Kurze Gruppen-Story:
The Hilltoppers wurden in den frühen 50er-Jahren von drei Studenten des Western State College, heute Western Kentucky University, in Bowling Green, Kentucky, als Vokal-Trio gegründet:
Jimmy Sacca (geb. 26. Juli 1929, Lockport, New York, verst. 7. März 2015, Lexington, Kentucky);
Donald McGuire (geb. 7. Oktober 1931, Hazard, Kentucky, verst. 7. September 2018, in Lexington, Kentucky);
Seymour Spiegelman (geb. 1. Oktober 1930, Seneca Falls, New York, verst. 13. Februar 1987, New York City).
Etwas später wurde das Trio um den Pianisten und Multi-Instrumentalisten, der später als Orchesterleiter große Berühmtheit erlangte,
Billy Vaughn (geb. 12. April 1919, Glasgow, Kentucky, verst. 26. September 1991, Escondido, California),
zum Quartett erweitert.
Die Universität befand sich auf einem großen Berg, weshalb ihr Athletik-Team den Spitznamen Hill Toppers erhielt und diesen Namen verwendete die neue Vokal-Formation als ihren Gruppennamen.
Ihre Singles:
DOT
06 52....45-15018....THE HILL TOPPERS Featuring JIMMY SACCA..Trying (M-6025)/You Made Up My Mind (M-6026)
11 52....45-15034....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring JIMMY SACCA..Must I Cry Again (E2KW-7531 M-7003)/ I Keep Telling Myself (E2KW-7532 M-7002)
02 53....45-15055....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring JIMMY SACCA..If I Were King (E3KW-0097 M-7071)/I Can't Lie To Myself (E3KW-0118 M-6089)
05 53....45-15085....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring JIMMY SACCA..P. S. I Love You (E3KW-0093 M-7067)/I'd Rather Die Young (Than Grow Old Without You) (E3KW-0091 M-7065)
09 53....45-15105....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring JIMMY SACCA..To Be Alone (E3KW-5301 M-8155)/Love Walked In (E3KW-3941 M-8124)
12 53....45-15127....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring JIMMY SACCA..From The Vine Came The Grape (E3KW-6740 M-8178)/Time Will Tell (E3KW-3939 M-8122)
01 54....45-15132....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring JIMMY SACCA..I Found Your Letter (E3KW-3937 M-8120)/Till Then (E3KW-3938 M-8121)
03 54....45-15156....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring JIMMY SACCA..Poor Butterfly (E4QW-727 M-8237)/Wrapped Up In A Dream (E3CW-6737 M-8175)
06 54....45-15201....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring JIMMY SACCA..The Old Cabaret (E4KW-2978 M-8262)/Sweetheart (Will You Remember) (E4KW-825 M-8239)
07 54....45-15220....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring Jimmy Sacca..Bettina (E4CW-1844 M-8347)/If I Didn't Care (E4CW-1841 M-8344)
10 54....45-15249....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring JIMMY SACCA..Time Waits For No One (E3KW-824 M-8238)/You Try Somebody Else (E3KW-821 M-8234)
12 54....45-15318....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring JIMMY SACCA..D-A-R-L-I-N' (E4CW-1842-3 M-8345)/Frivolette (E4KW-2976-2 M-8260)
03 55....45-15351....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring JIMMY SACCA..The Door Is Still Open (F90W-0204 M-8617)/Tears Drops From My Eyes (F90W-0205 M-8618) (Delta-Nr.: 3066/67)
06 55....45-15375....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring JIMMY SACCA..I Must Be Dreaming (M-8657X)/The Kentuckian Song (M-8654X)
09 55....45-15415....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring Jimmy Sacca..All I Need Is You (F9OW-2510 M-8652)/Searching (F9OW-2511 M-8653)
10 55....45-15423....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring Jimmy Sacca..Only You (And You Alone) (MW-8975)/Until The Real Thing Comes Along (F90W-2509 MW-8651) (Delta-Nr.: 6522/20)
11 55....45-15437....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring Jimmy Sacca..The Last Word In Love (MW9026)/My Treasure (MW9027)
