S & C: Payin' Dues (1940-1968)

SEALS & CROFTS

Jim Seals (b. Oct 17, 1941, in Sidney, Tx.; raised in Rankin) comes from a family of noteworthy musicians. His brother is the well-known country artist Dan Seals, formerly "England Dan" of the pop duo England Dan and John Ford Coley from the late 70's; his father Wayland headed a rockabilly group with the Oil Patch Boys, and recorded the notable song, "When I'm Gone"; his uncle Chuck wrote the Ray Price hit, "Crazy Arms"; a cousin is the country singer, Johnny Duncan; another cousin, Brady Seals, played keyboard for Little Texas before starting a solo career; and cousin Troy Seals wrote hits for George Jones and Ronnie Millsap. Jim also has three children that are all musicians: Joshua, Juliette and Sutherland.

Dash Crofts (b. Darrell Crofts on Aug 14, 1940, in Cisco, Tx.) began his career as a singer and drummer, later taking up the mandolin. He and Jim met in junior high school and began playing together for Dean Beard and the Crew Cats in the mid 1950's. Jim already had recognition, winning a state fiddle championship at the age of 9; but by his late teens, Jimmy's main instrument was the tenor sax. Soon, Seals & Crofts were recording under the wing of the influential singer and radio personality Slim Willet, promoter of the "Big D" Jamboree. Under the Carlton label, "The Jimmy Seals Orchestra" can be heard playing early instrumental compositions by Beard and Willet such as "Sneaky Pete," "Benguela" and "Juavez."

The duo soon entered the public eye as members of The Champs, after the group topped the charts with Chuck Rio's "Tequila" in 1958 and needed a touring band. Jim and Dash joined the tour in Baton Rouge, and were to remain with the group for the next seven years. Dash moved to California in 1958 and was soon followed by Jim after an attempt at a solo career. It is believed that Jim played sax on a Jerry Butler album around this time. With The Champs in California, Jim is pictured playing tenor sax and Dash is at the drums. Dash was drafted in 1962 and assigned as a personal clerk to Gen. Westmoreland at Ft. Bragg because of his high typing speed. He returned to The Champs after two years, following the intervention of Gene Autry, owner of the Challenge label that recorded the Champs. Click here for much more on their time with The Champs.

Seals and Crofts rarely had the opportunity to sing while with The Champs. They did manage to sing together as members of temporary groups for Challenge Records, such as The Trophies and The Chimes. But their role was limited to back up vocals for the talented Dave Burgess.

In 1964-65, Jimmy was able to record four singles under the Challenge label. They were released under the solo artist "Jimmy Seals", and showcase Jimmy's early multi-instrumental and singing experiments in the studio.

The Champs disbanded in 1965. In that year, Jim played rhythm guitar on the Buck Owens album, "Before You Go/No One But You." He may have also recorded guitar for the rockabilly artist Johnny Powers, around this time. Meanwhile, Dash returned to Cisco and took up a regular job arranged by his father -- for one day. Before long, he was back in Southern California, writing and recording with Jimmy again. In 1965, two of their songs were recorded by Rick Nelson. In 1967, Jim played sax on the Monkees' second album, aptly named More of the Monkees.By that year, Seals and Crofts had amassed a significant catalog of songs, many of which were never released. They contributed songs and played with The Knickerbockers and rockabilly great Gene Vincent, in Hollywood. They were then briefly members of The Mushrooms and Uncle Sound before joining the Dawnbreakers, with guitarist Louie Shelton and bassist/engineer Joey Bogan. They featured a vocal trio, the Day Sisters. Over time, Billie Lee Day married Dash Crofts and Marcia Day (mother of the trio) became Seals and Crofts' manager. Jimmy married Ruby Jean Anderson. According to Jim, "Dash and I would finish playing a gig with the Dawnbreakers, then we'd go home and play these songs we'd been working on for our own enjoyment. One morning, Marcia Day heard us singing and asked if we would think about recording that material." Many of these early songs were inspired by their interest in the Bahá'í faith, an interest that has been the center of Seals and Crofts ever since.

Seals & Crofts debuted as a fill-in act at the Icehouse, in Los Angeles. According to one report, they were approached by a self-styled psychic after the show and told that they had just embarked on what would be a highly successful and rewarding venture. . .

Marcia Day headed Day 5 Productions, which promoted and managed Seals & Crofts. Although the Dawnbreakers dissolved as a result, the name continued in the form of a publishing company (Dawnbreaker Music, Inc.) and a recording facility (Dawnbreaker Studios).

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Here is a chronological list of known S & C compositions for the period of 1958-68, most of which were never released (please contact me at sftony@earthlink.net with additions and corrections!):

-1958-

Rockin' Mary. Music by Dave Burgess and Dash Crofts, 1958. Performed by The Champs.

-1960-

It's Never Too Late. Words and music by Jimmy Seals, 1960. Performed by Brenda Lee.
A Chance To Say I Love You. Words and music by Jimmy Seals & Bob Morris, 1960.
Pretty Little Girl Next Door. Words and music by Jimmy Seals, 1960.
Best Wishes. Words and music by Jimmy Seals, 1960.
Be My Little Darlin'. Words and music by Jimmy Seals, 1960.
She's the One. Words and music by Jimmy Seals, 1960.