Teenbeat/garage from Maryland's eastern shore

[The Raven]

Hi everybody. I just wrote a short article about teen rockers from the eastern shore region of Maryland, USA. This was published by the website Splice Today.

Honestly, i could only think of two garage acts/records from this area (though there was also at least one great jump blues artist from the Salisbury, Md./Norfolk, Va. area who was active in the 40's and 50's; his name escapes me...)

I feel like somewhere down the line I had also heard of garage rock band from Chestertown, Md. (about an hour northwest of Ocean City, but still closer to the shore than the Baltimore/DC area), but again, the band name is escaping me

This piece deals with basically two acts - Mike's Messengers from Quantico/Salisbury, and The Royals from Salisbury:

https://www.splicetoday.com/music/shore-euphoria

So, anyone know of any other teen combos or soul groups or surf bands or greasy rockabilly acts or anyone else who rocked Md.'s eastern shore during the 'Nam era?

 

[Dave Baldwin]

Hi everybody. I just wrote a short article about teen rockers from the eastern shore region of Maryland, USA. This was published by the website Splice Today.

Honestly, i could only think of two garage acts/records from this area (though there was also at least one great jump blues artist from the Salisbury, Md./Norfolk, Va. area who was active in the 40's and 50's; his name escapes me...)

I feel like somewhere down the line I had also heard of garage rock band from Chestertown, Md. (about an hour northwest of Ocean City, but still closer to the shore than the Baltimore/DC area), but again, the band name is escaping me

This piece deals with basically two acts - Mike's Messengers from Quantico/Salisbury, and The Royals from Salisbury:

https://www.splicetoday.com/music/shore-euphoria

So, anyone know of any other teen combos or soul groups or surf bands or greasy rockabilly acts or anyone else who rocked Md.'s eastern shore during the 'Nam era?

I remember seeing The Mad Hatters in Ocean City circa 1965...but those cats were from Ann Arundel County.

 

[The Raven]

I remember seeing The Mad Hatters in Ocean City circa 1965...but those cats were from Ann Arundel County.

yeah, they were AA County dudes, and at least one of them went on to join DC psych legends The Fallen Angels

 

[Dave Baldwin]

yeah, they were AA County dudes, and at least one of them went on to join DC psych legends The Fallen Angels

I really looked up to The Fallen Angels when I was in high school...they were the "underground" local band.
I saw Jack Bryant at a British Walkers reunion show in Rockville about ten years ago and he told me that
nobody in The Fallen Angels ever got a single copy of the It's A Long Way Down LP from Roulette. F'n gangsters!

 

[Heitkotter77]

What else would one expect from Roulette?
As Morris Levy said, "You want royalties? Go to London!"

 

[mikael]

Here's a pic of the Messengers. They sounded tougher than they looked, and I love it.
Band: David Watson, Howard "Gene" Watson, Mike Taylor and Tim Bounds (I think)

 

[bosshoss]

They look tough to me. Personally I'd hate to meet any of them in a dark alley.

 

[masterbeat64]

They look tough to me. Personally I'd hate to meet any of them in a dark alley.

The character holding the tambourine (David Watson?) is a ringer for tough guy actor William Bendix. I can picture him in a 'Dark Corner' wearing a white suit. (Ned will get the reference)

 

[Dave Baldwin]

The character holding the tambourine (David Watson?) is a ringer for tough guy actor William Bendix. I can picture him in a 'Dark Corner' wearing a white suit. (Ned will get the reference)

Looks like a snare drum to me...and that mook makes William Bendix seem as suave as George Sanders (lol).

 

[The Raven]

View attachment 5642

Here's a pic of the Messengers. They sounded tougher than they looked, and I love it.
Band: David Watson, Howard "Gene" Watson, Mike Taylor and Tim Bounds (I think)

Mikael! thank for sharing this. Is it ok if i share this around on other parts of the web? This image would really help me to drum up more interest the article.

And it's great to know the other guys' names too.

As far as their look goes, this is *exactly* what i'd expect any kind of rock/popular music combo from the eastern shore to look like circa the 60's; the shore was always a little behind the times when compared to many other parts of the state, a typical thing for any back country type area in the US prior to the late 70's.

With sax a player they remind of a Justice label band or something like that. Honestly, i'm really surprised that there wasn't a big "beach music" scene on the Md. shore as the summertime craziness there is not much different than that of the Carolinas

 

[The Raven]

And according to comments left on the Bolt 24 Hot Sounds Youtube channel by a Quantico music vet named Barry Lokey, Mike Taylor is the guitarist and Gene Watson is the bassist/singer.

 

[mikael]

Mikael! thank for sharing this. Is it ok if i share this around on other parts of the web? This image would really help me to drum up more interest the article.

Of course. I have another one too.

 

[mikael]

And according to comments left on the Bolt 24 Hot Sounds Youtube channel by a Quantico music vet named Barry Lokey, Mike Taylor is the guitarist and Gene Watson is the bassist/singer.

Yep, he was a bass player. However it's Gene holding the sax here.

 

[The Raven]

Of course. I have another one too.

View attachment 5653

wow!!! this one's even better, really captures the irreverent attitude of 'Gone And Left Me', thank you Mikael