Jan Errico
Also known asJan Ashton, Janet Errico
Instrument(s)Drums
Years active1960s – ?

Jan Errico is a drummer and singer who was a member of two San Francisco rock groups in the 1960s, The Vejtables and The Mojo Men.

Background

Errico is the daughter of Vincent Errico who, himself was an accomplished drummer.[1][2] She is the cousin of Greg Errico, the original drummer for Sly and the Family Stone.[3] It has been written that she changed her name from Errico to Ashton to sound more British.[4]

Female drummers in rock bands in that era were rather rare.[5]

Career

In 1962 or 1963, when she was around age 12, she recorded the single "It Was A Lie" (bw "Come Along With Me") for the Shelby Records label. The backing group was credited as The Twilights, who were really Joe Piazza and the Continentals.[6]

By 1964, she was a member of The Vejtables, both singing backup and playing drums.[7] While with the Vejtables she contributed to a good part of their written material including their minor hit, "I Still Love You", which she sang lead on.[8][9] By November 13, 1965 the song had spent four weeks in the charts, eventually reaching no 84.[10] She also sang lead on the group's take of Tom Paxton's "The Last Thing on My Mind".[11]

It appears that at some stage in 1966, there may have been a brief change of direction for her in attempting a solo career. A single "Cold Dreary Morning"/"Smile, Smile, Smile" was recorded but Autumn Records never released it.[12]

Errico joined the Mojo Men around spring 1966,[13] replacing the band's drummer Dennis DeCarr.[14] In 1967, she and the band recorded 20 songs in one day at Coast Recorders.[15]

The last single released by the group then known as The Mojo was "Everyday Love" bw There Goes My Mind in 1970.[16]

Solo discography

List
Title Credited artist Release Label Year Notes
"It Was A Lie" Janet Errico "It Was A Lie" / "Come Along With Me" Shelby Records (C-45-2C) (c) 1962/1963 [17]
"Smile, Smile, Smile" The Vejtables Feel... The Vejtables Sundazed Music SC 11031 1995
"Cold Dreary Morning" The Vejtables Feel... The Vejtables Sundazed Music SC 11031 1995 [18]

References

  1. ↑ The Times, Monday, March 21, 1960 - Page 13
  2. ↑ San Francisco Chronicle, April 15, 2005 - Vincent A. Errico, Obituary
  3. ↑ NPR, August 18, 2011 - Sly Stone: The Early Days In The East Bay - Ed Ward
  4. ↑ Record Turnover, January 28th, 2011 - Sit Down, I Think I Love You
  5. ↑ Guía Del Pop Y El Rock 60, Aloha Poprock, By Antonio Méndez - Page 386 Vejtables, The. Estados Unidos
  6. ↑ Reverb Central - Janet Errico and the Twilights - It Was A Lie c/w Come Along With Me
  7. ↑ The San Francisco Sound, Friday, November 26, 2010 - THE VEJTABLES FAMILY TREE
  8. ↑ Billboard - ARTISTS / The Vejtables, BIOGRAPHY
  9. ↑ Fuzz Acid and Flowers Revisited: Comprehensive Guide to American Garage Psychedelic and Hippie Rock (1964-1975), Vernon Joynson - Page 15
  10. ↑ Billboard, November 19, 1965 - Page 30 Billboard HOT 100
  11. ↑ Fuzz Acid and Flowers Revisited: Comprehensive Guide to American Garage Psychedelic and Hippie Rock (1964-1975), Vernon Joynson - Page 15
  12. ↑ Allmusic - Jan Ashton Biography by Richie Unterberger
  13. ↑ Jingle Jangle Morning: Folk-Rock in the 1960s, By Richie Unterberger- -
  14. ↑ The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Colin Larkin - Page 2872
  15. ↑ If These Halls Could Talk, Heather Johnson - Page 6
  16. ↑ Las Solanas - The Mojo Men, Singles
  17. ↑ Reverb Central - Janet Errico and the Twilights - It Was A Lie c/w Come Along With Me
  18. ↑ Discogs - The Vejtables – Feel... The Vejtables
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