Putting an unapologetically pop face on the British Invasion, the Hollies filled the airwaves on both sides of the pond with their catchy melodies and harmonious vocal stylings.  The core of the band consisted of Graham Nash and Allan Clarke—whose earlier group was known as the Two Teens—but expanded to include guitarists and a drummer. Most of the original members hailed from the Manchester area in the UK, where the Hollies became quite popular.

In 1963, the band landed a record contract and released a few singles—mostly covers of older R&B songs—that quickly rose to the Top 10 in the UK.  “Stay,” “Just One Look” and “Here I Go Again” were all hits in their native country. Achieving the same in America took a bit longer but finally “Look Through Any Window” made the U.S. Top 40 in 1965 and a year later, “Bus Stop” claimed the #5 spot. The Hollies had invaded.

In the following years, the band recorded more hit singles, like “Stop Stop Stop,” “On a Carousel” and “Carrie-Anne,” always staying within the Top 10 or 20.  The late 60s pulsed with psychedelia and the Hollies experimented with the sound on their album Butterfly where the title track had a lush orchestral arrangement and surreal lyrics. Another ambitious single was “King Midas in Reverse,” which was primarily Nash’s brainchild and his effort to take the Hollies in a more serious direction. The experiment wasn’t a success and Nash left the band in 1968; soon after he formed the group Crosby, Stills and Nash with two other guys, conveniently named Crosby and Stills.

The Hollies went on to record an album of Bob Dylan songs, called Hollies Sing Dylan and the 1969 hit “Sorry, Suzanne,” which climbed to #3 in the UK charts.  The sentimental ballad “He Ain’t Heavy…He’s My Brother” (featuring a young Elton John on the piano) became a hit in both the U.S. and the UK, peaking at #7 and #3 respectively. The song is a Hollies favorite and enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in the 80s when it was used in a UK beer commercial. Another Top 10 hit came in 1972, with “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress,” a considerable success in the U.S. but only a Top 40 showing in England.

Though “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress” was mostly attributed to Clarke, he left the group after its release, intent on pursuing a solo career. He returned to the fold the following year and the band released another smash hit, the moody “The Air That I Breathe.” The band would tour and record during the rest of the 70s, though no major hits were forthcoming. In 1983, Nash briefly reunited with the Hollies and they released a very successful cover of the Supremes’ “Stop! In the Name of Love.”

In the 80s and 90s, the Hollies—featuring a few new members—continued to tour and record. Their songs remain popular favorites, frequently used in movie soundtracks and advertising campaigns.