They Were The #1 BAND in the World-UNTIL the U.S. GOV Allegedly BLACKMAILED 'em! | Professor of Rock

Ok, you’re not going to believe this story… Coming up.. a song.. a record that changed everything… Spinning Wheel by Blood Sweat and Tears. It dominated the charts because it was so fresh…so impactful It didn’t sound like anything on the radio at the time. With the amazing pipes of David Clayton Thomas. Up next the band’s co-founder Bobby Columby tells the story of this song that was a crossover hit on 3 major charts and that’s just one part of it. This band suddenly became one of the biggest in the world. They were up for record of the year, and they become the only band to have 3 straight #2 hits… their album hit #1 it sold millions and they were banned from touring in America at their peak because the US government wouldn't give singer David Clayton Thomas a green card… So they allegedly blackmailed the band that they would give them a green card if the band would tour behind The Iron Curtain. Hear the unbelievable story next on Professor of Rock.

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Hey music junkies, Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. If you ever fought you remember playing Pitfall or Donkey Kong on the atari. You’ll dig this throwback channel of musical nostalgia. Make sure to subscribe below to our channel right now so you never miss an episode of our daily features. Click the bell and all that also Make sure to check us out on Patreon to become an insider with us. It’s time for another episode of our series Revelations where featured artists reveal rare stories about their greatest songs.

It's time for another episode of our series Revelations where featured artists reveal rare stories about their greatest songs and albums. A deep dive into legendary accounts that you won’t find anywhere else.

On this installment of Revelations, we have a very special episode. It’s a story of Rock and Roll espionage if you will, as well as the story of a song that the band never took seriously… It was written as a sort of a joke but became one of the biggest songs ever. In 1969 Blood Sweat and Tears became one of the hottest bands in the world. They had 3 straight #2 hits. Including You’ve Made Me So Very Happy, today’s feature Spinning Wheel and the song And When I Die.

Their self-titled album hit #1 and would actually win the Grammy over the Beatles Abbey Road. This was a completely fresh sound with the take-no-prisoners voice of David Clayton Thomas and a stellar horn section along with Jazz drummer Bobby Columby, a band co-founder and today’s guest. The sales for brass instruments went through the roof… They were on fire. And then something happened that would not only destroy their momentum but pull the band apart.

Due to a green card issue which allegedly came from protesting the Vietnam War, Canadian Singer David Clayton Thomas wasn’t allowed to tour with the band in the US. The situation was resolved but then all of a sudden there was an announcement that Blood Sweat and Tears will become the first American band to perform behind the Iron Curtain, doing concerts in Yugoslavia, Romania, and Poland on a tour sponsored by the U.S. State Department.