Diamond Dave Somerville

Diamond Dave is still electrifying the airwaves around the world today.  From 1955 to 1961, it was
DAVE's lead voice that defined the sound of THE DIAMONDS on all their timeless hits and still to
this day he is singing the hits and taking folks back to that special time.

Sometime in the next five minutes, the voice of Dave Somerville will electrify the airwaves somewhere in the world.
As the lead singer on The Diamonds' "Little Darlin'," one of the seminal songs of rock and roll, and classics such
as "Why do Fools Fall In Love," "Silhouettes" and "The Stroll," his vocals on these anthems have become staples
of radio programming as well as the backgournds for countless TV commercials.   Dave has toured with Jerry
Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, LaVerne Baker, The Drifters, Frankie Lyman, Paul Anka, the Everly Brothers, Buddy
Knox, Eddie Cochran, Jimmy Bowen, Little Richard, Roy Orbison, The Del Vikings, Little Anthony and The
Imperials, Fats Domino and Buddy Holly.  Sharing stages, dressing rooms, and buss trips with these rock n' roll
pioneers is the stuff of which legends are born.

Dave was introduced to his first 45 record player by Buddy Holly on one of the many Greyhound buses that he
and  The Crickets shared.  This was only fitting since Dave and The Diamonds' "Little Darlin" was the first hit
record on that new seven-inch innovation, the 45 RPM record.  It was also on these trips that Chuck Berry would
borrow Dave's handy acoustic guitar into which he stuck the bus driver's microphone taped in the "on" position
providing inspiration for the chorus of his next "Maybellene" hit and many spontaneous sing-a-longs.  And it was
in the hotel rooms along the way where the Everly Brothers would refine their harmonies and where Paul Anka
might crash for the night in Dave's bathtub after hours of jamming.

Dave has been "Under the Boardwalk" with The Drifters and in "My Blue Heaven" with Fats Domino.  Johnny
Cash, Jimmie Rodgers and Connie Stevens were there at Molly Bee's to help Dave celebrate his 25th birthday.
He was standing backstage with Alan Freed the first time the promoter saw Little Richard fake a heart attack in
the middle of his act.  Together, they became family for the Canadian native while he experienced the
transformation of rhythm and blues into--what ministers would claim was the "devil's music"--rock n' roll.  Dave's
music influenced the evolution of rock n' roll and many legendary artists over the years including Elvis who was
a big fan of the Diamonds.  The king spent many hours rehearsing "Little Darlin'" with the Diamonds' hit record
and later recorded his own version of the song.

THE DIAMONDS formed in 1955 with Dave Somerville, Mike Douglas, Ted Kowalski and Bill Reed.  All were
vocalists and were riding the road of the beginning of Rock and Roll.  Mr. Somerville is a living lenend.

© 1998-2010 Benford E. Standley. All Rights Reserved.
This can in no way be copied or distributed.

We would love your help continuing this story...if you have any important dates or
information that helps us tell the story of the evolution of  the music and
entertainment business send them to us and we will add to KICKIN' UP DUST

KickinUpDust.com