History The Royal Guardsmen

''The Royal Guardsmen'' are a rock music band from Ocala, Florida, a sextet originally composed of Bill Balough (bass guitar), John Burdett (drums), Chris Nunley (vocals), Tom Richards (guitar), Billy Taylor (organ), and Barry Winslow (vocals/guitar). Rick Cosner replaced John Burdett on drums in 2006. The current band performs regularly around the United States. Originally known as the Posmen, the band adopted their anglophile moniker during the British Invasion, led by The Beatles and other United Kingdom artists. They achieved fame with their second single, "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron" in 1966, which was also the title of their first album the same year. It soon reached #2 in the United States Billboard Hot 100, remaining in the bestsellers for 12 weeks, with an eventual one million sale in early 1967 and a music recording sales certification gold record from the Recording Industry Association of America (R.I.A.A.) in February 1967.

Snoopy, the Red Baron, and aircraft became a recurring theme in their songs, though they did have some record chart singles without those themes, including "Any Wednesday", "I Say Love", and the Top 40 hit record "Baby Let's Wait", a re-release of their first single.

The original group split in 1969, but a band with some replacement players continued for another year. Two compilation albums and the original albums (doubled up) have been released on compact disc.

The Royal Guardsmen are currently making a comeback; in December 2006 they released a new Snoopy song, "Snoopy vs. Osama", which has become a hit on The Dr. Demento Show.

==Discography==

* ''Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron'' album and single (1966)

* ''Return of the Red Baron'' album and single (1967)

* 'Snoopy And His Friends'' album (1967)

* "Airplane Song (My Airplane)" single (1967)

* "Any Wednesday" single (1967)

* *Snoopy's Christmas" / "It Kinda Looks Like Christmas" single (1967)

* "I Say Love" single (1968)

* ''Snoopy For President'' album and single (summer 1968) (summer 1976)

* "Baby Let's Wait" single (winter 1968-1969)

* ''Merry Snoopy's Christmas'' album (winter 1980)

* ''Anthology'' CD album (April 25, 1995)

* ''Best of The Royal Guardsmen'' CD album (May 5, 1998)

* ''Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron / Snoopy & His Friends'' CD album (June 12, 2001)

* ''Return of the Red Baron / Snoopy for President'' CD album (June 12, 2001)

* "Snoopy vs. Osama" single (2006)

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