50 Years of "96 Tears"

The Saginaw-Bay City teen rock band, Question Mark and the Mysterians, recorded the song “96 Tears” in Bay City, MI. On October 29, 1966, this song was the number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and the fifth biggest record in that same year according to Billboard Magazine. This exhibit honors the 50th anniversary of this achievement.

“96 Tears” was a Rudy Martinez poem called “Too Many Teardrops” and became ultimately popular with the signature keyboard playing of Frank Rodriquez. This song, recorded in Art Schiell’s small studio in his Bay City, MI home, was named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of 500 greatest rock songs. The band toured nationally as a result of the hit, and they had four smaller charting hits over the next two years including “I Need Somebody” and “Can’t Get Enough of You Baby.” The hit “96 Tears” earned a gold record award and eventually passed one million copies in sales.