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RONNIE & THE HIGHLIGHTS

“I WISH THAT WE WERE MARRIED”

(Marian Weiss)

Joy 260

No. 16    May 26, 1962

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In the early ’60s, Stanley Brown (baritone), Sonny Caldwell (first tenor),  Kenny Overby (bass), and John

Witney (second tenor) were the Cascades, a Jersey City street-corner group in need of a lead singer.   Their

frontman had just been drafted, and without a replacement, the Cascades were sure to wash away.

Witney, the group’s organizer, happened to hear Ronnie Goodson singing in a class play at his school, P S.

14.   Before the day was out, Witney convinced the 12-year-old’s parents to let Ronnie try out for their vocal

group.   Ronnie quickly fit in with the sounds the Cascades were making.

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Mike Amato, the Duprees’ original lead singer, told Witney about Hal and Marian Weiss, some music

buffs who might help the group make its mark.   Marian  had written some songs that publishers and

record companies had turned aside, and was sure that she could tailor make something hot for the

Cascades.   “I Wish That We Were Married” was her first offering, and it was a doozy.

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A demo of the Cascades doing “I Wish That We Were Married” was  taped and shopped around to various

labels.   ABC-Paramount Records passed on it, and so did Atlantic, but the ears over at Joy Records heard

something in the demo, and quickly struck up a deal with the Weisses, Ronnie,  and the group, now

redubbed the Hi-Lites.

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“I Wish That We Were Married” tore up the charts.   Ronnie & The Hi-Lites hit the  ceiling of momentary

pop success with appearances on “American Bandstand,” shows at  the Apollo Theatre, and tours with the

Crystals and the Ronettes.   Ronnie reportedly was even “the Loco­ Motion  girl” Little Eva’s boyfriend for

time!

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Not all stories of riches and  fame end sadly or rapidly, but this particular one does. Weiss, in an

interview with Harmony Tymes writer Joe T  Sicurelia, complained that Joy Records issued the wrong

follow-up single:   instead of “Send My  Love,”  the label should have released the group’s  “natural” follow-

up, something  utilizing that marriage theme  (namely, “What A Pretty Bride You’ll Make”).   The latter

platter has yet to be released, while  “Send My Love” stiffed.

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A lawsuit between the Hi-Lites and Joy Records developed over a dispute as to just how many copies of

“I Wish” were pressed.   The Weisses set up their own label, Win Records, and issued several more Ronnie

& The Hi-Lites  singles–but nothing the group ever again recorded charted on the Hot 100.

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One by one, the guys graduated from high school, separated, and sought out other careers.  Sonny

Caldwell became a computer programmer.  John Witney is now a  diesel mechanic. Ronnie Goodson died in

his sleep on November 4, 1980.  He was 31.