The Poni-Tails
The Poni-Tails in 1960
The Poni-Tails in 1960
Background information
OriginLyndhurst, Ohio, U.S.
GenresPop music
Years active1956–1960
LabelsPoint, Marc, ABC-Paramount
Past membersToni Cistone
Karen Topinka
Patti McCabe
LaVerne Novak

The Poni-Tails were an American musical trio formed in Lyndhurst, Ohio. They are known for their 1958 major hit "Born Too Late".

History

Formed in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, the Poni-Tails – Toni Cistone, Karen Topinka and Patti McCabe (Patricia Ann McCabe, 1939–1989)[1] – started singing at Brush High School, which they all attended.[2] Tom Ilius, a music publisher, had them signed to a local record label, Point Records, which released their first single, "Your Wild Heart" b/w "Que la Bozena" (the latter of which was written by the group). "Heart" was covered by the then-15-year-old Joy Layne and became a nationwide hit.[3] The next release was "Can I Be Sure" on Marc Records, which was not a success; following this release Topinka left the group and was replaced by LaVerne Novak.

Soon after this, the group signed to ABC-Paramount and released "Just My Luck to Be Fifteen", a flop.[2] Following this was "Come on Joey, Dance With Me" b/w "Born Too Late". The B-side was the one that caught the attention of radio DJs and became the group's biggest hit, reaching #11 on the U.S. R&B singles chart and #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1958. Follow-ups "Seven Minutes In Heaven" (#85 Pop) and "I'll Be Seeing You" (#87 Pop) fared less well, and the group's last single, 1960's "Who, When And Why", did not chart.[3]

ABC-Paramount attempted to sign the group to a further five-year contract, but they turned it down. The members left the music industry and pursued careers in other fields in Ohio.[2] They reunited to play a Cleveland festival, Moon Dog Coronation ball, in 1997.[3] A CD released by Poni Records with 12 tracks credited to the Poni-Tails contains only one Poni-Tails song ("Born Too Late") and 11 tracks recorded by other groups.[3]

In 1991, LaVerne (Novak) Glavac was working for a real estate agent in Mentor, Ohio, and had five grandchildren. Toni (Cistone) Costabile was working at a high school in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Patti (McCabe) Barnes died of cancer on January 17, 1989. Tom Illius subsequently became a top executive with the William Morris Agency in Los Angeles. He died on September 7, 2011, in Los Angeles.

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Record Label B-side
US R&B UK[4]
1957 "It's Just My Luck to Be Fifteen" – – – ABC-Paramount Records "Wild Eyes and Tender Lips"
1958 "Born Too Late" 7 11 5 "Come On Joey Dance with Me"
"Seven Minutes in Heaven" 85 – – "Close Friends"
1959 "Early to Bed" – – 26 "Father Time"
"Moody" – – – "Omm Pah Polka"
"I'll Be Seeing You" 87 – – "I'll Keep Tryin'"
1960 "Come Be My Love" – – – "Before We Say Goodnight"
"Who, When, And Why" – – – "Oh, My, You"

Members

  • Toni Cistone
  • Karin Topinka (to 1958)
  • LaVerne Novak (1958–1960)
  • Patti McCabe

References

  1. ↑ Talevski, Nick (April 7, 2010). Rock Obituaries: Knocking On Heaven's Door. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-117-2 – via Google Books.
  2. 1 2 3 Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 963. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  3. 1 2 3 4 The Poni-Tails at Allmusic
  4. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 431. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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