These guys played at my high school in 67 when they first released "I Love You So Much." The dance was on a Friday night, and the following Monday after school I walked in a snow storm to buy their 45. Luckily a neighbor saw me walking home and gave me ride home, what would have been a five mile walk. This band had a major influence on me, and what it was like to be in band. Here is is 51 years later and I am still playing in a band.
Their third and fourth albums are great. The New Colony Six were IMO masters of composing good, often catchy pop tunes. They didn't make it big which they'd been deserved.
Great song. when I first heard it in March of 1968, my girlfriend sent me the record, I knew this was "our song" forever. regrettably, our "forever" only lasted about six months after. Got the "Dear John" phone call. Found love again in 1972 and have been married for over 40 years. Still, every time I hear this song I think of her and wonder.
Ray Graffia (the one introducing the song) is the founder of the NC6 and the only original member still performing. Bruce Mattey (singing lead) was in another 60's Chicago area band called the Revelles :)
Thanks for the quick response! They made such great music, and it's a joy to see/hear them performing now. I'd have to say that Ray did an excellent job in putting that sound on stage after so many years. Not an easy task, I'm sure. I couldn't tell you how many times I've listened to their stuff over the years. Thanks again!
You are welcome, and thanks for the great comment :) Fyi, Ray has his own channel here on YT...his username is 'colonyjr'. I know he loves getting fan mail!!
Great band, great history. Sounds quite different without Ronnie on lead vocal, but nice rendition nevertheless. Sad aspect of this video was the untimely loss of the young man on the keyboard, Mark Eskin. I met him in 1981 when he was about 21, at a restaurant-lounge in Wheeling, where he'd come in and jam with the piano bar player, another musical hero named Deon Jackson (RIP 2016). I knew that Mark was to become a superstar, and I was right.
@LB Ronnie Rice left the band in 1972 to go solo. He joins all the Chicago area bands for their 'Cornerstones of Rock' concerts. From 2019: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Frw5mT4XpJU.html
@@60s70sChicagoRock Thank you for your answer. I lived in Chicago many years, and I have seen Ronnie perform around 20 times. He puts on a great show. However, I have retired to the Dominican Republic, so it has been a while. Also, he has cut back on his performances in recent years. None of us are getting any younger.
@@lb3848 Oh, I know. I've also seen him many times solo since the 70's, as well as with the NC6 back in the mid-late 60's at local teen dance venues. I've got a couple other clips of Ronnie: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-vyYHSCApA4w.html and ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GgutIOorD5c.html Hope to see him and all these guys soon. No we're not getting any younger! Thanks for watching!
The guy in the middle doing all those weird movements is very annoying and distracting. I love this song and had to scroll down and listen only because of this guy.
@Douglas Schmidt That "guy in the middle" is Ray Graffia Jr. He is the founder of the band (1965) and only remaining original member. "This guy" is the reason the New Colony Six has performed live since then.
@@60s70sChicagoRock yes and I found out later who he is. God Bless him he can still move around like that. This is one of my fav songs growing up in an era of true talent.
@@douglasschmidt9929 And this was over 11 yrs ago. He's still got those moves, tho maybe a bit slower. Also, Ronnie Rice (who originally sang this song with the NC6) still performs solo. Hoping for concerts in 2021. 🙏
