The Teddy Bears (band)

The Teddy Bears was a band that is perhaps most known for being Phil Spector's first band.

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Following his graduation from Fairfax high school in Los Angeles, Phil Spector became obsessed with a song, "To Know Him Is To Love Him," he had written for his group, The Teddy Bears. After a hasty audition at ERA Records who offered to finance a studio session, The Teddy Bears - Spector, Marshall Leib, lead singer Annette Kleinbard, and last minute recruit, drummer Sandy Nelson - recorded the song at Gold Star Studios at a total cost of $75. Released on ERA's Dore label in August 1958, it took a full two months before "To Know Him Is To Love Him" began to get air play.

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The record eventually stayed in the 'Hot Hundred' for twenty-three weeks, resided in the 'Top Ten' for eleven of those weeks, and commanded the #1 chart position for three weeks. At age seventeen, Spector had written, arranged, played, sung, and produced the best-selling record in the country. Although subsequent releases by the Teddy Bears on the Imperial label were considered well recorded soft pop, they did not sell, and within a year of their impressive debut, Spector had disbanded the group.

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Not to be confused with Swedish band Teddybears STHLM.

Related Topics:
Swedish - Teddybears STHLM

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