody (guitar) and Peggy (keyboard). They performed on many variety shows and with other artists to promote their music. Melody, the oldest of the sisters, was born in 1947[1] and sang duets with her mother before joining her sisters in a barbershop quartet, known as The Clinger Sisters, starting in 1956. Val Hicks became their vocal coach, and the family moved to California, where the Clinger Sisters appeared on The Andy Williams Show with the Osmonds and in several episodes of The Danny Kaye Show. They signed with Vee-Jay Records in 1964, recording three singles for them. They spent summers performing in fairs, headlining with Liberace and Donald O'Conner at the Great Allentown Fair. They released two singles independently in 1965.
Seeing the success of other rock bands at fairs, the Clinger sisters decided to switch from singing a cappella to accompanying themselves in a rock band. Nino Candido taught them how to play their instruments, and they started playing rock music alongside their quartet singing. They signed with Greengrass Productions, but didn't like the music the company wanted them to sing. They found better artistic synergy with Curt Boettcher and Steve Clark, who agreed to produce the Clingers' music for Greengrass Productions. They recorded several tracks that were never released.
In 1967, they opened for The Righteous Brothers and Robert Goulet in two separate tours. Melody started writing songs for them to perform, and met Dennis Wilson, who introduced her to Terry Melcher of Equinox records. Terry was the stepson of Marty Melcher. The Clingers signed with Equinox and recorded two singles for them, but did not record an album after Marty Melcher's death and subsequent discovery of his debts. In 1968, The Clingers signed with Columbia Records. They recorded the single "Gonna Have A Good Time" for Columbia, where Michael Lloyd produced their B-side. They made multiple appearances on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour where they promoted their single. In the summer of 1969, they performed for seven weeks at Rivera in Las Vegas with Ed Ames and Scoey Mitchell.
After seeing their Las Vegas act, Mike Curb started managing The Clingers and published their single "Something Here in My Heart" under the Forward label in July 1969. The single "Round Round Round", also recorded by the Clingers, was a result of Peggy's collaboration with Johnny Cymbal. In 1970, the Clingers opened for New Coconut Grove and Anthony Newley in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The Clingers stopped performing in 1971, but the Clinger sisters continued to pursue music independently. Peggy acted as the singing voice for the Kitty Jo character in the Hanna-Barbera show Cattanooga Cats, and Peggy and Cymbal wrote songs together as the duo Cymbal & Clinger.