Harpers Bizarre

The 1960s soft-rock group Harpers Bizarre hit the scene in 1966. Its members--Ted Templeman, Dick Scoppettone, Dick Young, Eddie James and John Peterson--came from other bands (Peterson had been the drummer for The Beau Brummels). They were soon signed to Warner Brothers Records by producer Lenny Waronker, and hit it big with a Paul Simon song, "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin; Groovy)", a sweet but not syrupy ditty that personified the "Summer of Love" period in which it came out. The song was a big hit, reaching the Top 20 on many national charts. Warner Brothers gave the group a big push, assigning top talent to their first album--which was arranged by Leon Russell with songs by Randy Newman--but unfortunately by the time the album came out, their type of wistful, good-time music was beginning to run its course. They released several more singles, and a few managed to make the charts, but their time was running out. They toured extensively and released four more albums before finally breaking up in 1970.