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JOE BENNETT &

THE SPARKLETONES

“BLACK SLACKS”

{JOE BENNETT, lrv Denton)

ABC-Paramount 9837

No. 17    October 14, 1957

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History–in the 21st Century–has finally granted rightful kingpin roles to BO DIDDLEY and CARL PERKINS;

someday even RONNIE HAWKINS will get a piece of the action.  Unfortunately, Joe Bennett & The

Sparkletones, one of the finest and raunchiest ’50s rock bands, are hardly ever given a mention.  Some–of

the Senior Citizen sort–may recall “Black Slacks,” which a rene­gade oldies DJ will occasionally spin, but

beyond that, Joe and the boys are largely dust in the wind.

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They came together in the summer of 1955.  Months later CBS talent scout Robert F. Cox caught their act,

righteously dug their cool sounds, and featured them on his local TV show.  At the pinnacle of their

popularity, Bennett and band ranged in age from 12 to 16; again, that is age 12 to 16.  With Cox as their

manager, the boys were soon on a nationwide tour, playing one-nighters in movie theaters.

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They were all strict church-going boys, born and raised in Spartanburg, SC.   Joe, it’s reported was the elder

of the Church Youth Movement in his state.  While other cats were meandering around the countryside

bopping’ mean licks, Joe and the fellows would drop everything come Sunday morn to attend a showing at

the closest House of the Lord.   By late ’56, Cox had secured an audition in the New York City offices of ABC-

Paramount Records.  As legend would have it, they were “signed on the spot,” with a recording session–the

one that would produce “Black Slacks”–only hours later, at the Bell Sound Studios.

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“Black Slacks,” their first release, sold well and long, remaining on the Billboard charts for more than four

months.  The tune sported teenage expressions like “cool breeze,” “crazy little mama,” “hep cat,” “cool

daddy-o,” and “rarin’ to go.”   Joe (b. 1941, lead vocals, lead guitar), Wayne Arthur (b. 1943, stand-up bass),

Howie “Sparky” Childress (b. 1945, second vocals, rhythm guitar), and Jimmy “Sticks” Denton (b. 1942,

drums) appeared on Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand,” toured with the Alan Freed Rock’n’Roll Show, and

even made the scene on Ed Sullivan’s “r-r-really big show.”   Their 1957 follow-up, also an ode to tuff teen

wear called “Penny Loafers and Bobby Socks,” did fairly well, logging in at number 42 on the Top 100–not

a bad showing.

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Nothing with the Sparkletone name upon it, however, ever charted again.  “Cotton Picking Rocker,” “We’ve

Had It,” “Do The Stop”–despite their being current collectables–stiffed, nationally.  Bennett and the the

Sparkletonnes broke up at this point, late in 1958; due to “the complex legal and economic ramifications

involved in booking a group as young as the Sparkletones coupled with their decision to finish their

education in a ‘normal’ environment,” according to Steve Hoffman, liner-note writer for the act’s 1983

“Best of” album.

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Some of the band members and Bennett reassembled to record some sides for Paris Records in 1959.

“Are You From Dixie” rocked, but the rest of the tracks leaned towards pop-puffery.  Nothing was heard

of the group until, in the belly of the folk-rock ’60s movement, the Sparkletones name reappeared for one

limp single, “Well Dressed Man.”

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“We hope our music will serve as a living reminder of growing up in the ’50s,” wrote the band on the liners

of the ’80s compilation.  “We also hope that you enjoy the simplicity and good humor of the music as much

as we have.”