The anticipation was building. This weekend was supposed to be a highlight – a concert featuring Pure Prairie League, Poco, and Orleans. Like many music fans in early May 2020, the looming question of whether live concerts would even happen that year cast a shadow, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the lead-up to the would-be show, YouTube became a go-to for live music fixes, particularly Orleans’ rendition of a song that always resonated: “Dancing In The Moonlight,” originally by King Harvest.
This timeless track, penned by Sherman Kelly, is a personal favorite from the 1970s. Released in July 1972, it soared up the charts, hitting No. 10 on Cash Box, No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, and No. 22 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart. Diving into YouTube comments is often part of the online music experience, and on an Orleans’ “Dancing in the Moonlight” video, a comment from Sherman Kelly himself, posted just months prior, stopped me in my tracks.
Could it be? The songwriter himself? Fueled by a passion for the stories behind songs – the very essence of “The Vinyl Dialogues” – the immediate thought was to reach out. Could I interview Sherman Kelly and uncover the narrative behind “Dancing in the Moonlight”? The answer was a resounding yes, leading to a story far more incredible than imagined.
Sherman Kelly onstage in the 1970s
From Island Nightmare to Moonlight Dream: The Dark Inspiration
The genesis of “Dancing in the Moonlight” wasn’t a joyous moonlit night, but a harrowing experience in St. Croix, Virgin Islands in 1969. Sherman Kelly and friends were managing a nightclub in St. Thomas and decided on a day trip to St. Croix aboard a rented yacht. Unfortunately, seasickness struck Kelly and his girlfriend hard during the voyage.
Upon reaching St. Croix, the group went ashore for dinner. However, Kelly and his girlfriend were still unwell and opted out of eating. As the others returned to the yacht for the night, the sight of the boat’s mast swaying in the harbor was enough to deter the queasy couple from returning. They decided to find lodging in town.
A major problem arose: Kelly, in his seasick disorientation, had left his wallet on the yacht. Penniless and without credit cards, they approached a small inn, explaining their predicament and promising to pay in the morning. The innkeeper’s shocking response was to offer accommodation in exchange for Kelly’s girlfriend sleeping with him.
Rejected by a second inn as well, Kelly’s girlfriend suggested, “It’s a beautiful night. Why don’t we just stretch out on the beach?” They did, and that’s where Kelly’s clear memory ends.
King Harvest in 1972
A Violent Encounter and the Birth of a Dream
What followed was a brutal attack. Kelly and his girlfriend were victims of the Fountain Valley Gang, a notorious St. Croix street gang. Five members wielding baseball bats severely beat Kelly, while his girlfriend was subjected to a horrific assault by the gang leader and faced further threat from the others. In a moment of regained consciousness, Kelly fought back, creating enough commotion to scare off the attackers.
Dazed and injured, they stumbled along the shore, guided by lights, eventually reaching the island’s hospital. They were likely among the first victims of the Fountain Valley Gang, infamous for the 1972 murder of eight tourists and the devastating impact on St. Croix tourism.
Kelly’s condition was critical. “I woke up to the sound of my hospital roommate screaming in pain,” he recounted. “Finally the screaming stopped and I heard two doctors talking about him. ‘That’s it, he’s gone,’ said one doctor about the other patient. ‘What about him, you think he’s gonna make it?’ And the other doctor said, ‘No, I doubt it.’ I realized they were talking about me.”
Miraculously, Kelly survived. After days in the St. Croix hospital and further recovery in St. Thomas and New York, he returned home to Ithaca, New York, still suffering from pain and headaches. Unable to perform with a band, songwriting became his outlet.
During this convalescence, verses began to form – verses that would evolve into the lyrics of “Dancing in the Moonlight.” He explained, “I envisioned an alternate reality, the dream of a peaceful and joyous celebration of life. It was just me imagining a better world than the one I had just experienced in St. Croix.” An unspeakable trauma became the unlikely seed for a song about joy and peace.
From Boffalongo to King Harvest: The Song Finds Its Voice
“It was amazing. People liked the song right from the start,” Kelly recalled. “I liked it, but I wouldn’t have predicted that it would become a big hit.” However, King Harvest wasn’t the first to record “Dancing in the Moonlight.” In 1970, Kelly joined Boffalongo with his brother Wells Kelly, Larry Hoppen, Dave “Doc” Robinson, and Peter Giansante. “Dancing in the Moonlight” appeared on Boffalongo’s 1970 album “Beyond Your Head,” featuring Sherman Kelly on lead vocals.
Boffalongo, circa 1970
Kelly is self-deprecating about his vocal performance on the Boffalongo version. He recounts a negative experience in the recording studio, involving producers offering him cocaine, which he believes negatively impacted his vocal quality, leading to a distorted and strained performance. Despite this, the Boffalongo version gained regional popularity. Another 1970 recording by High Broom also failed to chart.
When Boffalongo disbanded, Wells Kelly joined King Harvest, a French-American group based in Paris, fronted by former Boffalongo member Doc Robinson. Wells introduced “Dancing in the Moonlight” to King Harvest.
The King Harvest rendition, with Robinson on lead vocals, became the hit we know. Released as a single with “Lady Come Home” on the B-side, it propelled the song to national and international recognition. King Harvest invited Sherman Kelly to tour with them in the summer of 1972. In live performances, Robinson sang lead, and Sherman Kelly provided harmonies. “Doc had a pretty good voice, better than mine,” Kelly admitted, humorously recalling a critic’s comment: “‘As a singer, Sherman Kelly is not too bad of a songwriter.'”
Orleans and a Lasting Legacy
Touring life wasn’t for Sherman Kelly. His stint with King Harvest was brief. “Imagine yourself in your twenties and you’ve written a hit song, you have some chart action and you’re traveling around. It was fun for a while,” he said. “But life on the road is ridiculous. I didn’t really care for it after awhile.”
Wells Kelly later left King Harvest and rejoined John Hall. Together with Larry Hoppen from Boffalongo, they formed Orleans. Orleans also recorded “Dancing in the Moonlight,” further cementing the song’s place in music history. Even today, Orleans, including John Hall and Larry Hoppen’s brothers, Lance and Lane Hoppen, keeps “Dancing in the Moonlight” in their setlist, a tribute to the song’s enduring appeal and Larry Hoppen, who passed away in 2012.
Sherman Kelly’s journey took him beyond music after the tragic death of his brother Wells in 1984. He pursued a master’s degree in social work and psychotherapy, working as a psychotherapist for many years. However, music remained a part of him. In 2008, he released “Burnin’ the Candle,” featuring collaborations with his late brother.
Sherman Kelly today
“Dancing in the Moonlight”‘s Enduring Shine
The song’s journey didn’t end with King Harvest and Orleans. In 2000, Toploader’s cover of “Dancing in the Moonlight” became another hit, introducing the song to a new generation. It has also been featured in films, television, and video games, including “Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Signs” in 2017.
From its dark origins in a violent encounter to its uplifting melody and lyrics, “Dancing in the Moonlight” is a testament to the power of music to transform personal pain into universal joy. Sherman Kelly’s story is a reminder that even from the darkest experiences, light and beauty can emerge, offering a dream of “a peaceful and joyous celebration of life” under the moon’s gentle glow.
