Rooftop Singers - Biography
By J Poet
The Rooftop Singers only had one hit, “Walk Right In,” but it was a monster, a #1 pop smash and the biggest hit their label, Vanguard, ever had. They created a new genre, jazz folk, but never found a faithful following after their hit faded. They made three fine albums before they broke up in 1967.
Erik Darling had been a successful folk musician since the 50s as a member of The Tarriers and The Weavers. He was also a favorite sideman appearing on dozens of albums playing guitar and banjo to back up Ed McCurdy, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Judy Collins, The Norman Luboff Choir, Jean Richie, The Chad Mitchell Trio, Oscar Brand, and Johnny Ray. He’d also made solo albums – Erik Darling (1958 Elektra, 2006 Collector’s Choice), True Religion (1961 Vanguard), and Train Time (1962 Vanguard).
Darling had been incorporating jazz, ragtime and blues into his music for a while and wrote an arrangement for “Walk Right In” featuring 12-string guitars sometime in 1962. The put together the Rooftops to record that tune hiring Bill Svanoe another 12-string guitar playing folk singer and jazz vocalist Lynn Taylor to fill out the group. Svanoe grew up in Minnesota and worked as a lumberjack, mechanic and substitute teacher before hooking up with Darling. Taylor started singing professionally at 14 and had been the featured vocalist with the bands of Benny Goodman and Buddy Rich.
When “Walk Right In” shot up the charts they cut an album, Walk Right In (1963 Vanguard). It may have been recorded in a hurry, but its jazzy, lighthearted arrangements were all superb. The trio headlined the Newport Folk Festival in 1963, hit the road, and cut a strong follow up Good Time (1964 Vanguard). Taylor left the band after Good Time and was replaced by Patricia Street for Rainy River (1965 Vanguard). When Savano left, the band broke up. Darling & Street kept performing as a duo and made one album Possible Dream (1975 Vanguard) before Darling left the music business and moved to LA to become a psychologist.
