The Castells

The Castells were a charming vocal quartet hailing from Southern California, bursting onto the scene in the early 1960s with their smooth harmonies and feel-good pop tunes. Formed in 1960 by high school buddies Chuck Girard, Tom Hicks, Bob Ussery, and Jeff Bush (later replaced by Joe Kelly), they quickly signed with Era Records and scored hits like the dreamy "Sacred" in 1961 and the romantic "So This Is Love" in 1962, which captured that innocent, teen-heartthrob vibe of the era.

Though they were often lumped in with the surf music crowd—thanks in part to backing vocals on tracks by folks like Jan & Dean and even some Brian Wilson productions—The Castells kept things light and melodic, focusing on love songs and ballads rather than riding waves. They released a handful of singles and an album before disbanding in 1964, but their nostalgic sound still pops up in oldies playlists, reminding us of those simpler, sweeter days of early '60s pop.