Of all The Clique’s recordings from the late 1960s, one track found an unexpected second life nearly two decades later when R.E.M. covered “Superman,” introducing the song to a new generation.

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The group began in Southeast Texas as The Roustabouts, featuring Bruce Tinch, John Kanesaw, Larry Lawson, Cooper Hawthorne, and Dave Dunham. In 1966, they changed their name to The Sandpipers, adding Randy Shaw as lead vocalist. Their popularity grew quickly, especially after opening for the Dave Clark Five and winning Houston radio station KNUZ’s Battle of the Bands in 1967. That same year, the band adopted a new name—The Clique. Over time, additional musicians joined various lineups, including Sid Templeton, Bill Black, Oscar Houchins, and Jerry Cope.

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The Clique released their self-titled album in 1969 on White Whale Records. Their cover of Tommy James’ “Sugar on Sunday” became a Top 40 hit, while “Superman” later achieved cult status when R.E.M. recorded it for their 1986 album Life’s Rich Pageant. Following their initial success, The Clique toured with major acts such as Grand Funk Railroad, The Guess Who, and Tommy James and the Shondells. They played their final concert in April 1972. A retrospective collection, Sugar on Sunday: The Definitive Album by The Clique, was released in 2006.

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The Clique was inducted into the Museum of the Gulf Coast Music Hall of Fame in 2008. In 2018, original member Larry Lawson received the Horatio Alger Award.