AccuRadio Song Of The Day-The Sandpipers

Artist:The Sandpipers

Song:Guantanamera

Album:Guantanamera/The Sandpipers

This 1966 cover of the Cuban folk song Guantanamera was a top ten hit in 1966. It was the biggest hit for the vocal trio The Sandpipers. I would describe their music as easy listening folk. Or it could be described as ant-psychedelic. Jim Brady, Mike Piano and Richard Shoff were all members of the Mitchell Boys Choir in Los Angeles when they decided to start their own vocal group with a fourth member called The Four Seasons. When they discovered there was already a group with that name, they reduced to a trio and changed their name to The Grads. After recording unsuccessful singles for Mercury and MGM, they released the 1966 single Stage Door on A&M Records. A&M owner Herb Alpert said he liked their music but he wanted a new name for the group. Supposedly they got The Sandpipers from the dictionary though there was also the popular 1965 film The Sandpiper starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Producer Tommy LiPuma suggested they cover the Cuban folk song Guantanamera. The single reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. Guantanamera was written by Cuban poet Jose Marti. The music was written by singer Joselito Fernandez in the 20s. Legendary folksinger Pete Seeger wrote English lyrics and recorded Guantanamera in 1963. This is where LiPuma heard it. The Sandpipers' version was arranged by Mort Garson. The Sandpipers were nominated for two Grammys. You can get Guantanamera on this twofer of the 1966 album Guantanamera and the 1967 album The Sandpipers from the British label Collector's Choice available at a reasonable price. The Sandpipers recorded nine albums from 1966-71. Their other big hit Come Saturday Morning reached #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970. It was one of three songs The Sandpipers recorded for the 1969 film The Sterile Cuckoo. They performed it on the Oscars broadcast. The Sandpipers continued to record until the late 70s and then performed on the nostalgia circuit. Piano died in 2014 and Brady died in 2019. Here's The Sandpipers performing Guantanamera on The Lloyd Thaxton Show 1966.