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Originally an instrumental group, The Fireballs broke the top 40 with their singles Torquay, Bulldog and Quite A Party between 1959 and 1961. When founding members Chuck Tharp, Eric Budd and Dan Trammel decided to leave, the band replaced them with drummer Doug Roberts and singer Jimmy Gilmer. Rebranding themselves as Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs, the new group achieved a number one with the single Sugar Shack, a track that would retain the position for five weeks and earn a Gold Record Award for Top Song Of 1963. Daisy Petal Pickin' achieved similar success but with the British Invasion in full swing and America obssessed with bands like The Beatles, the group struggled to maintain their popularity. In 1967 Jimmy Gilmer left the group to pursue a career in artist management and the band welcomed back Chuck Tharp as frontman. They continued to perform as The Fireballs until Tharp's death in 2006 after which Gilmer returned to front the group.
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