THE ASSOCIATION

THE ASSOCIATION is one of the most popular and successful bands of the 1960s with a full slate of Number One hits including Never My Love, Windy, and Cherish, which earned six gold and two platinum discs and sold more than 80 million albums, tapes, CDs, and DVDs. Their album, The Association Greatest Hits, continues to be one of Warner Brothers’ best-selling albums.

In 2000, when BMI announced the Top 100 Most Played Songs of all Time, Never My Love came in at #2, Cherish at #22, and Windy at #61, with Never My Love receiving more than seven million airplays – the equivalent of 40 years of back-to-back play.

Showcasing the versatility, carefully crafted vocals, and the intricately woven instrumentation that is the signature sound of THE ASSOCIATION are several more Top Ten hits including Along Comes Mary, Everything That Touches You, Six Man Band, Time For Livin’ and Requiem For The Masses. Along with seven Grammy awards, THE ASSOCIATION won the Foreign Press Award and was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Music in the film ‘Goodbye Columbus’.

Formed in 1965, the six-man group rehearsed for five months before hitting the stage in nightclubs, coffeehouses, high schools, colleges and parties throughout Southern California. Even before the release of their first album, their fan base had grown into the millions and propelled their singles Along Comes Mary and Cherish to the top of the charts. Soon THE ASSOCIATION was appearing on every major television variety show including The Ed sullivan Show, The Smothers Brothers, American Bandstand, shindig, Hullabaloo, The Tonight Show, The Dick Cavett Show, The Joey Bishop Show, The Andy Williams Show, the carol Channing Special, Hollywood Palace, and The Dean Martin Show.

The first rock band to perform at Hollywood’s Greek Theatre, The Coconut Grove, The Copacabana, Tanglewood Music Festival, Blossom Music Festival, The Latin Casino, Saratoga Performing Arts Center and Ravinia Park, THE ASSOCIATION was given the honor of opening the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 and also took part in the Rome Pop Festival.

With more than 2,000 concerts and television performances to their credit, and having lost band member Brian Cole in 1971, the group parted ways the following year to pursue individual careers and interests.

The band reunited in 1979 for a one-time only television special which evolved into a successful tour that eventually took them around the world with a series of performances at music festivals, colleges, fairs, theme parks, supper clubs, hotels, conventions and television shows across America, Canada, South America and beyond.

In 1984, Terry Kirkman and Ted Bluechel left the group again, followed by Jules (Gary) Alexander in 1989. The remaining original members, Russ Giguere, Jim Yester, and Larry Ramos reformed the legendary band along with Larry’s brother Del Ramos, Brian Cole’s son Jordan, and drummer, Bruce Pictor and hit the road.

THE ASSOCIATION continues to draw crowds wherever they appear and the group maintains their high profile with appearances on PBS specials and with the 2002 Warner Brothers /Rhino Records release of ‘Just The Right Sound – The Association Anthology’, which features 50 songs and an illustrated 40-page biographical booklet. In 2003, THE ASSOCIATION was recognized for their musical talents when they were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame.