Dave Somerville, the co-founder and original lead singer of the rock & roll group The Diamonds, passed away on July 14, 2015, at the age of 81. He died from pancreatic cancer in a hospital in Santa Barbara, California, according to his publicist Jason Kasperski. Somerville was best known for his hit song “Little Darlin’”, which stayed at #2 on the Billboard charts for eight weeks in 1957.
Contents
Early Life and Career with the Diamonds
Somerville was born on October 2, 1933, in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. He grew up in a musical family in the nearby village of Rockwood. He moved to Toronto with his parents and brother Marc in 1947, where he studied radio engineering and voice at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the Royal Conservatory of Music.
In 1953, he met a quartet of singers in the hallway of the CBC and became their vocal coach. Later that year, he replaced one of the members and became the lead singer of the group, which was named The Diamonds. The group got discovered by Cleveland DJ Dr. Bill Randle in 1956 and signed a contract with Mercury Records.
The Diamonds achieved fame and success with their doo-wop style of music, blending pop and rhythm and blues. They toured with legendary artists such as Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Paul Anka, Buddy Holly and The Everly Brothers. Somerville sang lead on all 16 of their Billboard chart hits, including “The Stroll”, “Silhouettes” and “Why Do Fools Fall in Love”.
Solo Career and Other Ventures
Somerville left The Diamonds in 1961 to pursue a solo career as a folk artist, using the stage name David Troy. He also studied acting with Leonard Nimoy and appeared in several TV shows, often credited as David Troy. He did extensive voice-over work for radio, TV and cable advertisements.
In 1967, he joined The Four Preps, another vocal group, as a replacement for Ed Cobb, the original bass singer. He stayed with them for two years, but rejoined them in 1988 for an 18-year stint. He also co-wrote “The (Ballad of the) Unknown Stuntman”, the theme song for the TV series The Fall Guy, which starred Lee Majors.
In his later years, he performed as “Dave Somerville Original Lead Singer of The Diamonds” and received entry to five music halls of fame, along with a nomination for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He also wrote a memoir titled “The Answer is Yes: The Story of Dave Somerville”.
Personal Life and Death
Somerville married Judy Corns of Evansville, Indiana, in 1961. They had a son, David Orlando, and a grandson, Chilao. Somerville and Corns divorced in 1979. He later married Denise, who survived him.
Somerville was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in early 2015. He underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments, but his condition worsened. He died on July 14, 2015, in Santa Barbara, California, surrounded by his family and friends.
Somerville’s death was mourned by his fans and fellow musicians, who remembered him as a talented and charismatic singer, a generous and kind person, and a pioneer of rock & roll music.
According to his website, Somerville’s motto was “The answer is yes. What is the question?” He lived his life with passion, optimism and gratitude, and left behind a legacy of music and memories.
