| The Nylons | |
| Background: | group_or_band |
| Origin: | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genre: | A cappella |
| Years Active: | –2017 |
| Label: | Attic Shoreline Scotti Bros. |
The Nylons were an a cappella group founded in 1978 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, best known for their covers of pop songs such as The Turtles' "Happy Together", Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye", and The Tokens' "The Lion Sleeps Tonight".
The band's final lineup included Claude Morrison (tenor), Garth Mosbaugh (tenor/baritone), Gavin Hope (baritone/tenor/bass) and Tyrone Gabriel (bass/baritone). Morrison was the only original member in the final lineup. The band has reissued all their albums on CD through Unidisc Music.
The band announced their retirement in 2016, and their final tour ended in 2017.
The Nylons' original lineup consisted of Claude Morrison (tenor), Paul Cooper (baritone; born James Paul Cooper in Pikeville, Tennessee, February 20, 1950 – December 29, 2013),[1] Marc Connors (tenor), and Denis Simpson (bass).[2] In April 1979, Simpson left the group to perform in a musical and was replaced by Ralph Cole (bass).[3] All of the original members were gay men, although later lineups included both gay and non-gay singers. Cole left the band in late 1981 and was replaced by Arnold Robinson (bass).
In 1986, the group appeared on the critically acclaimed children's television show Sharon, Lois & Bram's Elephant Show, featuring children's entertainers Sharon, Lois & Bram. The Nylons appeared in Season 3 of the show on the "Treasure Island" episode, singing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". These songs appeared on the band's albums Seamless (1984) and Rockapella (1989). During this era, the band also gained exposure from the mid-1980s syndicated sitcom Throb by singing (with the show's lead actress Diana Canova) the theme to the show.
The Nylons also appeared on the very popular new Super Dave Osborne Show in Season 1, Episode 8 in 1987, singing "Kiss Him Goodbye.
In October 24, 1992, The Nylons sang "O Canada" at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, preceding Game 6 of the 1992 World Series, in which their hometown team, the Toronto Blue Jays, won their first championship.
Cooper retired from the band in 1990 and was replaced by Micah Barnes (baritone).[2] Connors died in 1991 as a result of AIDS-related complications, and was replaced by Billy Newton-Davis (tenor). In 1994 both Newton-Davis and Barnes left the group to pursue their solo careers, and were replaced by Garth Mosbaugh (tenor) and Gavin Hope (baritone), respectively. In 1997 Hope left the group to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Mark Cassius (baritone). In 2005, Cassius left the group; Tyrone Gabriel replaced him. After Robinson's retirement in early 2006, Gavin Hope returned as baritone; Tyrone Gabriel moved to the bass position to replace Robinson.[4]
Paul Cooper died in 2013 of cardiac arrest, at the age of 63.[5]
On May 30, 2014, the Nylons performed a show in Toronto which included the participation of every living past or present member of the band.
In fall and winter 2016, The Nylons toured and performed their farewell show throughout Canada, before disbanding in 2017.[6] [7]
* Denotes the four founding members.
Albums from 1982-1989 were released on Attic Records in Canada and Windham Hill in the United States, albums from 1989-1996 were released on BMG's Scotti Brothers imprint, and albums after 1997 were released on Shoreline Records.
| Year | Song | Peak chart positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Can.Top Singles | AUS[13] | US Hot 100[14] | US Adult | Album | ||
| 1982 | "Up the Ladder to the Roof" | - | - | - | - | One Size Fits All |
| 1986 | "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" | 91 [15] | - | - | - | The Nylons |
| 1987 | "Kiss Him Goodbye" | 15 [16] | 93 | 12 | 10 | Happy Together |
| "Happy Together" | - | - | 75 | 16 | ||
| 1989 | "Poison Ivy" [17] | - | - | - | - | Rockapella |
| "Wildfire" | 53 [18] | - | - | - | ||
| 1994/95 | "Time Of The Season" | 32 [19] | - | - | - | Because |
| "Love T. K. O." | 39 [20] | - | - | - | ||
| 1996 | "God Only Knows" | 83 [21] | - | - | - | Run For Cover |