Dave & Sugar
Encyclopedia
Dave & Sugar was a pop-styled country music trio that enjoyed its peak success in the mid- to late-1970s. It consisted of lead singer Dave Rowland and initially on backing vocalists, Vicki Hackeman and Jackie Frantz. Over time, the female members of the group changed: Frantz was replaced by Sue Powell in 1977, who in turn was replaced by Jamie Jaye in 1980, while Hackeman was replaced by Melissa Dean in 1979. Overall, Dave & Sugar charted 16 times on the Billboard
country charts, including three No. 1 hits: "The Door Is Always Open
", "Tear Time
" and "Golden Tears
". Powell also had two chart singles outside the group.
, California
), while the "Sugar" part was composed of two female vocalists. The "Sugar" lineup changed several times during the group's run of success; the original singers were Jackie Frantz and Vicki Hackeman.
Before forming Dave & Sugar, Rowland was part of J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet (and therefore toured with Elvis Presley
as a member of the group), and later the Four Guys. He also was a prominent member of country singer Charley Pride
's road show. By 1975, with Pride looking for a backup band, Rowland hired Frantz and Hackeman, and Dave & Sugar was born. They signed a deal with RCA Records
.
The trio's first single, "Queen of the Silver Dollar" (written by Shel Silverstein
, and originally recorded by Dr. Hook in 1972, and also included on Emmylou Harris
' debut solo album earlier in 1975) broke into the Top 25 of Billboard magazine's country singles chart in early 1976. Their next single, the uptempo "The Door Is Always Open
", became their first No. 1 hit in July. Their peak run garnered nearly one dozen Top 10 singles, including two more No. 1 hits - "Tear Time
" (1978) and "Golden Tears
" (1979).
Rowland broke away from the trio briefly during the early 1980s to try a solo career, releasing an album entitled (appropriately) Sugar Free and charting two singles of his own. Powell also charted two singles on RCA as a soloist, and later went on to host the TV series Nashville on the Road.
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
country charts, including three No. 1 hits: "The Door Is Always Open
The Door Is Always Open
"The Door is Always Open" is a country song written by Dickey Lee and Bob McDill. First recorded by Tennessee Pulleybone for JIM Records, it went to number 75 on the Hot Country Songs charts that year. Waylon Jennings later cut it as an album track for his 1975 album Dreaming My Dreams...
", "Tear Time
Tear Time
"Tear Time" is a 1967 single by Wilma Burgess. "Tear Time" would be Wilma Burgess' fifth hit on the country chart. The single peaked at number sixteen on the country chart and spent sixteen weeks on the country chart .-Chart performance:...
" and "Golden Tears
Golden Tears
"Golden Tears" is a song made famous by the country music trio Dave & Sugar. The song was released in 1979 and became the group's third and final No...
". Powell also had two chart singles outside the group.
Background
The trio was fronted by Dave Rowland (born January 26, 1942 in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
), while the "Sugar" part was composed of two female vocalists. The "Sugar" lineup changed several times during the group's run of success; the original singers were Jackie Frantz and Vicki Hackeman.
Before forming Dave & Sugar, Rowland was part of J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet (and therefore toured with Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
as a member of the group), and later the Four Guys. He also was a prominent member of country singer Charley Pride
Charley Pride
Charley Frank Pride is an American country music singer. His smooth baritone voice was featured on thirty-nine number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. His greatest success came in the early- to mid-1970s, when he became the best-selling performer for RCA Records since Elvis...
's road show. By 1975, with Pride looking for a backup band, Rowland hired Frantz and Hackeman, and Dave & Sugar was born. They signed a deal with RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
.
The trio's first single, "Queen of the Silver Dollar" (written by Shel Silverstein
Shel Silverstein
Sheldon Allan "Shel" Silverstein , was an American poet, singer-songwriter, musician, composer, cartoonist, screenwriter and author of children's books. He styled himself as Uncle Shelby in his children's books...
, and originally recorded by Dr. Hook in 1972, and also included on Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
' debut solo album earlier in 1975) broke into the Top 25 of Billboard magazine's country singles chart in early 1976. Their next single, the uptempo "The Door Is Always Open
The Door Is Always Open
"The Door is Always Open" is a country song written by Dickey Lee and Bob McDill. First recorded by Tennessee Pulleybone for JIM Records, it went to number 75 on the Hot Country Songs charts that year. Waylon Jennings later cut it as an album track for his 1975 album Dreaming My Dreams...
