The Innocents

The Innocents -- James West (lead), Al Candelaria (bass), and Darron Stankey (tenor/guitarist) -- were a smooth harmonizing West Coast pop group from San Fernando Valley California whose most successful record was accompanying <a href="spotify:artist:1Mzx5NUspZTLsc9rUXKTik">Kathy Young</a> as <a href="spotify:artist:51VajAkrNKdxavNpxHKNAy">Kathy Young & the Innocents</a> on "A Thousand Stars" (1960, <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Indigo+Records%22">Indigo Records</a>, number three pop/number six R&B). <a href="spotify:artist:1Mzx5NUspZTLsc9rUXKTik">Kathy Young</a> was the ripe old age of 15 at the time. The trio were friends and members of a local car club name "The Innocents." The artists met at <a href="spotify:artist:1X5ZSwlYraWjWqjkkhJjdg">Wink Martindale</a>'s local television dance show, where the Innocents were lip-syncing their current single; <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Indigo%22">Indigo</a> producer Jim Lee suggested they record together after talking to <a href="spotify:artist:1Mzx5NUspZTLsc9rUXKTik">Young</a> and her mom at the taping. <a href="spotify:artist:0KdNva5eqm6LlbtVMVdshm">The Rivileers</a>, a Black New York doo wop group, had recorded the original "A Thousand Stars" six years earlier. That fact caused many to mislabel the Innocents as a doo wop group.

The Innocents cut their first single in 1959 as the Echos (West and Stankey) on Andrex Records; West was brought along to sing the high-harmony parts. With the addition of West, the Echos became the Innocents (after the car club) after first rejecting "the Hubcaps". They then inked a deal with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Indigo%22">Indigo</a> for their first hit, "Honest I Do," (number 28 pop) in 1960. That same year, <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Trans+World+Records%22">Trans World Records</a> dumped a previously cut track by them, "Tick Tock," on the streets. <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Indigo%22">Indigo</a> answered with their smash hit with <a href="spotify:artist:1Mzx5NUspZTLsc9rUXKTik">Kathy Young</a>. They climbed up the charts again in 1961 with "Gee Whiz" (number 28 pop/ number 11 R&B), and had an LP release, Innocently Yours, in 1961; its cover, depicting them peering through prison bars, was voted one the 1,000 best album covers of all time. <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Indigo%22">Indigo</a> followed with "Kathy" after <a href="spotify:artist:1Mzx5NUspZTLsc9rUXKTik">Kathy Young</a> but it floundered, and seven singles later they hit a wall. The non-sellers included two <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Reprise%22">Reprise</a> singles, a <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Decca%22">Decca</a> 45, and one <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Warner+Bros%22">Warner Bros</a>. single. While three other singles charted, they trolled the bottom rungs of the charts. With <a href="spotify:artist:1Mzx5NUspZTLsc9rUXKTik">Kathy Young</a> they scored two more modest hits: "Happy Birthday Blues" and "Magic Is the Night" (both released in 1961) but six subsequent singles stiffed.

Not only did the Innocents back <a href="spotify:artist:1Mzx5NUspZTLsc9rUXKTik">Kathy Young</a>, they reportedly performed on half the recordings <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Indigo%22">Indigo</a> released. They disbanded in 1964 but their short run was exciting and fulfilling. They appeared on all the top teen shows, and shared stages with hot pop acts like <a href="spotify:artist:0pqGj6vO9YHsXuZmaJaP2Y">Jan & Dean</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7qQJQ3YtcGlqaLg5tcypN2">Chubby Checker</a>, and others. <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Starfire+Records%22">Starfire Records</a> released Our Best to You in 1981; the album features the Innocents on one side and <a href="spotify:artist:1Mzx5NUspZTLsc9rUXKTik">Kathy Young</a> on the other. That same year, James West had a solo album on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Atlantic%22">Atlantic</a>, which preceded their reuniting in 1984 to cut four spanking new tracks; but the timing was bad and they went nowhere. West continued in the music, doing everything from surf music to harmonies to rock & roll on many sessions. Al Candelaria worked as a session guitarist. They re-grouped in the '90s for oldies shows, appearing at venues with <a href="spotify:artist:1Mzx5NUspZTLsc9rUXKTik">Kathy Young</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6lOk7hCr8x3O9vHwylXyHR">the Penguins</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:422gtj7D6L6pvr0GE08lwf">Rosie & the Originals</a>, and many others. <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Ace%22">Ace</a> released the Innocents Complete Indigo Recordings in 1992. ~ Andrew Hamilton, Rovi