Does the 1968’s recording of The Staccatos hit, “Cry to Me” take you back in time?

Steve Ashely (lead vocals) and Brian Le Gassick (guitar & vocals) of The Staccatos will be performing at The Drama Factory

Fifty-two years after 'Cry to Me" was recorded and 21 years after the band disbanded in 1999, the founder member Brian Le Gassick and a former lead vocalist Steve Ashley, joined forces, and reformed the band in 2019. 

The band, The Staccatos, was formed by Brian Le Gassick in 1961 while he was studying at Damelin College. Renowned and respected for his world-class exhibition of pure pitching and vocal power, Steve Ashley, with 52 years of live experience, possesses a singing style, appearance and voice strikingly similar to that of Sir Tom Jones. He is a phenomenal singer/entertainer and an artist in a class of his own!

In the latter part of 1963, The Staccatos won a competition, and they became known as the “Beatles Of South Africa” (SA’s first Super Group) and part of the prize was a recording contract with EMI. “Come back Silly Girl” entered the charts on 17 December 1965 and reached the number two position on the Springbok Hit Parade. The song put the band on the map, as this was also their first chart topper. 

The Staccato’s entered the Springbok Radio hit parade in August 1968 with the Terry Dempsey composition “Butchers and Bakers”. “Butchers and Bakers” spent 10 weeks on the chart peaking at number 2. At the end of 1968 the Staccato’s recorded their biggest hit “Cry to Me.” The song went to No. 1 position and spent 38 weeks on the chart during 1969!!!. No other local or international hit featured on the Springbok Radio hit parade could ever improve on this exceptional chart run of 38 weeks. The song’s popularity surged after the Staccatos had performed the song live in the controversial movie ‘Katrina’. We wonder if anyone knows how many copies of the single were sold in SA in the late sixties/early seventies. They were the first band in SA to receive four Gold Records for “Cry to Me”, for sales in excess of 400 000 at the time. The band also received a Sarie Award in 1970 as "Top Beat Group“. The song also entered the hit parade in Germany and the UK. 

To this day, most radio stations still play this monster hit, and it’s a crowd favourite at any function. To this day, many South Africans fondly recall the days of happy Springbok Radio Listening. 

Steve Ashley and Brian Le Gassick of The Staccatos will take their audience on a sentimental journey with powerful vocals, beautiful melodies and lyrics filled with nostalgia. 

The show will feature, among others, hits from Bob Seger, Brian Adams, The Archie’s, The Beatles, The Animals, The Monkees, Free, Bee Gees, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin, Michael Bolton, Doobie Brothers, Clearwater Revival and South Africa’s own beat Band, the Staccatos. 

Book early to avoid disappointment!