Dennis Yost
Yost in 1968
Yost in 1968
Background information
Born(1943-07-20)July 20, 1943
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
DiedDecember 7, 2008(2008-12-07) (aged 65)
Hamilton, Ohio, U.S.
GenresSoft rock, southern rock, blue-eyed soul
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active1955–2005
LabelsRobox Records

Dennis Yost (July 20, 1943 – December 7, 2008) was an American singer and the frontman of Classics IV.[1][2]

Early years

Dennis Yost was born on July 20, 1943, in Detroit. He and his family moved to Jacksonville at the age of 7. There, he began playing drums. While a student at Andrew Jackson High School, he joined a local band called The Echoes, in which he was also a singer.[3]

Classics IV

Yost (first from left) as part of the Classics IV in 1968

In 1965, after the Echoes broke up, Yost joined Leroy and the Monarchs, a copy band founded by Walter Eaton. James "J.R." Cobb also came on board on guitar along with Joe Wilson on keyboards. The band would soon change its name to The Classics. Yost took over vocals duties due to the strength and quality of his voice. When singing he would play his drums standing up. [4]

The group was discovered performing at the Purple Porpoise in Daytona Beach by talent manager Alan Diggs, who was affiliated with the Lowery organization in Atlanta. Songwriter Buddy Buie was brought aboard as the group's co-manager and producer. The pair encouraged the band to relocate to Atlanta, where the band landed a deal with Capitol Records with the help of producer Bill Lowery.

The group released its debut single, "Pollyanna", written by Lowery songwriter Joe South. Despite being a regional hit, the group received complaints from a New York-based group with the same name, prompting them to add the "IV" to the name since there were four members at that time.[5]

In 1967, The group landed a deal with Imperial Records. Throughout the next few years, the group released four albums and a slew of Top 40 hits, including "Spooky", "Stormy", and "Traces".

By 1970, as Yost was the remaining original member in the group, it changed its name again to Dennis Yost and the Classics IV. After Imperial was absorbed into United Artists Records, the group signed with MGM South. The band's subsequent releases were less successful, despite their final Top 40 hit "What Am I Crying For", which peaked at No. 39 in 1972. By this time, the partnership between Cochran and Buie ended.[4]

Later years

In 1975, Yost disbanded the group and returned to Florida to pursue fishing and the flooring business. A couple of years later, Yost returned to performing under the Holiday Inn circuit, this time solely under his own name or The Classic One---by this time, he had lost the rights to the Classics IV name.[4]

In 1981, Yost released Going Through the Motions on Robox Records. Its single with the same name was a minor hit, peaking at No. 46 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

In 1993, Yost moved to Nashville and ventured into songwriting and producing aside from his performing duties. In the same year, Classics IV was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.[1]

In 2001, Yost underwent successful throat surgery for a condition that had severely impaired his singing voice, bringing him back to touring under the Classics IV name. A few years prior, he had regained the rights to the Classics IV name with the help of former Sha Na Na vocalist Jon "Bowser" Bauman through the group Truth in Music Advertising.[6]

Accident and death

On July 11, 2006, Yost fell down a flight of stairs and suffered serious brain trauma. To assist Yost and his wife with their medical bills, a benefit concert was held on March 25, 2007, at Rhino's Live in Cincinnati. The benefit was hosted by Jon Bauman. Many musical entertainers and some surprise guests from the 1950s through the 1970s performed some of their biggest chart-topping hits in tribute to Yost. Among the artists performing that day were Denny Laine of the Moody Blues and Wings, Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night, Ian Mitchell of Bay City Rollers, Pat Upton of Spiral Starecase, Dave Somerville, the Skyliners, Buzz Cason, Carl Dobkins Jr., Mark Volman of the Turtles, and The Robby Campbell Trio. The concert did not significantly benefit Yost or his wife financially as hoped; expenses far exceeded the money raised, leaving the event in the red. However, it was a huge emotional boost for Yost to visit with so many old friends.[7][2]

On December 7, 2008, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the entrance of "Stormy" into the Hot 100's Top 10, Yost died from respiratory failure at the age of 65. He is survived by his wife Linda Vecchio and five children.[6]

Discography

Albums

Year Album
1980 Stormy
1981 Going Through the Motions
1983 Traces of the Past

Singles

Year Title Chart positions
US AC
[8]
1980 "Lover in My Mind" -
1981 "Going Through the Motions" 46

References

  1. 1 2 "Dennis Yost". The Bluegrass Special. January 2009. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Cornwell, Lisa (December 9, 2008). "Dennis Yost led The Classics IV of '60s". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  3. ↑ Martin, Douglas (December 10, 2008). "Dennis Yost, 65, Singer for the Classics IV, Is Dead". New York Times. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Miller, Zell (1996). They Heard Georgia Singing. Mercer University Press. pp. 310–312. ISBN 9780865545045. Retrieved January 21, 2021 – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ Williams, John; White Jr., Andy (2019). Atlanta Pop in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 95–99. ISBN 9781467138727. Retrieved January 21, 2021 – via Google Books.
  6. 1 2 "Classics IV singer Dennis Yost dies at 65". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. December 9, 2008. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  7. ↑ Kurtzman, Lori (March 26, 2007). "Benefit Helps Injured Signer from Classics IV". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Dennis Yost". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
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