The Capitols, an American soul trio from Detroit, Michigan, formed in 1962 as "The Three Caps," with Samuel George as the lead vocalist and drummer, Don Storball on backup vocals and guitar, and Richard Mitchell on backup vocals and keyboard. After playing small gigs, they were discovered by former Ann Arbor radio DJ Ollie McLaughlin and signed with his Karen record label, releasing their debut single "Dog and Cat" in 1963. The group disbanded briefly due to the song's lackluster performance but reunited in 1966 to capitalize on the popularity of the dance craze "the jerk." Their reformation led to the recording of "Cool Jerk", which reached number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on the Billboard R&B chart. The Capitols released two albums, Dance the Cool Jerk and We Got a Thing That's in The Groove, both in 1966, though neither achieved significant commercial success. Despite releasing eight additional singles post-"Cool Jerk", only two charted, leading to their status as a one-hit wonder. The group disbanded for the final time in late 1969. Samuel George died on March 17, 1982, and Richard McDougall passed away on February 19, 1984. Don Storball pursued a career in law enforcement. "Cool Jerk" has since been featured in various media, including movie soundtracks and commercials, and has appeared on multiple best-of lists, solidifying its enduring impact.
