Named after a popular ice cream of the time,
the Cherokees were formed in 1961 from the remnants of Johnny Chester's backing band the Chessmen and began playing
Shadows-styled music around Melbourne, Australia.
Signing with W&G Records,
the Cherokees released two singles and the rare Here Come the Cherokees album in 1965. They began playing pop reminiscent of
the Beatles and moved to the short-lived Go! label. Several of their singles made the Top 40 in Melbourne. By 1967,
the Cherokees were playing swing-styled music and several more singles again made the Melbourne Top 40. An album followed, Oh Monah!, but with the collapse of Go!, the band was left without a deal. Despite releasing one more single on Festival records and supporting
the Monkees during their tour of Australia in October 1968,
the Cherokees broke up at the end of the year. ~ Brendan Swift