The drummer for California's first surf band,
the Bel-Airs,
Richard Delvy (born
Richard Delvecchio) went on to lead a similar group, the Challengers, after the group's breakup in 1961. Formed with ex-
Bel-Air keyboardist Jim Roberts, the Challengers brought the surf music craze to a new height, selling more than a quarter of a million copies of their debut album,
Surfing Around the World, in 1963.
Delvy and the Challengers' greatest success, however, was credited to
the Surfaris, a band that
Delvy had heard performing its signature tune, "Wipe Out," and had been so impressed that he secured rights to the song's release. Initially released on
Delvy's own label, Princess, the single, with "Surfer Joe" on the B-side, was picked up for national distribution by Dot. When an album was subsequently recorded, Dot used the Challengers on every track but "Wipe Out" and "Surfer Joe," resulting in
the Surfaris severing its contract with the label. Although
Delvy briefly resurfaced in 1963 when he recorded the album
Hot Rod City with future
Brian Wilson songwriting partner
Gary Usher, it marked his last hurrah as a musician. He later produced several late-'60s albums for psychedelic-soul band
the Chambers Brothers. ~ Craig Harris