The Beau-Marks


The Beau-Marks were a Canadian rock music group formed in 1958 in Montreal, Quebec. Their first release, the April 1959 single "Rockin' Blues" b/w "Moonlight Party", came out under the name The Del-Tones, but the group changed their name soon afterward in a nod to the Bomarc missile. Their breakthrough hit was "Clap Your Hands," which hit #1 in Canada and Australia, peaked at #45 on the US Billboard pop charts, and #40 on Cashbox. It reached #8 on the New Zealand Lever Hit parade. The tune was also released in French as "Frappe Tes Mains" and a Quebec version as "Tape des mains", lyrics by late Michel A. Lebel, as one of Rock n' Roll Queen Lucie Marotte's finale favorites. Their debut, ten-track full-length LP came out in 1960. They also appeared on American Bandstand and at a charity concert at Carnegie Hall soon afterwards. Two more albums followed before the group broke up in 1963; a 1968 reunion saw "Clap Your Hands" get a re-release which reached #74 on the RPM charts.
The Beau-Marks were the first Canadian band to be headliners at the Peppermint Lounge in New York City and to be invited to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Members

  • Raymond "Ray" Hutchinson - guitar
  • Michel "Mike" Robitaille - guitar and bass
  • Joseph "Joey" Fréchette - piano and vocals
  • Gilles Tailleur - drums
  • Phillip "Shakin" Baker - lead guitar and vocals

    Discography

  • The High Flying Beau-Marks
  • The Beau-Marks in Person! Recorded on Location at Le Coq D'Or
  • The Beau-Marks
  • Lucie Marotte - Tape des mains

    [CHUM Chart] singles

  • Clap Your Hands #33
  • Billy, Billy Went A Walking #39
  • Classmate #4
  • Little Miss Twist / Lovely Little Lady #17
  • The Tender Years #18
  • Clap Your Hands Once Again mentioned and played on one episode of Roger Ashby Oldies Show