John Stokes is an Irish singer and musician, best known as one of the three original members of the hugely successful vocal group The Bachelors.
Born in Dublin, John first began performing alongside brothers Con and Dec Cluskey in 1957. Originally known as The Harmonichords, the trio began as an instrumental harmonica act before developing the distinctive vocal harmony style that would make them internationally famous. They later changed their name to The Bachelors and signed with Decca Records.
The Bachelors became one of the most successful groups of the 1960s, achieving a remarkable run of hit records in Britain and around the world. Their best-known songs included Charmaine, Diane, I Believe, Ramona, I Wouldn’t Trade You for the World, Marie, In the Chapel in the Moonlight and The Sound of Silence. Their recording of Diane reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in 1964, while the group achieved eight UK Top Ten singles between 1963 and 1966.
John and The Bachelors appeared regularly on British television and in major variety productions, including appearances at the London Palladium and the Royal Variety Performance. They also appeared in the films It’s All Over Town and I’ve Gotta Horse, and were later featured in their own BBC television comedy series, Under and Over. Their career and success were also celebrated on This Is Your Life.
Following the departure of the original line-up, John continued performing and preserving the group’s musical legacy through The Bachelors featuring John Stokes. Alongside Jonathan Young and Dave Pearson, he continued touring and entertaining audiences with the songs that had made the group famous, eventually completing a farewell tour in 2022.
With his musicianship, distinctive harmonies and long career in popular entertainment, John Stokes played an important part in the success of one of Ireland’s most celebrated vocal groups.
John Stokes is proud to be Water Rat number 638 of the Grand Order of Water Rats.
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