On this day, March 14, 1945, James O'Rourke of John Fred & His Playboy Band was born.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Hat tip, This Day in Music

Born Today In Music

March 14th

1945 - James O'Rourke
James O’Rourke, guitarist and singer with John Fred & His Playboy Band who scored the 1968 US No.1 & UK No.3 single ‘Judy In Disguise’.

John Fred


John Fred and his Playboy Band in 1967

Background information
Birth name: John Fred Gourrier
Born: May 8, 1941; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Died: April 14, 2005 (aged 63); New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Genres: Blue-eyed soul, swamp pop, bubblegum pop, rock and roll, R&B

John Fred Gourrier (May 8, 1941 – April 14, 2005), known by his stage name John Fred, was an American blue-eyed soul, swamp pop, rock and roll, and R&B performer from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, best known for the 1967 hit song "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)".

{snip}

Early life

John Fred was born on May 8, 1941 in Baton Rouge, the son of John Fred Gourrier, Sr., and Miriam Chaisson. He had one sister; Ann.

Career

His group, John Fred and the Playboys, was formed in 1956 when Fred was 15; their first charting single was March 1959's "Shirley". He appeared on Alan Freed's show, but when Dick Clark asked him to sing on American Bandstand, Fred had to turn him down because he had to play in a basketball game. Fred played basketball and baseball at Louisiana State University and Southeastern Louisiana University.

By 1967, the band was renamed John Fred & His Playboy Band (to avoid confusion with Gary Lewis & the Playboys) and Fred and band member Andrew Bernard co-wrote "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)", whose name is a parodic play on the title of The Beatles' song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds". The song, issued by Louisiana-based Jewel Records on the Paula label, became successful, knocking another Beatles song ( "Hello, Goodbye" ) out of the No. 1 chart position on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in January 1968. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. With the success of the single, John Fred & His Playboy Band was branded as a novelty act and never had another major success. The follow-up single, "Hey, Hey, Bunny" peaked at No. 57 on the Billboard chart and the band never again hit the Hot 100. Only after years of struggles did Fred obtain full legal rights to "Judy in Disguise" and its royalties.

{snip}

Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)


Single by John Fred & His Playboy Band from the album Agnes English

B-side: "Out of Left Field"
Released: October 1967
Genre: Pop rock
Length: 2:55
Label: Paula Records
Songwriter(s): John Fred Gourrier, Andrew Bernard
Producer(s): John Fred Gourrier, Andrew Bernard

"Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)" is a song that was a hit for the Louisiana-based John Fred & His Playboy Band in late 1967. The song was jointly written and composed by Fred and bandmate Andrew Bernard.

{snip}

Cover versions

• Los Quandos released a Spanish version in 1968 for one of their EP's, with the title of "Judy con disfraz" with Spanish lyrics by Julio Guiu Sr.
• The Amboy Dukes released a version in December 1967.

{snip}

The tune is unforgettable. Bonus: Ted Nugent covered the song.

Hit it, boys!

John Fred & his Playboys-Judy In Disguise
2,327,455 views • Mar 29, 2009

wjhmosaenglish03
17.7K subscribers

John Fred & his Playboys-Judy In Disguise

Lyrics

Judy in disguise, well that's what you are
Lemonade pies with your brand new car
So, cantaloupe eyes come to me tonight
Judy in disguise, with glasses

Keep a-wearing your bracelets and your new rara's
And cross your heart, yeah, with your livin' bra
Chimney Sweep Sparrow with guise
Judy in disguise, with glasses

Come to me tonight, come to me tonight
Taking everything in sight
Except for the strings on my kite

Judy in disguise, hey that's what you are
A lemonade pies, hey, got your brand new car
So cantaloupe eyes come to me tonight
Judy in disguise, with glasses

Come to me tonight, come to me tonight
Taking everything in sight, except for the strings on my kite

Judy in disguise, what you aiming for?
A circus of a-horror, yea yea, well that's what you are
You made me a life of ashes
I guess I'll just take your glasses

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Andrew Bernard / John Fred
Judy in Disguise lyrics © BMG Rights Management US, LLC

Wed May 8, 2024: On this day, May 8, 1941, John Fred, of John Fred & His Playboy Band, was born.

Thu Mar 14, 2024: On this day, March 14, 1945, James O'Rourke of John Fred & His Playboy Band was born.

Tue Mar 14, 2023: On this day, March 14, 1945, James O'Rourke, of John Fred & His Playboy Band, was born.

Sun May 8, 2022: On this day, May 8, 1941, John Fred was born.

Sat May 8, 2021: On this day, May 8, 1941, John Fred was born.