The Sunflower Girls of Cloverdale in the Shire.

I was browsing the records section of Donaldson’s Department Store here in Cloverdale last weekend and came across this old vinyl record of The Sunflower Girls. Wow does this take me back! This singing group was the most popular attraction in the Shire back in the 1980’s. They filled the 500 seat Comprehensive School’s Theater when they performed because of the mix of good clean wholesome music.

This album has many of their hits, including these hundred sellers:

• There’s a bug in Aunt Molly’s soup
• Mama’s got bees buzzin in her Bonnet.
• That Ant was Made for Lifting
• Little Brown Jug of Mountain Shine

The Sunflower Girls disbanded in the early 1990’s over a disagreement about a boy. His name was Justin Rosen, the son of the group’s manager. All the girls fancied him. The jealousy got ugly on the night of February 14, 1992. It was Valentines Day. The Sunflower Girls were performing at the SeaSide Theater in Tamworth on the Tide. At evening’s end, Justin was suppose to surprise the girls and bring them each a bouquet of red roses and a kiss on the cheek. Justin wanted this to be a special occasion for each girl so instead of bringing all the flowers up on stage at the same time he chose to highlight each girl individually. He planned on bringing one bouquet up at time, make the presentation, kiss her cheek and then repeat it over and over until all seven girls had their flowers.

At the appointed time he stepped up on stage with the first bouquet. The girls were surprised and bathed him in dreamy eyes. Each girl desperately hoped the flowers were for her. Justin approached Martha May Moosman, gave her the roses and leaned forward to kiss her cheek. Suddenly, out of nowhere, flew the stool the youngest girl sat on during the performance. The stool knocked Justin off his feet sending him to the floor. Realizing his mistake he attempted to explain but the cat fight was picking up a full head of steam. He couldn’t be heard over the screaming.

To save himself from certain injury he curled up into a ball and rolled off the stage. A moment later the girls were on the floor engaged in a frenzy of hair pulling, kicking, screaming and scratching. A few minutes later the parents had the girls separated, the curtain was drawn and the evening documented in photographs the following day in Tamworth’s Daily Newspaper. It was several months before the girls attempted reconciliation. A year later they broke up forever.

So...... heres to the Sunflower Girls and the beautiful music they created for the short time they were together. I’m hoping you all found happiness and fulfillment . I’m also curious if any of them ended up marrying Justin Rosen.