#don dannemann

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Don Dannemann (1944-) The Cyrkle - lead vocals and rhythm guitar Songs: "Red Rubber Ball," "Turn-Down Day" Propaganda: none

Roy Orbison (1936-1988) solo Songs: "Crying," "Oh, Pretty Woman" Propaganda: none

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DON DANNEMANN and TOM DAWES of THE CYRKLE recording the song "Red Rubber Ball" at Columbia Studios, NYC. (Circa 1966.)

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The Cyrkle - Don Dannemann

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NOW IN THE FOLD - The Cyrkle, a trio whose name was chosen by Beatle manager Brian Epstein, recently dropped into the impresario’s suite to inspect their Columbia contract. Seen in this picture taken at that meeting are (left to right) producer John Simon who will handle the group’s dates, Epstein, the group’s American manager Nathan Weiss, and the trio which includes Don Dannemann, Marty Fried and Tom Dawes. (caption and photo source: Cash Box - January 29, 1966)

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The Cyrkle recording the song "Red Rubber Ball" at Columbia Studios, 1966

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The Cyrkle

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THE CYRKLE. (Circa 1965.) Photos taken by Don Paulsen.

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The Cyrkle

[billboard-hotties-tourney]

Roy Orbison (1936-1988) solo Songs: "Crying," "Oh, Pretty Woman" Defeated Opponents: Don Dannemann Propaganda: none

Alvin Lee (1944-2013) Ten Years After - guitar and lead vocals Songs: "I'd Love to Change the World," "Love Like a Man" Defeated Opponents: Pye Hastings Propaganda: none

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The Cyrkle - Don Dannemann

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US group The Cyrkle - [L-R: Don Dannemann, Tom Dawes and Marty Fried] - the first act signed to Nemperor Artists, a company set up by Brian Epstein and Nat Weiss in 1966 to manage American acts.

Casey Chambers:  How did The Cyrkle get signed? Don Dannemann: Well, before we became The Cyrkle, we were known as The Rhondells at Lafayette College. And the last summer when we were basically going to break up and go our separate ways...right at the end of the summer, Nat Weiss, a matrimonial lawyer and friend of Brian Epstein, walked in and heard us and liked us. And he introduced himself and told us he and Brian were going to be partners in a management company in the United States to manage bands.  And he told us to get in touch with him and maybe we could get something going. And, basically, that's how we got signed. Chambers: When did you actually meet Brian Epstein? Dannemann: I was working for my dad in a sheet metal manufacturing company and Tom and Marty and I were still playing on weekends at Lafayette.  And Nat told me to go to a party that somebody he knew was having on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.  So I went and when Nat saw me he says, 'C'mon, I'll introduce you to Brian.' He took me back downstairs, and there was a limo outside.  He opens the limo door and there's Brian sitting right there.  And he introduced me.  I still remember this like it's a video...ya know...this one moment.  He says, 'Brian Epstein, I'd like you to meet Don Dannemann.  One of the finest musicians I know.'  Now I know I'm not one of the finest musicians. (laughs)  I'm okay.  I know my level of musicianship.  But that's how he introduced me.  So anyway, I shook his hand and said, 'Well Brian, it's lovely to meet you.'  And there were a few little exchanges back and forth.  And then Nat kind of motioned for me to get out of the car.  And then the limo took off and I stood there on the street with a buddy of mine that I had brought with me.  Sort of with my mouth open as the limo went off down the street.  And that's how I met Brian. Chambers: Just like that!  What an incredible and important moment. That's awesome. Dannemann: Oh yeah.  So obviously I called the guys and said, 'Hey, I just met Brian Epstein.  Let's try to do something to get him to sign us.'  And basically, that was the beginning. 

- Don Dannemann interviewed by Casey Chambers, May 2017 [x] 

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LUDWIG: And you’re saying Brian was a nice gentleman, he did pay attention to you guys, it wasn’t just kind of, ‘Nat [Weiss], take care of this please.’

DANNEMANN: Well, Nat of course was in this country, you know, and so Nat was the hands-on guy, but Brian was always, you know, in the background. He was there, he wanted to know what was going on, how were things, whenever he came into town. I still remember, he stayed at Suite 28F at the Waldorf Astoria, that’s where he always stayed. And he would invite us up and we would have a lovely chit-chat and some cocktails, and, you know, little hors d'oeuvres and we got to spend some time with Brian and he wanted to know how things were going. Yeah, like I say, [he was] a very lovely man.

LUDWIG: Forgive me Don, I’m gonna be asking some silly questions -

DANNEMANN: No, there’s no silly questions.

LUDWIG: Were you guys always on your best behaviour with Brian? Did he just allow you to be yourselves? Do you remember any of that stuff, did you think to yourself, ‘This is Brian Epstein’

DANNEMANN: We kind of were on good behaviour. I mean, this is Brian Epstein. We were on good behaviour. It was like, we’re visiting, this is a proper visit, you know.