The Sugar Beats formed in Tampa, Florida and had the first release on the Knight label, which is much better known for 45s by the Outsiders, the Tropics and the Mods. The band members were:
Roland Kent LaVoie – guitar
Bill Ellington – guitar
Bill Denman – bass
Rick Emmert – drums
Both sides are upbeat pop cover songs, which may be why it was not included in Teen Beat Mayhem. Produced by Phil Gernhard and recorded at H & H Studios, though I’ve also read this was recorded at Charles Fuller’s studio – some overlap there? It dates from approximately 1964, with SoN #s 22541/2 in the matrix.
Roland LaVoie went into Me & the Other Guys who had two 45s, “Skinny Minnie” / “Crazy” on Hit Cat and “Runaround Girl” / “Everybody Knew But Me” on Boss.
Despite the SoN numbers are I don’t think it’s as early as 1964.
The earliest known version of the song is by Johnny Rivers on his
“Johnny Rivers In Action” album from Feb. 1965 followed up by P.F. Sloan’s own version on his first album (Sep 1965)
1965 is more likely … how else would The Sugar Beats have even heard the song before those versions ?
I’m too lazy to Google, but I believe Kent LaVoie is better known as ’70s hits maker Lobo.
”What Am I Doing Here’ was also recorded by P-Nut Butter.
Yes, Lavoie later became Lobo, and had several huge hits in the ’70s.
The Sugar Beats 45 was released in July, 1965.
The Sugar Beats had a second incarnation as a club band from 1965 to 1968 with and organ player named Sam replacing Kent and me replacing Denman on bass. We played clubs and other venues all over Florida (including the Fontainebleau), the NYC area (including somewhat infamously Princeton University opposite Martha and the Vandellas) and Freeport Grand Bahamas. There were a couple of recording sessions in Tampa and the Bronx. Nothing was ever released. I don’t think the group played under the name Sugar Beats after 1968.