# 1910 Fruitgum Company

The 1910 Fruitgum Company is an American bubblegum pop band of the 1960s. The group's Billboard Hot 100 hits were "Simon Says", "May I Take a Giant Step", "1, 2, 3, Red Light", "Goody Goody Gumdrops", "Indian Giver", "Special Delivery", and "The Train".

## Background

Bubblegum pop was marketed to preteens as the evolving genre of rock music was beginning to target older adolescents and adults with darker lyrics and heavier rhythms. The simple structure of the songs and non-political content of bubblegum pop appealed to a younger audience. Many of the songs in the bubblegum pop genre like "1, 2, 3 Red Light" were intended to be singles within the budget of that younger preteen audience. "1, 2, 3 Red Light" became one of the biggest hits of the genre.

## Career

The band began as Jeckell and the Hydes in New Jersey in 1966. The original members were Frank Jeckell, Mark Gutkowski, Floyd Marcus, Pat Karwan and Steve Mortkowitz – all from Linden, New Jersey.
During 1967, they were signed to Buddah Records, where they released five LPs under their own name and a variety of singles, as well as appearing on the LP The Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus. Their first hit single, "Simon Says", reached #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at #2 on the UK Singles Chart.
The band started touring, opening for major acts such as the Beach Boys. They also released these other chart hits: "May I Take a Giant Step" (U.S. #63), "1, 2, 3, Red Light" (U.S. #5), "Special Delivery" (U.S. #38), "Goody, Goody Gumdrops" (U.S. #37), "Indian Giver" (U.S. #5) and "The Train" (U.S. #57).
The original group disbanded in 1970.
In 1999, original member Frank Jeckell and Mick Mansueto put the act back together. As of 2019, Fruitgum currently performs its own hits, in addition to other songs from the 1960s.

## Million sellers

"Simon Says" sold three and a half million. "1, 2, 3, Red Light" and "Indian Giver" each sold over one million copies. All three were awarded gold discs.

## Band members
### Current lineup

* Frank Jeckell (Original Member, Guitar and Vocals)
* Mick Mansueto (Lead Vocals and Percussion)
* Glenn Lewis (Bass and Vocals)
* Eric Lipper (Keyboards and Vocals)
* Keith Crane (Drums)
* John Roginski (Guitar, Keyboards and Vocals)

### Former members

* Mark Gutkowski (Original Member, Lead Singer on all the hits, and Hammond B3 Organist)
* Pat Karwan (Original Member, Lead Guitarist and Vocals)
* Steve Mortkowitz (Original Member, Bass Player and Vocals)
* Floyd Marcus (Original Member, Drummer and Vocals)
* Mick Mansueto (Lead vocals)
* Jerry Roth (Tenor Sax)
* Bob Brescia (Keyboards, Vocals and Music Director)
* Thomas "Bart" Bartleson (Drums)
* Mike Edell (Keyboards and Vocals)
* John Korba-Guitar/Vocals
* Ralph Cohen (Douglas) (Trumpet)
* Pat Soriano (Hammond B3 Organist)
* Bruce Shay (Bass and Vocals)
* Rusty Oppenheimer (Drums and Vocals)
* Larry Ripley (Bass, Woodwinds and Vocals)
* Chuck Travis (Guitar and Vocals)
* Richie Gomez (Guitar and Vocals)
* Michael Stoppiello (Guitar and Vocals)
* Philip Thorstenson (Drums and Vocals)
* Chuck Allen (Bass and Vocals)

### 1980s road band members

* Randy Monaco (Lead Vocals)
* Jim Bulkowski (Lead Guitar)
* Russ Hoffmaster (Drums & Vocals)
* Rick Gainor (Bass & Vocals)
* John Siroky (Keyboards)

## Discography
### Singles

| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Record Label | B-side From same album as A-side except where indicated | Album |
| Year | Title | US | UK | AUS | CAN | Record Label | B-side From same album as A-side except where indicated | Album |
| 1967 | "Simon Says" | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | Buddah Records | "Reflections from the Looking Glass" (Non-LP track) | Simon Says |
| 1968 | "May I Take a Giant Step (Into Your Heart)" | 63 | – | 42 | 21 | Buddah Records | "(Poor Old) Mr. Jensen" | Simon Says |
| 1968 | "1, 2, 3, Red Light" | 5 | – | 8 | 1 | Buddah Records | "Sticky, Sticky" (Non-LP track) | 1, 2, 3, Red Light |
| 1968 | "Goody Goody Gumdrops" | 37 | – | 29 | 26 | Buddah Records | "Candy Kisses" (Non-LP track) | Goody Goody Gumdrops |
| 1969 | "Indian Giver" | 5 | – | 5 | 1 | Buddah Records | "Pow Wow" (Non-LP track) | Indian Giver |
| 1969 | "Special Delivery" | 38 | – | 47 | 17 | Buddah Records | "No Good Annie" | Indian Giver |
| 1969 | "The Train" | 57 | – | 68 | 34 | Buddah Records | "Eternal Light" (Non-LP track) | Hard Ride |
| 1969 | "When We Get Married" | 118 | – | 76 | – | Buddah Records | "Baby Bret" (Non-LP track) | Juiciest Fruitgum |
| 1970 | "Go Away" | – | – | 77 | – | Super K Records | "The Track" | Non-LP tracks |

### Albums

| Year | Album | Billboard 200 | Record Label |
| 1968 | Simon Says | 162 | Buddah Records |
| 1968 | 1, 2, 3, Red Light | 163 | Buddah Records |
| 1968 | Goody Goody Gumdrops | – | Buddah Records |
| 1969 | Indian Giver | 147 | Buddah Records |
| 1969 | Hard Ride | – | Buddah Records |
| 1970 | Juiciest Fruitgum | – | Buddah Records |
| 1993 | Juiciest Hits | – | Buddah Records |
| 1994 | Bubblegum Goodies | – | Victor Entertainment |
| 1994 | A Golden Classics Edition | – | Collectables Records |
| 2001 | The Best of the 1910 Fruitgum Company: Simon Says | – | Buddah Records |
| 2007 | Bubblegum Christmas | – | Collectables Records |