DIAMOND DAVE SOMERVILLE
founding member and lead singer of The Diamonds

 

Words can not tell what a hush was over the
room as Diamond Dave told stories and sang
the music that made up much of the history 
of Rock & Roll.  And, it was all true because
he was there.  In the fall of '57, after topping 
the charts with 8 hits, Dave Somerville and 
THE DIAMONDS joined a legendary Rock & 
Roll bus tour with other rising stars--Fats 
Domino, Buddy Holly & The Crickets, The 
Everly Brothers, Chuck Berry, Paul Anka, 
The Drifters, La Vern Baker, Eddie Cochran,
Buddy Knox, Clyde McPhatter and Frankie
Lymon.  For two months of one-nighters 
these founding fathers of Rock & Roll
barnstormed North America making musical 
history and sharing unforgettable experiences.

 

DIAMOND DAVE SOMERVILLE

 
"You are one of them sexy
Diamonds...I would scream
four times for you!"

Little Richard

CALLING THEMSELVES THE DIAMOND HEADS
IS DAVE'S INCREDIBLE BAND
On the left and on
keyboards is the
 band's musical director
MICHAEL LEWIS
from the band Quicksilver
Messenger Service and 
composer of dozens of 
movie and TV shows,
including "Cops" and 
"In Search Of"

To the left and on lead guitar is
MIKE FLEETWOOD
who has played with the likes of Stevie Wonder, 
The Four Preps, Whole  Wheat and The Diamonds.
on Drums was
GEORGE GREEN
who has toured with Glen
Campbell, Maureen Mc
Govern, TheOsmonds, 
Eddie Kendrix  and
Tony Orlando.  George 
has recorded with the
one and only
Frank Sinatra.

ffd
Above left and 
on Bass is
DREW DANIELS
who was baritone, bass-
player of The New Christy
Minstrels.  Drew is also a
professor of Physics at 
UCLA, inventor and
audio expert.

 

So many things made the night feel like it was
virtual theater.  With the great characters in 
the room and the music along with the story 
that Dave was telling the audience, one felt 
like you were really on that bus riding with 
the great legends of rock and roll.  Dave 
would be talking about one of his pals like 
Buddy Holly and then go into singing a few 
of the songs of this great legend and really 
took you back to a great time in music history.
oooo

It is said that sometimes in the next
5 minutes, the voice of Dave
Somerville will electrify the airwaves
somewhere in the world.  As the 
lead singer (and founding member)
of The Diamond's song "Little
Darlin', one of the seminal songs of
rock and roll, and classics such as 
"Why do Fools Fall In Love,"
"Silhouettes" and "The Stroll," his
vocals on these anthems have be-
come staples of radio programming.

check out his site at:
diamonddavesomerville.com

 
With Dave on the left is 
Glen Larson
who was original member of the 
FOUR PREPS and who is creator
and ex-producer of shows like 
"Quincy" "McCloud," "Magnium
P.I.," "Fall Guy," "Battle
Star Galatica" and many 
other great TV series.
Bob Dylan said:
"The songs I wrote at that age
were just four chords rhythm
and blues songs.  Based on
things that the Diamonds
would sing."
 
 
This great night  was attended by some very interesting
and important people in David Somerville's life,  as a matter of 
fact these were very important people in the entertainment biz itself. 
Attending the show besides the legends you see above, there was:

Anita Mann-a giant among producers in the biz
Michael Gleason--Ex. Producer of Remington Steel
Alan Perris--Sr. VP in charge of New Programming for Warner 
Mel Carter--who sang "Hold Me, Thrill Me"
Mark Sellers--LA Country  star and winner of  Star Search
Elmer Armstrong-- member of the Platters
Otto Felix--good friend and in new western with Dwight Yoakam


Harry Middlebrooks who wrote the
song "Spooky" entertains the room

fff

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Diamond Dave Somerville's "On The 1957 Rock & Roll Greyhound Bus" CD recaptures his classic magical  work
with THE DIAMONDS, and keeps the spirit and sound of ROCK & ROLL's FIRST MAJOR TOURING SHOW
alive. DIAMOND DAVE sings the hits and tells the road stories... "Diamond Dave's voice, personality and stage
presence are unbeatable!" - FOX Entertainment.

Dave was introduced to his first 45 record player by Buddy Holly on one of the Greyhound buses that he
and the Crickets shared.  This was the only fitting since Dave and The Diamonds' "Little Darlin" was the
first hit record on that new seven inch innovation, the 45 RPM record.  The Diamonds formed in 1953 with
Dave Somerville, Phil Levitt, Ted Kowalski and Bill Reed.  All were vocalists and were riding the road
of the beginning of Rock and Roll.