Their first hit, “Kind of a Drag,” knocked The Monkees from their top spot on the Billboard charts.

The Buckinghams are a pop band from Chicago, Illinois. They formed in 1965 and went on to become one of the top-selling acts of 1967. The band dissolved in 1970 but re-formed in 1980, and as of 2016 they continue to tour.

Their first contract was with WGN for 13 weeks as a cover band for their national hits show.  Their first record release was a Beatles tune, “I Call Your Name.”

A communication from Carl Giammarese, original guitar player and current singer, said: “The Buckinghams started in Chicago back in 1965, so we’ve passed the 50-year mark. A lot has been said about us over 50 years, we are just grateful to still have an audience that enjoys our music.”

Giammarese and Nick Fortuna, on bass and vocals, are founding members of The Buckinghams. The rest of the line-up consists of Dave Zane on guitar and vocals, Bruce Soboroff on keyboard and vocals, and Rocky Penn on drums and vocals.

According to the Billboard charts for 1967, The Buckinghams and the Beatles leapfrogged each other up and down the pop charts that year. The Buckinghams’ chart positions: No. 16, “Kind Of A Drag”; No. 39, “Don’t You Care”; and No. 51, “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy.” The Beatles’ chart positions: No. 30, “All You Need Is Love” and No. 55 “Penny Lane.”

The Buckinghams played all of their hits at this concert, and the audience of their peers enjoyed it very much. The three golden girls in front of me moved and grooved to the oldies with umbrella in hand as The Buckinghams ended their summer concert in a soft rain.