In this episode of Vinyl Vibes, Jack is joined by Terry Buzzy Johnson, a longtime member of The Flamingos. Terry got into music at a young age being the neighbour of The Orioles' Sonny Til and The Swallows' Earl Hurley. In 1954 Terry formed his first group, The Whispers. It was with this group he recorded and wrote music for the first time. In 1955 the group released two singles "Fool Heart" and "Are You Sorry?" both of which Terry wrote and sang lead on. In late 1956 Terry was invited to join the Flamingos. It is his time with the Flamingos is most well known for due to their 1959 hit "I Only Have Eyes for You". The song would reach number 11 on the billboard 100 and more recently was voted in at 158 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of "500 Greatest songs of All Time". After his initial time with the group, throughout the '60s he did music work for the likes of Smokey Robinson. In 2001, Terry was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Flamingos and as of 2023 is still recording and performing after almost 70 years in the music field.    

Jack called Terry to discuss his early musical beginnings, how early doo-wop records impacted him, the forming of his first group the Whispers, his memories of recording for the first time in 1955, how he came to join the Flamingos in late 1956, how flamingo classics such as  "The Ladder of Love" and "Lovers Never Say Goodbye" came to be, how the group got signed to End Records, how the group's big hit "I Only Have Eyes for You" came to be, the group's work following the success of "I Only Have Eyes for You" and Terry's music work today. 

“I had a habit of playing the guitar on my chest and laying down in the bed and was trying to find some chords and I fell asleep - and this is the truth- I was dreaming and I couldn't see anything, I heard this music -it was ethereal- I just got chills talking about it right now...I heard this music, I heard the structure of the harmonies, I heard what the bridge would sound like - I woke up and my hands were on the guitar and where ever my hands went to is what I heard in my dream, so I knew god had given me this -this was a gift from god" - Terry Buzzy Johnson on this episode of Vinyl Vibes talking about how the song "I Only Have Eyes for You" came to be.

Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins

To hear the full on-demand version of this program, go to https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes

The website for Vinyl Vibes. 

If you like this content, we'd love to hear from you. 

In this episode of <a href="https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes">Vinyl Vibes</a>, Jack is joined by Terry Buzzy Johnson, a longtime member of The Flamingos. Terry got into music at a young age being the neighbour of The Orioles' Sonny Til and The Swallows' Earl Hurley. In 1954 Terry formed his first group, The Whispers. It was with this group he recorded and wrote music for the first time. In 1955 the group released two singles "Fool Heart" and "Are You Sorry?" both of which Terry wrote and sang lead on. In late 1956 Terry was invited to join the Flamingos. It is his time with the Flamingos is most well known for due to their 1959 hit "I Only Have Eyes for You". The song would reach number 11 on the billboard 100 and more recently was voted in at 158 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of "500 Greatest songs of All Time". After his initial time with the group, throughout the '60s he did music work for the likes of Smokey Robinson. In 2001, Terry was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Flamingos and as of 2023 is still recording and performing after almost 70 years in the music field.    
Jack called Terry to discuss his early musical beginnings, how early doo-wop records impacted him, the forming of his first group the Whispers, his memories of recording for the first time in 1955, how he came to join the Flamingos in late 1956, how flamingo classics such as  "The Ladder of Love" and "Lovers Never Say Goodbye" came to be, how the group got signed to End Records, how the group's big hit "I Only Have Eyes for You" came to be, the group's work following the success of "I Only Have Eyes for You" and Terry's music work today. 
“I had a habit of playing the guitar on my chest and laying down in the bed and was trying to find some chords and I fell asleep - and this is the truth- I was dreaming and I couldn't see anything, I heard this music -it was ethereal- I just got chills talking about it right now...I heard this music, I heard the structure of the harmonies, I heard what the bridge would sound like - I woke up and my hands were on the guitar and where ever my hands went to is what I heard in my dream, so I knew god had given me this -this was a gift from god" - Terry Buzzy Johnson on this episode of Vinyl Vibes talking about how the song "I Only Have Eyes for You" came to be.
Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins
To hear the full on-demand version of this program, go to <a href="https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes/">https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes</a>
The <a href="https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes">website for Vinyl Vibes</a>. 
If you like this content, we'd love to hear from you.

Jack Hodgins speaks with the people behind the music you love.

Jack Hodgins speaks with the people behind the music you love.

Vinyl Vibes

Jack Hodgens talks to the people who created the music that is the foundation of today's music.

Jack Hodgens talks to the people who created the music that is the foundation of today's music.