Probably the definitive female surf group, the Honeys were formed in California, USA as the Rovell Sisters in 1961. Marilyn, Diane and Barbara Rovell initially appeared at amateur talent shows, but embarked on a more substantial career when a cousin, Sandra Glantz aka Ginger Blake, replaced Barbara. The newcomer, a budding songwriter, brought the trio to producer Gary Usher, who in turn introduced the group to Beach Boys svengali, Brian Wilson. Now dubbed the Honeys, a term for "female surfer", the trio embarked on a series of exemplary singles, each of which featured Wilson as either producer, arranger or composer. They included a reworking of a Stephen Foster standard, retitled "Surfin' Down The Swanee River" (a number 1 in Denmark), "Pray For Surf" and "The One You Can't Have", a superb attempt at emulating the Phil Spector "wall-of-sound". Such releases were commercially unsuccessful but the Honeys remained in demand as backing vocalists for the Beach Boys, Jan And Dean and Bruce Johnston. Their ties within this close-knit circle were enhanced in December 1964 when Brian Wilson and Marilyn Rovell were married. A 1969 single, "Goodnight My Love", anticipated the style the Rovells then followed as American Spring. Ginger Blake, meanwhile, pursued a parallel career, singing back-up with several live acts before establishing her own song publishing company. The trio was reunited during the early 80s for Ecstasy.

Listen to THE HONEYS at Finetune.

• He's A Doll
• The One You Can't Have

• The Murmaids
• Raindrops
• Ellie Greenwich
• The Paris Sisters
• The Toys
• The Caravelles
• Robin Ward
• Elvis Costello/Burt Bacharach
• Petula Clark
• Harpers Bizarre
• Kyu Sakamoto
• Linda Scott
• The Seekers
• Sue Thompson
• Christopher Cross
• Rick Nelson
• Georgie Fame
• Chad & Jeremy
• The Singing Nun
• The Vogues