The Boys Town Gang were a San Francisco

San Francisco, California

San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...

 based disco

Disco

Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...

 and hi-NRG

Hi-NRG

Hi-NRG describes a form of high-tempo disco music as well as a genre of electronic dance music originating in the United States during the late 1970s...

 band

Band (music)

In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...

. Their popularity peaked in the 1980s, when the group reached number 5 on Billboard

Billboard (magazine)

Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...

's Hot Dance Club Play

Hot Dance Club Play

The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...

 chart

Record chart

A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....

 with the single

Single (music)

In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...

 "Cruisin' the Streets

Cruisin' the Streets

"Cruisin' the Streets" is a disco song released in 1981 by the Boys Town Gang. The song reached number 5 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart.- Song description :...

", and number 4 in the UK Singles chart

UK Singles Chart

The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...

 and number 1 in the Netherlands

Netherlands

The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

 with their cover version

Cover version

In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...

 of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You

Can't Take My Eyes off You

"Can't Take My Eyes Off You" is a 1967 single by Frankie Valli. The song was among Valli's biggest hits, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning a gold record. It was Valli's biggest "solo" hit until he hit #1 in 1975 with "My Eyes Adored You"...

".

History

In 1980 DJ

Disc jockey

A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...

 Bill Motley saw an opportunity to form a group that catered to San Francisco's large gay

Gay

Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....

 clientele. In his search to form a group he auditioned hundreds of vocalists, both male and female. Local cabaret singer Cynthia Manley captured the lead spot.

The idea was originally for one 12" single with two tracks of high energy music. Motley, a Diana Ross

Diana Ross

Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...

 fan, picked two Ashford & Simpson

Ashford & Simpson

Nickolas Ashford , and Valerie Simpson , were a husband and wife songwriting/production team and recording artists....

 song

Song

In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...

s to form a medley

Medley (music)

In music, a medley is a piece composed from parts of existing pieces, usually three, played one after another, sometimes overlapping. They are common in popular music, and most medleys are songs rather than instrumental. A medley which is a remixed series is called a megamix, often done with tracks...

 for the A-side

A-side and B-side

A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...

. For the B-side he wrote a disco drama in four acts. A record label

Record label

In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...

 was founded to release the two songs.

When "Remember Me

Remember Me (Diana Ross song)

"Remember Me" is a 1970 single recorded and released by singer Diana Ross on the Motown label. The song was Ross' third top forty pop hit within a year peaking at number sixteen on the US pop singles chart, number ten on the US soul chart, and reaching the top ten in the UK, where it peaked at...

" / "Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is an R&B/soul song written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson in 1966 for the Tamla Motown label. The composition was first successful as a 1967 hit single recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, becoming a hit again in 1970 when recorded by former Supremes...

" was released the song took off, with Manley's vocals

Human voice

The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary...

  propelling the song into the top of the club charts. The four-act explicit "Cruisin' The Streets" was a snapshot of Castro and Market Streets

The Castro, San Francisco, California

The Castro District, commonly referenced as The Castro, is a neighborhood in Eureka Valley in San Francisco, California. The Castro is one of America's first and best-known gay neighborhoods, and it is currently its largest...

 at sundown.

Manley departed after the release of these two records and Jackson Moore took over lead vocal responsibilities in 1981.

Band members

On the records "Remember Me

Remember Me (Diana Ross song)

"Remember Me" is a 1970 single recorded and released by singer Diana Ross on the Motown label. The song was Ross' third top forty pop hit within a year peaking at number sixteen on the US pop singles chart, number ten on the US soul chart, and reaching the top ten in the UK, where it peaked at...

" / "Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is an R&B/soul song written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson in 1966 for the Tamla Motown label. The composition was first successful as a 1967 hit single recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, becoming a hit again in 1970 when recorded by former Supremes...

" and "Cruisin' The Streets

Cruisin' the Streets

"Cruisin' the Streets" is a disco song released in 1981 by the Boys Town Gang. The song reached number 5 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart.- Song description :...

" Cynthia Manley provided lead vocals with Robin Charin, Don Wood, Phill Manganello, Tom Morley and Keith Stewart providing back-up.

From the 1981 album Disc Charge and onwards Jackson Moore was lead singer with Tom Morley and Bruce Carlton as back-up.

Singles

• 1981: "Remember Me
  Remember Me (Diana Ross song)
  "Remember Me" is a 1970 single recorded and released by singer Diana Ross on the Motown label. The song was Ross' third top forty pop hit within a year peaking at number sixteen on the US pop singles chart, number ten on the US soul chart, and reaching the top ten in the UK, where it peaked at...
  
  " / "Ain't No Mountain High Enough
  Ain't No Mountain High Enough
  "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is an R&B/soul song written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson in 1966 for the Tamla Motown label. The composition was first successful as a 1967 hit single recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, becoming a hit again in 1970 when recorded by former Supremes...
  
  "
• 1981: "Cruisin' The Streets
  Cruisin' the Streets
  "Cruisin' the Streets" is a disco song released in 1981 by the Boys Town Gang. The song reached number 5 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart.- Song description :...
  
  "
• 1981: "You're The One" / "Disco Kicks"
• 1982: "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You
  Can't Take My Eyes off You
  "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" is a 1967 single by Frankie Valli. The song was among Valli's biggest hits, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning a gold record. It was Valli's biggest "solo" hit until he hit #1 in 1975 with "My Eyes Adored You"...
  
  "
• 1981: "Come and Get Your Love
  Come and Get Your Love
  "Come and Get Your Love" is a 1974 hit single by the Native American rock band Redbone. The song was written by band member Lolly Vegas and produced by Lolly and his brother Pat Vegas, who was also a band member...
  
  "
• 1982: "Jump Shout" / "Rocket To Your Heart" / "Disco Kicks"
• 1982: "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)"
• 1983: "Can't Take My Eyes Off You
  Can't Take My Eyes off You
  "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" is a 1967 single by Frankie Valli. The song was among Valli's biggest hits, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning a gold record. It was Valli's biggest "solo" hit until he hit #1 in 1975 with "My Eyes Adored You"...
  
  " / "I Just Can't Help Believing" / "Die Hard Lover" / "When Will I See You Again
  When Will I See You Again
  "When Will I See You Again" is a song by American soul group The Three Degrees, from their third album The Three Degrees. The song was written and produced by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.It was one of the most successful recordings of the "Philly Soul" era...
  
  "
• 1984: "Brand New Me" / "In And Out of Love"
• 1984: "Dance Trance Medley" / "A Good Man (Is Hard To Find)"
• 1984: "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" / "When I Was Young"