Whatever Became of the 1960s Rock Group The Association?

I just saw them a month ago. Obviously, it was only one or two originals, but they still sound pretty good. That was an excellent band. Classic songs like Cherish, Along Comes Mary, and Goodbye Columbus. They did all those songs. They're very much still together, but no, they're not popular like they were obviously.

Origins and Reconvening

I’ve seen them a couple of times at oldies concerts. The first time around, there were two original members, Russ Giguere and Larry Ramos. The next time I saw them, Jim Yester had appeared with them to make it three original members. Additionally, their drummer is the son of the late Brian Cole, another original group member. Since I last saw them, Larry Ramos has sadly passed away.

The Rise and Fall

Whatever became of the 1960’s rock group The Association? I know, right? I’m thinking they just got tired of success or something, and then poof, everything seemed to change. Music got edgier, oh yeah, there was still plenty of pop being produced in the 1970’s, but you know, it just wasn’t their time anymore.

“Along Comes Mary,” a hit by Dickie Smothers, resonates with their enduring popularity. It was all a machine back in the day, who knew? Decades later, these guys oiled up the machine and got it running again. Bloodhound Gang, for example, has brought a unique perspective on how they can still make music.

Tragic Departure and Decline

The death on August 2, 1973, of bassist Brian Cole as a result of a worsening drug habit portended the breakup of the original core membership of the Association. Kirkman stepped back from the music business, while Jules Alexander formed a group called Bijou but only managed to get one promising single out through AM Records.

Commercial Success and Lineup Changes

Already thoroughly covered by others, “Windy” was my favorite song when I was about nine, and it's still in my repertoire! The sad truth is that they crested in the late Sixties and then faded in the early Seventies, like all the other pop bands of that era. Their commercial success started in 1966 with “Along Comes Mary,” soon followed by “Cherish,” “Windy,” and “Never My Love. After that, their performances were not as strong nor as reliable.

By the early Seventies, their albums were not even charting in the Top 100s. The band lineups began to change-a lot. Eventually, the list of former cast members looks like a telephone directory. They weren’t selling records, but they were still doing concerts. By 1978, only one of the original 1967 lineup members, Ted Bleuchel, was still left, when the band collapsed, leaving him in debt. Out of desperation, he 'franchised' the name “The Association” out to a fake group to keep doing tours.

The Modern Era

During the 1980s, there was a resurgence of sorts, and an interest in the old 60s pop bands. Along with The Turtles and Spanky and Our Gang, some of the original members reformed The Association and began touring again. They have been ever since. The roster has constantly shifted in and out across the years, sometimes with members in and out of the studio recording. Some have retired, and some have passed away. In 2016, The Association was inducted into the Pop Music Hall of Fame.

These days, The Association continues to perform, often alongside other notable bands and at various events, embodying the resilience and enduring legacy of the 1960s rock group in the modern music scene. Their ability to reinvent themselves for subsequent generations is a testament to their unique sound and lasting appeal.