Bill Deal & the Rhondels were an American pop band, formed in 1959 in Portsmouth, Virginia, crossing blue-eyed soul and beach music. Career They had three hit singles in 1969, "May I" (U.S. #39), "I've Been Hurt" (U.S. #35), "What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)" (U.S. #23). Their single "Swingin' Tight" reached (U.S. #85) in December 1969. "Nothing Succeeds Like Success" reached (US #63) on the charts in the spring of 1970. The band disbanded in 1975, but reformed and still carries on the tradition even after the passing of Bill Deal. Members Bill Deal (born July 8, 1944, died December 10, 2003) - vocals, organ, electric piano, bass pedals (1959-1983) Ammon Tharp (born Ammon Chester Tharp on July 5, 1942, in Norfolk, Virginia, died September 22, 2017) - vocals, drums (1959-1983) George Bell - saxophone (1961-1963) Ronnie Hallman - trumpet (1961-1963) Jackie Shelton - bass (1961-1963) Joel Smith - guitar (1961-1963) Bill Weaver - saxophone (1962-1965) J.T. Anderson - guitar (1962-1965) Jimmy Alsbrook - drums (1962) David Williams - trumpet (1961-??; 1975-1977) Ken Dawson - trumpet (1963-1970) Don Quisenberry - bass (1964-1978) Rollie Ligart - trumpet (1965-1969) Mike Kerwin - guitar, trumpet (1965-1978) Tom Pittman - saxophone (1966-1969) Ronny Rosenbaum - trombone (1966-1971) Bob Fisher - saxophone, guitar (1969-1976) Jeff Pollard - trumpet (1969-1973) Gary Hardy - trumpet (1968-1969 & 1971-1976) Freddy Owens - saxophone, vocals (1971-1979) Alan Porter - bass (1978–79) Steve Ambrose - saxophone, flute, vocals (2004 - ) Tom Cole - drums (1980-1983) And many others Freddy Owens murder On March 4, 1979, band member Ernest Frederick "Freddy" Owens, joined after 1970 and served as lead vocalist as well as playing sax and bass. He was robbed and shot to death by Jeremiah Carr at a Holiday Inn motel in Richmond, Virginia, where the band had a show earlier that evening. He had attempted to stop Carr from escaping after Carr raped his wife. Two shots wounded another band member in the room. While Bill Deal kept going on with the Rhondels for another four years, he never really got over this incident and quit the music business in 1983. Discography Albums Bill Deal and the Rhondels, Vintage Rock, Heritage HTS 35,003, 1969 The material for this album was recorded in New York City between July 25, 1968 (May I) and March 10, 1969 (multiple), with the most tracks recorded at Bell Sound