Classics IV singer Dennis Yost dies at 65
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Some members of The Classics IV went on to play in Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Atlanta Rhythm Section and other music projects.
The group grew out of a local cover band called The Classics, consisting of Talmadge Branch, Walter Eaton, Burt Norton, and Robert Nix, who went on to play in The Atlanta Rhythm Section and on the first two Lynyrd Skynyrd albums. However, the very first Classics consisted of Walter Eaton on lead guitar, Burt Norton on rhythm guitar, Glen Futch on bass guitar, Bobby Bowen on drums, plus Greg Carrol on saxophone, with a second sax player added at a later date.
The original Classics IV members were Dennis Yost (vocals & drums), James R. Cobb (guitars), Wally Eaton (guitars) and Joe Wilson (bass). During live shows, Yost would stand in the front of the stage and play drums while singing the lead vocals. Wilson was eventually replaced by Dean Daughtry.
The Classics IV moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1967 and were discovered by Bill Lowery who produced their first national hit in 1968 with "Spooky", a song they recorded in 1967 on the Imperial Records label. Guitarist James Cobb and producer Buddy Buie added lyrics to an instrumental called "Spooky", a regional hit for saxophonist Mike Sharpe.
Nix, Cobb, Buie, and Daughtry all ended up in The Atlanta Rhythm Section as well as being the studio band in Doraville, GA that Cobb and Buie owned that recorded many well known artists.
DENNIS YOST . . . 1943-2008
Dennis Yost was the lead singer of the Classics IV, a group that had hit songs in the 1960s, including "Spooky," "Traces of Love," and "Stormy." Yost died at the age of 65 on December 7, 2008, in an Ohio hospital
1.Born: July 20, 1943
2.Originally from Detroit, Michigan
3.Grew up in Jacksonville, Florida
4.Spouse: Linda Yost
5.Former lead singer for the Classics IV
6.The Classics IV was a soft rock group with hits in the 1960s
7.Died at Fort Hamilton Hospital in Hamilton, Ohio on December 7, 2008
8.Cause of death: Respiratory failure
9.Suffered a brain injury in 2005 after a fall
10.In 2007, a benefit concert was held to help raise funds for Yost's mounting medical bills
The Classics IV had a number of hits in the 1960s. The group's highest charting album was Traces of Love. Their hit songs included, "Spooky," "Stormy," "Traces of Love," and "Everyday With You Girl." The single "Traces of Love" made it to number 2 on the charts in 1969. The group was together for about five years.2 The name of the group was eventually changed to Dennis Yost and the Classics IV. Yost performed until 2005.
Classics IV singer Dennis Yost dies at 65
Classics IV singer Dennis Yost dies at 65
Last edited by moxham123 on Tue Dec 09, 2008 11:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Denny Yost's and the Classic's IV manager was named "Alan Diggs" and has Altoona connections. Around 1974 after the band split, Alan had a booking Agency called "Atlanta Talent" and booked the "Federated Home and Morgage Holiday Inn Chain" which included the Altoona Holiday Inn and he also picked up some Altoona bands to work the chain. One was "White Shadow" which I was in , Fire and Rain, Johnny Alemprise, and others. We worked for him for 3 years and at that time I was 23 years old, had my own appartment, van, and was making about 10,000 a year which wasn't bad back then.
Alan was a Southern Gentelman and class Act. He said that he was a cop in Atlanta making $125 a week and managing bands part time and then Spooky hit and he was making $250,000 a year. Lot's of stories of Denny Yost, Joe South, and others.
Alan was a Southern Gentelman and class Act. He said that he was a cop in Atlanta making $125 a week and managing bands part time and then Spooky hit and he was making $250,000 a year. Lot's of stories of Denny Yost, Joe South, and others.