The Royal Guardsmen

Formed:: We're not sure when - tell us? (it's easy)
Snapshot:: A Group with 5 releases, and credited once on others' music. No members known.

The Royal Guardsmen are a rock band from Ocala, Florida, a sextet originally composed of Bill Balough (bass), John Burdett (drums), Chris Nunley (vocals), Tom Richards (guitar), Billy Taylor (organ), and Barry Winslow (vocals/guitar). Rick Cosner replaced John Burdett on drums in 2006. The current band performs regularly around the United States. Originally known as the Posmen, the band adopted their anglophile moniker during the British Invasion, led by The Beatles and other British artists. They achieved fame with their second (vinyl) single, "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron" in 1966, which was also the title of their first album the same year. It soon reached #2 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, remaining in the bestsellers for 12 weeks, with an eventual one million sale in early 1967 and a gold record from the R.I.A.A. in February 1967.

Snoopy, the Red Baron, and aircraft became a recurring theme in their songs, though they did have some chart singles without those themes, including "Any Wednesday", "I Say Love", and the Top 40 hit "Baby Let's Wait", a re-release of their first single.

The original group split in 1969, but a band with some replacement players continued for another year. Two compilation albums and the original albums (doubled up) have been released on compact disc.

The Royal Guardsmen are currently making a comeback; in December 2006 they released a new Snoopy song, "Snoopy vs. Osama", which has become a hit on The Dr. Demento Show.

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