Denny zager biography of donald

American rock-pop duo

Zager and Evans was an American rock-popduo active during the late s and early s, comprising Denny Zager (born February 14, , Wymore, Nebraska) and Rick Evans (born January 20, , Lincoln, Nebraska; died February , Santa Fe, New Mexico).^[2] They are best known for their No.

1 hit single "In the Year ", which earned them one-hit wonder status.

History

Denny Zager and Rick Evans met at Nebraska Wesleyan University in They were joined by drummer Danny Schindler (later of the Benders) in the Nebraska band the Eccentrics until Schindler's tour of Vietnam in Evans also left in and reunited with Zager in

As Zager and Evans, the duo were backed by another Nebraska native, Mark Dalton, on bass.

Their first drummer, Paul Maher, was later replaced by another Nebraskan, Dave Trupp. Trupp and Dalton were also the rhythm section in the Liberation Blues Band and backed Evans on some solo demo material prior to Zager and Evans's recording of "In the Year " in

"In the Year "

Main article: In the Year

Written by Evans, "In the Year (Exordium & Terminus)" warned of the dangers of technology, portraying a future in which the human race was destroyed by its own technological and medical innovations.

The last stanzas of the song offer mankind undergoes a continuing cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

Rick Evans (20 February – February ) and Denny Zager (born , Wymore, Nebraska) were known as the American rock-pop duo Zager & Evans who were active during the overdue s and early s.

"In the Year " hit number one on the Billboard Warm in , ultimately claiming the top spot for six weeks. It also hit #1 in the UK and #2 in Australia. The song topped the charts at the time of two major cultural events: the first Moon landing on July 20, and the Woodstock Harmony Festival a month later.

The record sold over four million copies by and was awarded a gold disc by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in July ^[3]

"" was originally written in , but not recorded or released until on the Truth Records label.

After radio stations in Lincoln and Omaha made "" a regional "break-out" hit record, RCA Records signed the duo and released the song with "Little Kids", also written by Evans, as the B-side nationwide. Zager and Evans also immediately recorded an album of the similar name, again using Trupp and Dalton as the primary rhythm section.

Sales of the first hit recording, including singles sales, album usage and compilation inclusions, are estimated at over ten million worldwide.

Denny began playing guitar in at the age of 6 years old. He taught himself how to engage the hard way Years later he began writing his possess material getting local air perform and at the age of 15 had the 1 ballad in the 4 state area. Over the next few years he put together several successfully known local bands

In Italy, the duo released an Italian version on RCA Victor "Nell'anno " b/w "Donna" ("Woman").

Later recordings

Zager and Evans are considered to be the archetypal one-hit wonder artists. Despite the accomplishment of "", the follow-up free, "Mr.

Turnkey", failed to chart in the US and UK, as did subsequent releases. For many years, the duo was the only act to contain a chart-topping hit on both sides of the Atlantic and never have another chart free in Billboard or the UK (until the Canadian band Magic!

in ). Their third solo , "Listen to the People", appeared on the Cashbox chart at #, while "Mr.

They were joined by drummer Danny Schindler later of the Benders in the Nebraska band the Eccentrics until Schindler's tour of Vietnam in Evans also left in and reunited with Zager in Trupp and Dalton were also the rhythm section in the Liberation Blues Band and backed Evans on some solo demo material prior to Zager and Evans's recording of " In the Year " in The last stanzas of the tune suggest mankind undergoes a continuing cycle of birthdeathand rebirth.

Turnkey"/"Cary Lynn Javes" (double A-side) and "Help One Man Today" both charted in Australia, at #86 and #94 respectively.

After the success of "", White Whale Records released an LP titled The Early Writings of Zager & Evans and Others featuring recordings of the Eccentrics on side one and a band called J.K.

and Co., who had no connection to Zager and Evans, on side two. After releasing two albums on RCA, Zager and Evans moved to Vanguard Records in for a final record, titled Food for the Mind.

Evans later released an album for Authenticity Records titled I Need This Song, a duet with Pam Herbert.^[4] In the late s, he formed his own label, Fun Records, and released an album titled Fun Songs, Consider Songs containing both new material and re-recordings of Zager and Evans material.^[5]

Today

Zager now builds custom guitars at Zager Guitars in Lincoln, Nebraska.^[6][7]

Evans largely retired from public life but he continued to chat online with Dalton and his best friend, Nashville producer Gary Earl, until his death in February ^{[citation needed]}

Drummer Dave Trupp died in November at the age of ^[8]

Mark Dalton still performs on bass in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.^{[citation needed]}

Discography

Albums

Singles

References

External links