", became their first No. 1 hit in July. Their peak run garnered nearly one dozen Top 10 singles, including two more No. 1 hits - "Tear Time
Tear Time
"Tear Time" is a 1967 single by Wilma Burgess. "Tear Time" would be Wilma Burgess' fifth hit on the country chart. The single peaked at number sixteen on the country chart and spent sixteen weeks on the country chart .-Chart performance:...
" (1978) and "Golden Tears
Golden Tears
"Golden Tears" is a song made famous by the country music trio Dave & Sugar. The song was released in 1979 and became the group's third and final No...
" (1979).
Rowland broke away from the trio briefly during the early 1980s to try a solo career, releasing an album entitled (appropriately) Sugar Free and charting two singles of his own. Powell also charted two singles on RCA as a soloist, and later went on to host the TV series Nashville on the Road.
Albums
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | Label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
CAN Country | |||
| 1976 | Dave & Sugar | 3 | — | — | RCA Victor |
| 1977 | That's the Way Love Should Be | 10 | 157 | — | |
| 1978 | Tear Time | 8 | — | 4 | |
| 1979 | Stay with Me / Golden Tears | 20 | — | — | |
| 1980 | New York Wine Tennessee Shine | 47 | — | — | |
| 1981 | Greatest Hits | 35 | 179 | — | |
| Pleasure | 31 | — | — | Elektra |
Dave Rowland solo albums
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | |||
| 1982 | Sugar Free | 56 | Elektra |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
CAN Country | CAN AC | |||
| 1975 | "Queen of the Silver Dollar" | 25 | 21 | — | Dave & Sugar |
| 1976 | "The Door Is Always Open The Door Is Always Open "The Door is Always Open" is a country song written by Dickey Lee and Bob McDill. First recorded by Tennessee Pulleybone for JIM Records, it went to number 75 on the Hot Country Songs charts that year. Waylon Jennings later cut it as an album track for his 1975 album Dreaming My Dreams... " |
1 | 1 | — | |
| "I'm Gonna Love You" | 3 | 2 | — | ||
| 1977 | "Don't Throw It All Away" | 5 | 5 | 34 | That's the Way Love Should Be |
| "That's the Way Love Should Be" | 7 | 6 | 33 | ||
| "I'm Knee Deep in Loving You" | 2 | 4 | — | ||
| 1978 | "Gotta' Quit Lookin' at You Baby" | 4 | 9 | — | Tear Time |
| "Tear Time Tear Time "Tear Time" is a 1967 single by Wilma Burgess. "Tear Time" would be Wilma Burgess' fifth hit on the country chart. The single peaked at number sixteen on the country chart and spent sixteen weeks on the country chart .-Chart performance:... " |
1 | 3 | — | ||
| 1979 | "Golden Tears Golden Tears "Golden Tears" is a song made famous by the country music trio Dave & Sugar. The song was released in 1979 and became the group's third and final No... " |
1 | 2 | — | Stay with Me / Golden Tears |
| "Stay with Me" | 6 | — | — | ||
| "My World Begins and Ends with You" | 4 | 7 | — | ||
| "Why Did You Have to Be So Good" | flip | — | — | ||
| 1980 | "New York Wine and Tennessee Shine" | 18 | 10 | — | New York Wine Tennessee Shine |
| "A Love Song" | 40 | — | — | ||
| 1981 | "It's a Heartache It's a Heartache "It's a Heartache" is a country rock song that was recorded separately by Bonnie Tyler and Juice Newton in 1977. Tyler's version charted in the UK in November 1977 and both versions charted in the United States in 1978. The song was also recorded by Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes in 1978, but it... " |
32 | 37 | — | Greatest Hits |
| "Fool By Your Side"A | 6 | — | — | Pleasure | |
| "The Pleasure's All Mine"A | 32 | — | — |
- ACredited to Dave Rowland & Sugar.
Dave Rowland solo singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | |||
| 1982 | "Natalie" | 77 | Sugar Free |
| "Why Didn't I Think of That" | flip | ||
| "Lovin' Our Lives Away" | 84 |
Sue Powell solo singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| US Country | ||
| 1981 | "Midnite Flyer" | 57 |
| "(There's No Me) Without You" | 49 |