The Castells were a male vocal quartet from Santa Rosa, California, formed around 1959. The original members included vocalists Chuck Girard (1943-2025), Tom Hicks, Warren Hayes, Bob Ussery, and pianist Jeff Bush. Their career began with performances at local venues, notably a teenage "canteen," where they were suggested the name by their pianist, Jeff Bush. In 1960, the group recorded a demo in San Francisco and secured a deal with Era Records after pitching to various labels. The Castells' first release, "Little Sad Eyes", reached the Billboard chart's "Bubbling Under" category. Their breakthrough came with "Sacred" (Number 20 in 1961) and "So This Is Love" (Number 21 in 1962), both of which charted successfully. The group toured extensively, sharing the stage with notable artists such as Jackie Wilson and Jerry Lee Lewis. Despite their early success, The Castells never charted again after 1962. They continued to record for Warner Bros. Records and Decca Records before disbanding around 1964. Post-disbandment, members pursued various musical endeavors; Chuck Girard joined The Hondells and later became a popular Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) artist. He died on August 11, 2025 at 81.
