The Hondells

The Hondells were an American surf rock band that formed in 1964, and was the product of record producer Gary Usher. Their only hit, "Little Honda", was written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love of The Beach Boys and given to Usher early in 1964. Usher called in a group of studio musicians – including Glen Campbell and Hal Blaine – and hastily recorded the song that summer. It was leaked to local radio and spread across U.S. pop radio. As the song climbed the charts, Usher assembled a band which toured with The Beach Boys in support of "Little Honda", which eventually peaked at #9 on the U.S. pop singles chart. An album Go Little Honda was put together, most of the songs on which were written by Usher and KFWB disc jockey and lyricist, Roger Christian, and concerned Honda motorcycles ("Hon-da Beach Party", "Haulin' Honda", "Two Wheel Show Stopper", "A Guy Without Wheels" ...) Its picture sleeve showed a four-member group and its liner notes contained an elaborate back story, penned by Christian, which posited one Ritchie Burns as the founder and leader of the band. The album crept its way to the lower reaches of the U.S. pop albums chart. The band then released another full-length LP, but never scored another hit single. Later The Beach Boys covered the song they themselves had written and scored a minor hit. The Hondells, such as they were, disbanded in 1965. Member Chuck Girard had been in The Castells and in the 1970s became a popular and pioneering CCM artist. Indie rock band Yo La Tengo covered the song "Little Honda" on their album I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One.