02 56....45-15451....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring JIMMY SACCA..Do The Bop (MW-9096)/When You're Alone (MW-9048) (Delta-Nr.: 8563/69)
03 56....45-15459....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring Jimmy Sacca..Faded Rose (F9OW-2508 MW-8650)/So Tired (MW9027)
04 56....45-15468....THE HILLTOPPERS featuring Jimmy Sacca..I'm Walking Through Heaven (MW9151)/Eyes Of Fire, Lips Of Wine (MW9146)
08 56....45-15489....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring Chuck Schrouder..Ka-Ding-Dong (MW-9245)/THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring Jimmy Sacca..Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall (MW-9147) (Delta-Nr.: 10774/70)
10 56....45-15511....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring Jimmy Sacca..Until You're Mine (MW-9356)/No Regrets (MW-9353)
01 57....45-15537....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring Jimmy Sacca With Billy Vaughn's Orchestra..You're Wasting Your Time (Tryin' To Lose The Blues) (MW-9472)/Marianne (MW-9470)
03 57....45-15560....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring Jimmy Sacca..I'm Serious (MW-9573)/I Love My Girl (MW-9574)
06 57....45—15594....THE HILLTOPPERS featuring JIMMY SACCA..A Fallen Star (MW-9796)/Footsteps (MW-9797)
08 57....45-15626....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring Jimmy Sacca..Dedicated To You (MW-9994)/My Cabin Of Dreams (MW-9995)
10 57....45-15662....THE HILLTOPPERS featuring Jimmy Sacca..The Joker (That's What They Call Me) (MW-10270)/Chicken Chicken (MW-9353) (Delta-Nr.: 18278/79)
03 58....45-15712....THE HILLTOPPERS featuring Jimmy Sacca..You Sure Look Good To Me (MW-10652)/Starry Eyes (MW-10653)
08 58....45-15814....THE HILLTOPPERS Orchestra Conducted By Milton DeLugg..Signorina (MW-11603)/Peggy's Sister (MW-11604) (Delta-Nr.: 24042/41)
11 58....45-15857....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring Jimmy Sacca Orchestra Cond. by Billy Vaughn..Trying (MW-11968)/You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You (MW-11969)
01 59....45-15889....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring Jimmy Sacca..Welcome To My Heart (MW-9272)/I'd Rather Die Young (MW-7065)
06 59....45-15958....THE HILLTOPPERS Orch. Cond. By Billy Vaughn Arr. By Billy Vaughn..Lots Of Luck (MW-12988)/Lizzie Darlin' (MW-12986)
11 59....45-16010....THE HILLTOPPERS Orch. Cond. by Billy Vaughn..Alone (MW-13687)/The Prisoner's Song (MW-13688)
12 59....45-16022....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring Jimmy Sacca..P. S. I Love You (M-7067 E3KW-0093)/Trying (M-6025) (15085/15018) *)
12 59....45-16024....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring Jimmy Sacca..From The Vine Came The Grape (M-8178 E3KW-6740)/Love Walked In (M-7066 E3KW-0092) (15127/15105) *)
12 59....45-16025....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring Jimmy Sacca..Only You (And You Alone) (MW-8975)/Till Then (M-8121 E3KW-3938) (15423/15132) *)
12 59....45-16039....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring Jimmy Sacca With Billy Vaughn's Orchestra..Marianne (MW-9470)/THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring Jimmy Sacca..To Be Alone (M-8155 E3KW-5301) (15537/15105) *)
01 60....45-16054....THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring Jimmy Sacca..To Be Alone (M-8155 E3KW-5301)/P. S. I Love You (M-7067 E3KW-0093) (15105/15085)
11 63….45-16556….THE HILLTOPPERS Featuring Jimmy Sacca..Only You (And You Alone) (MB-18516)/No Longer Lonely (MB-8348)
3 J
?? 64….1000….THE HILLTOPPERS — Featuring — Jimmy Sacca..The World Outside (0651)/All These Things (0649)
*) "ALL TIME HIT SINGLES" - steht nur auf Plattenhülle (siehe Scan aus dem Netz)
Keep Searchin'
Gerd
