| Anthony (Tony) C. Thomas is the youngest of three children of the comic, Danny Thomas and his wife Rose Marie. Gregory Maxwell Gilford is the son of actress Anne Gwynne. The Thomas Group met, according to the liner notes of the single "I've Got No More To Say", at Beverly Hills High School. During their senior year, they were all enthusiastic basketball players, and thus got to know each other on the school's court. Tony, Greg, Marty and David were all native Californians, while Robert originated from Kentucky. David had studied the trumpet prior to joining the group. Marty apparently had "a wealth of professional experience". Dunhill Records discovered them, and signed them to Trousdale Music as writers with a 5-year contract. PF Sloan and Steve Barri were apparently impressed with their "happy sound and fresh look". They assembled their standard team of studio musicians to work with the band, namely PF Sloan on guitars, Joe Osborne (bass), Larry Knechtel (keyboards), and Hal Blaine (drums).The following table provides a brief summary of some of the other people behind the group. They were allegedly acclaimed as "the fastest rising rock'n' roll group" of 1966. An article in 'KRLA Beat' in late 1966 featured an article about them. Even before their third single had been issued, however, they found themselves back in various colleges in Southern California, beginning their Freshman year, in September 1966. Steve Barri said the following about them: "At that time, again we ... |
