Stormy Weather

Stormy Weather formed in Gary-Hammond, Indiana, USA, in 1969, and were masterminded by booking agent Henry Farag (lead and bass), who had previously formed several groups before he discovered the right vocal blend. That was provided by the similarly versatile Nick ‘Cowboy’ Paulitza (lead, second tenor and bass), James ‘Hambone’ Ham (lead and first tenor) and Dave ‘Iceman’ Mitchell (lead and bass), the latter pair already active in an unsigned vocal group in the area. The line-up was completed with the addition of Jimmy ‘C’ Calinski, lead vocalist with the Bonnevilles (from East Indiana, Chicago). Taking their name from an old Spaniels’ song, they entered the studio in the spring of 1975 to put together their debut album. No Band was recorded a cappella, but still made a strong impression on local rock and pop radio and sold respectably well. Stormy Weather played with Chubby Checker, Frankie Valli, Smokey Robinson and others. Their own singles over the years, though none charted, included such sides as ‘Middle Class Educated Blues’, ‘Christmastime Is Coming’ and ‘Monsters Of The Midway’.