The Tornados

British instrumental rock group

The Tornados were a British instrumental group that achieved fame in the early 1960s. They are best known for their hit "Telstar," which was released in 1962 and became the first record by a British group to hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song, named after the Telstar communications satellite, featured a distinctive clavioline lead played by keyboardist Geoff Goddard and was produced by Joe Meek, one of the most innovative producers of the era. The Tornados' sound was characterized by space-age electronic effects and futuristic melodies, which set them apart from other groups at the time.