The Chantays

The Chantays, sometimes credited as Chantay's,[1] is an American surf rock band from Orange County, California, United States, known for the hit instrumental "Pipeline" (1963).[2] Their music combines electronic keyboards and surf guitar, creating a unique ghostly sound.

History

The Chantays were formed in 1961 by five high-school friends. Bob Spickard, Brian Carman (co-writers of "Pipeline"), Bob Welch, Warren Waters and Rob Marshall were all students at Santa Ana High School in California.[2] In December 1962, the group recorded and released "Pipeline", which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1963. The track also peaked in the UK Singles Chart in 1963 at No. 16.[3] The Chantays recorded their first album in 1963, also titled Pipeline, which included "Blunderbus" and "El Conquistador". Their follow-up album was Two Sides of the Chantays in 1964.[2]

The Chantays toured Japan and the United States, joining the Righteous Brothers and Roy Orbison on a few occasions, and they were the only rock and roll band to perform on The Lawrence Welk Show.[4]

"Pipeline" (published as sheet music in 1962 by Downey Music Publishing) has become one of several surf rock hits. The tune has since been covered by Bruce Johnston, Welk (on the Dot album Scarlet O'Hara), Al Caiola (on the United Artists album Greasy Kid Stuff), the Ventures, Takeshi Terauchi & Blue Jeans, Agent Orange, Hank Marvin, Lively Ones, Pat Metheny, Dick Dale with the help of Stevie Ray Vaughan (Grammy Nominated), by the thrash metal band Anthrax, Bad Manners and Johnny Thunders. "Pipeline" has been used in many films, television programs and commercials, and appears on numerous compilation albums.

The Chantays have been honored for their contributions to music. Highlights include being honored on April 12, 1996, by Hollywood's Rock Walk,[5] that was founded to honor individuals and bands that have made lasting and important contributions to music. "Pipeline" is listed as one of the 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. Along with Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers and Diane Keaton, the Chantays were honored by the City of Santa Ana, California, and Santa Ana High School when they named a street after them, Chantays Way.[6] OC Weekly magazine also named the Chantays as one of the Best Orange County Bands.

The Chantays are still playing. Original members Bob Spickard and Bob Welch are joined by longtime members Ricky Lewis and Brian Nussle. More recent albums include The Next Set (live recording) and Waiting for the Tide.[7] Some of the tracks are the new songs "Crystal T" and "Killer Dana", along with remakes of "Pipeline", "El Conquistador" and "Blunderbus".[8]

Brian Carman died at his home in Santa Ana, California, from complications of Crohn's disease on March 1, 2015. He was 69.[9] Another longtime member Gil Orr died on September 19, 2017. He was 79.[10]

Members
  • Bob Spickard — guitar: original member
  • Brian Carman (born Brian Craig Carman; August 10, 1945 – March 1, 2015)  — guitar: original member
  • Bob Welch — drums: original member (not the Fleetwood Mac member).
  • Warren Waters — bass guitar: original member
  • Rob Marshall — piano: original member
  • Ricky Lewis — guitar: longtime member
  • Gil Orr  (July 17, 1938 – September 19, 2017)  — guitar/bass guitar: longtime member
  • Brian Nussle — bass guitar: longtime member

Discography

Albums
  • Pipeline (Downey DLP-1002, 1963; Dot DLP-3516/DLP-25516)
  • Two Sides of the Chantays (Dot DLP-3771/DLP-25771, 1964)
  • Next Set [live] (Chantay Productions CPD-3164, 1994)
  • Waiting for the Tide (Vesper Alley/Roctopia VRA-80003, 1997)

Singles
  • "Pipeline" / "Move It" (Downey 104, 1/63; Dot 16440)
  • "Monsoon" / "Scotch Highs" (Downey 108, 5/63; Dot 16492)
  • "Space Probe" / "Continental Missile" (Downey 116, 1963)
  • "It Never Works Out For Me" / "Maybe Baby" (XPANDED Sound 103, 1964) as 'Leaping Ferns'
  • "Only If You Care" / "Love Can Be Cruel" (Downey 120, 6/64)
  • "Beyond" / "I'll Be Back Someday" (Downey 126, 11/64)
  • "Three Coins in the Fountain" / "Greenz" (Downey 130, 1965)
  • "(I Won't Cry) So Be On Your Way" / "Fear of the Rain" (Reprise 0423, 11/65) as 'The Ill Winds'
  • "A Letter" / "I Idolize You" (Reprise 0492, 7/66) as 'The Ill Winds'

Live TV performances
  • "Pipeline" (Lawrence Welk Show, May 18, 1963)
  • "Runaway" (Lawrence Welk Show, May 18, 1963)

Awards

See also

References
  1. "Chantay's* - Pipeline / Move It". Discogs.com. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  2. Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 245. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 100. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. "The Chantay's - Pipeline (Lawrence Welk Show 5/18/63)". YouTube. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  6. "Orange County Weekly - The 129 Greatest OC Bands Ever: 51 - 89". March 31, 2008. Archived from the original on March 31, 2008. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  7. "The Chantays". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  8. "Waiting for the Tide". AllMusic. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
  9. Daniel E. Slotnik (March 6, 2015). "Brian Carman, Surf Rocker, Dies at 69". The New York Times. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  10. "We just lost a lesser known, but great guitar player, Gil Orr". Harmonycentral.com. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  11. "The Chantays, Honors". Thechantays.com. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
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