The week of October 2, 1961, LA surf/hot rod duo The Duals earned US #OneHitWonder honors when their influential, instrumental car record, “Stick Shift,” entered the US #Billboard #Top40 at #33. The single spent six weeks on the chart, peaking at #25. #TheDuals #OneHitWondered #MusicSky

#OneHitHistory The week of October 2, 1961, LA surf/hot rod duo The Duals earned US #OneHitWonder honors when their influential, instrumental car record, “Stick Shift,” entered the US #Billboard #Top40 at #33. It spent 6 weeks on the chart, peaking at #25. #TheDuals #OneHitWondered

Though The Duals didn’t last long, their rumble-and-roar sound earned them a permanent spot in rock history as pioneers who linked R&B instrumental grooves to the explosive ‘60s SoCal surf and hot rod sound. #TheDuals #OneHitWondered

Juggy Murray? How many times have we seen this man pop up around here…? Juggy was a pioneering NYC Black record executive… and Sue Records became one of the first Black-owned labels to achieve national success in R&B & soul music. #JuggyMurray #TheDuals #SueRecords #OneHitWondered

Ron Barrett liked their guitar sound, and after some rehearsals, The Duals recorded “Stick Shift.” Barrett thought the single needed… something. He mixed in car engines, tire squeals, & sirens, turning “Stick Shift” into a street-racing instrumental. #TheDuals #RonBarrett #OneHitWondered

The Duals followed “Stick Shift” with “Cha Cha Guitars” on Sue in 1962… but the follow-up single failed to give Henry Bellinger & Johnny Lageman a second national hit. #TheDuals #SueRecords #OneHitWondered #MusicSky

Friends living on the same LA street, The Duals went to famed arranger/producer H.B. Barnum about recording “Stick Shift.” Barnum passed, but steered them toward his friend Ron Barrett, who had started the small Star Revue label. #HBBarnum #RonBarrett #TheDuals #OneHitWondered

“Stick Shift” was a hit, climbing onto the #Billboard #Top40. Its blend of revving engine FX and driving rhythm helped create a blueprint that artists like The Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, and The Surfaris would build upon for the rest of the decade. #TheDuals #OneHitWondered #MusicSky

#Interestingly In 1961, 2 black 19-year-olds would be the first to hit the #Billboard #Top40 with an instrumental hot-rod record… beating The Beach Boys and Jan & Dean to the chart. The Duals were lead guitarist Henry Bellinger & Johnny Lageman on rhythm guitar. #TheDuals #OneHitWondered