July 1, 1963 - Taking the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 today was “Easier Said Than Done,” a recording by The Essex released by Roulette Records. The song was written by William Linton and Larry Huff. Original group members Walter Vickers (guitar) and Rodney Taylor (drums) are members of the U.S. Marine Corps at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina, where they enlisted fellow Marines Billy Hill (aka Billy Proctor) and Rudolph Johnson to join the group. Next they added a female lead singer, Anita Hume. Linton said the rhythm of “Easier Said Than Done” was inspired by the sound of Teletype machines in the communications office at Camp Lejeune. The group members were not thrilled with “Easier Said Than Done” when Linton and Huff first presented it to them, but they recorded it for use as the B-side of their debut single, “Are You Going My Way.” Now it is a hit.
