The Castells

The Castells were a male vocal quartet from Santa Rosa, California best remembered for their hits "Sacred" (No.

Chuck Girard's mother financed a demo for a hundred dollars, which was recorded in a San Francisco studio.

The band's original members were Chuck Girard, Tom Hicks, Warren Hays, Bob Ussery, and Jeff Bush.

When the group signed with Era Records, label president Herb Newman insisted on session pianists, and Jeff Bush was edged out.

He was temporarily replaced by Greg Van Krugel, Chuck Girard's roommate and high school friend, because he knew the material from attending rehearsals.

Most often produced by Gary Usher, Chuck Girard and Joe Kelly went on to record as a duo under their real names, Chuck and Joe, recording blue-eyed soul covers of earlier popular songs like "Harlem Shuffle" and "Feel So Fine."

They worked for Usher for several years and recorded a number of hot rod and surf albums under many different group identities.

In 1968, after active duty, he returned to his wife and daughter in southern California and made his career in the defense and aerospace electronics industry.

The Rivingtons, Donnie Brooks, Dobie Gray, Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Ted Neely and Larry Verne.

Final group members: Van Krugel, Kelly, Hicks, Girard
Castells live: Van Krugel, Girard, Kelly, Hicks