During a five-year period beginning in 1966,
Dennis Yost, the voice of THE CLASSICS IV, had 13 consecutive
chart singles to his credit. His gold records include "Spooky,"
"Stormy," "Traces" and "Everyday
With You Girl." The remaining were regional hits such
as "Rosanna," "What Am I
Crying For," "The Funniest Thing," and
"Pollyanna."
In 1993, Dennis Yost & The Classics IV were honored for their
musical achievements by the state of Georgia and were inducted
into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
He began his musical career in Jacksonville, Florida playing drums
with high school friends, calling themselves "The
Echoes." In the early 1960s, he joined a group that would
become known as "The Classics." Members included the
founder, Wally Eaton, plus James Cobb and Joe Wilson. The group
achieved certain notoriety with a small hit titled
"Pollyanna" written by Joe South, not to mention Dennis
was one of few drummers standing up and drumming while also
singing lead. When the band learned of another group from New York
City that had a small amount of success with a song titled "Til
Then," using the same name, they quickly changed their name
to "The Four Classics," and eventually "The
Classics IV."
Signed with The Lowery Music Group out of Atlanta, Georgia and
Capitol records, The Classics IV re-recorded "Spooky."
The song was originally an instrumental regional hit by Mike
Sharpe, a talented saxophone player. J.R. Cobb and producer Buddy
Buie added lyrics to it and the rest is history.
"Stormy" followed shortly before "Traces of
Love" hit #2 on the Billboard charts, earning the group a
permanent stay on oldies and soft rock stations to this day.
Dennis has never stopped singing and touring. After moving to
Nashville in 1993, he added writing and record production to his
list of accomplishments. He currently has twenty-seven published
works to his credit and produced Barbara Lewis ("Hello
Stranger," "Baby, I'm Yours," and "Make Me
Your Baby") on a song called "Donor" to help the
cause of organ donation awareness.
Over the years, Dennis has performed with other artists (and
friends) such as Gary Lewis and The Playboys, Chuck Berry, The
Drifters, The Coasters, The Turtles, Paul Revere and The Raiders
and Eric Clapton.
Just recently, Dennis acquired exclusive rights to the trademark
"THE CLASSICS IV" for both performing and recording. He
also underwent "miracle" throat surgery and can once
again sing his songs in their original keys!
Now, more than ever, Dennis' songs and unique style still sound as
smooth and classy as they did thirty years ago. When you hear him
sing, you will know why he has been dubbed "THE CLASSIC
ONE."
During a five-year period beginning in 1966,
Dennis Yost, the voice of THE CLASSICS IV, had 13 consecutive
chart singles to his credit. His gold records include "Spooky,"
"Stormy," "Traces" and "Everyday
With You Girl." The remaining were regional hits such
as "Rosanna," "What Am I
Crying For," "The Funniest Thing," and
"Pollyanna."
