The Trade Winds

"The Tradewinds" redirects here. For the group formerly called The Tradewinds, seeStyx (band).

The Trade Windswas an American pop group formed inProvidence,Rhode Island.The group's members were singer-songwriter and record producer Peter Anders (né Peter Andreoli) (April 28, 1941 – March 24, 2016)andVini Poncia,who previously had a hit single (with a third member, Norman Marzano) under the name "The Videls" with a song titled "Mr. Lonely", which hit #73 on the U.S.BillboardHot 100chart in 1960.

After a few further single releases, The Videls folded. Anders and Poncia began writing tunes withPhil Spectorfor groups such as The Lovelites (whose lead singer Joanna DeClemente later became Poncia's second wife),the Ronettesandthe Crystals.Recording under the name "The Trade Winds" in 1965, they released several singles and scored two more U.S. hits, "New York's a Lonely Town" (#32, 1965) and the psychedelic-tinged "Mind Excursion" (#51, 1966),along with two other songs thatbubbled underthe U.S. charts, "The Girl From Greenwich Village" at number 129, and "Catch Me in the Meadow" at number 132. In 1966, they changed their name to "The Innocence", recorded a full-length eponymous album, and had two further hit singles, "There's Got to Be a Word!" (U.S. #34, 1966)and "Mairzy Doats"(U.S. #75, 1967).Following the LP release, the duo released another album under the nameAnders & PonciaonWarner Bros. Recordsin 1969, and shortly after broke up.

Poncia later went on to produce material for artists such asRingo Starr,Melissa Manchester,andKiss.

The group was mentioned in theMad MenSeason 5 episode "Tea Leaves"where Harry accidentally signed them instead ofThe Rolling Stonesfor aHeinzcommercial.

Anders died at Kent Hospital inWarwick, Rhode Island,on March 24, 2016, at age 74.

External links

• The Trade Windsdiscography atDiscogs