Troy Shondell

Troy Shondell (b. Gary Shelton, Fort Wayne, May 14, 1940 - ) – Singer. After recording several records for Mercury in the late 1950s—some with decent local sales—Shondell, a Fort Wayne native, majored in music at Valparaiso University and made a 1961 recording that changed his life. Originally on his own label, Gold Crest, “This Time (We’re Really Breaking Up)” was picked up by Liberty and peaked at #6 on the national Billboard charts, where it lingered for sixteen weeks. Although he failed to chart another record, Shondell often played to a packed house in downtown Chicago (even before his national hit) and influenced other young musicians. In fact, a young Detroit guitarist named Tommy James, who had met Troy, decided to name his band “The Shondells.”