Doo Wop

The Skyliners were a doo wop group from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that featured four guys (Jimmy Beaumont, Wally Lester, Jack Taylor, Joe Verscharen) and a gal (Janet Vogel). Their biggest charting song was :”Since I Don’t Have You.” In the final chorus of “Since I Don’t Have You,” the ultra-high singing where Beaumont’s falsetto and Vogel’s soprano voices meet melts the heart. The single was released late in 1958 and eventually peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was among the top 5 on the R&B Chart.

Here are they lyrics to “Since I Don’t Have You” by The Skyliners:

“I don’t have plans and schemes
And I don’t have hopes and dreams
I-I-I don’t have anything
Since I don’t have you

I don’t have fond desires
And I don’t have happy hours
I-I-I don’t have anything
Since I don’t have you

I don’t have happiness and I guess, I never will ever again
When you walked out on me
In walked old misery
And he’s been here since then

I don’t have love to share
And I don’t have one who cares
I-I-I don’t have anything
Since I don’t have you
You, you, you
You, you, you, you
You, you, you, you
(You)”

The song has remained popular through the years and been used in films, including American Graffiti, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai, and Lethal Weapon 2, Mischief. The TV show Happy Days also featured the song.

The Skyliners had other charting songs, including “This I Swear,” “Pennies from Heaven,” and “It Happened Today.”

“This I Swear,” another one of the great golden oldies, was the follow-up record to “Since I Don’t Have You.” It was written by Jimmy Beaumont, Wally Lester, Lennie Martin, Joe Rock, Joe Verscharen, and Janet Vogel. (The B-side is “Tomorrow,” which is also a good song.) In 1959, “This I Swear” went to #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #20 on the R&B Chart.

Here are the lyrics to “This I Swear” by The Skyliners:

“This I swear is true…
My love for you will last…
Till time itself is through…
Oh my darling, Oh my darling…
This I swear is true…
My heart is yours my dear…
There will be no one new…
Oh my darling, oh my darling…
This I swear is true…
I promise you that I…
Will never make you cry…
This love will be eternally…
Cross my heart and hope to die…
My lips will kiss, I vow…
Nobody else but you…
Oh my darling, oh my darling…
Oh my darling, oh my darling…
This I swear is true…
This I swear is true…
This I swear is true…
This I swear is true…”

The group changed membership over the years, but they continue to tour and perform today.

If you are interested in an album of music by The Skyliners, please click on the photo below:

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop, rock and roll, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

Please click here for the Daily Doo Wop YouTube channel, to which you can subscribe. Thank you for stopping by The Daily Doo Wop.  Hope you enjoyed “Since I Don’t Have You” and “This I Swear” by The Skyliners.