We called the band Richie and the Fortunes.
Dick Whittington's Cats: Richie, Jay, Tony, Buddy and Terry
At our first rehearsal, Richie gave me a copy of James Brown Live at The Apollo and said listen to this. And so I was introduced to Clyde Stubblefield, drummer extraordinaire whose fatback funk inspires me to this day. The band consisted of Richie Green and Tony Bodanza on guitars, Jay Mohler on bass, Terry McCloud on tenor sax and Buddy Maver on drums.
Richie knew of a club called The Sands outside of Akron in Portage Lakes where we could play. It was a roadhouse right out of a movie hidden on a back road on a lake, the place had been a speakeasy during prohibition. The owner was a hunter and had giant moose and caribou heads, bears and sailfish on each wall. It had a large dance hall that had amazing acoustics. We played that room with small equipment and a PA system that consisted of 2 fifteen inch speakers but the sound was impeccable. The band was perfectly balanced and we rocked that joint hard.
And so began the “Sands era”. Though the British Invasion was in full swing, we bucked the trend. We played the music that we loved … Rhythm and Blues, Soul, Funk … music that had FEEL. People flocked to the club. Starting in 1965 we played there 3-4 nights a week for two years. The place was packed every night. We didn’t have to move our equipment and we arrived there every night from Cleveland to find a line of people waiting to get in. What a rush it was for me … to play with great musicians, pack the house and make money! We settled in and all bought new cars.
The following music was recorded live at The Sands, in 1965. Russ Otto, a friend of the band, brought a new invention – a tape cassette recorder – to the club one night; put the machine on a table near the band and pressed record. The following recording is primitive and the sound is not great BUT … this is the only live recording of the band in existence. You can feel the heat from the packed roadhouse bar, hear the crowd talking between songs and get a good idea of what the band was all about. You’ll even hear the “break song,” (something bands of that era did right before they took a break). All lead vocals by Richie except “I’m So Proud” by Buddy.
- “Need Your Love, Want You Bad”
- “This Little Girl of Mine”
- “Steal Away”
- “My Young Misery”
- “Summertime”
- “I’m So Proud”
- “I Feel Good”
Surprisingly this is the version of midnight Hour that was played on Boston radio (either WBZ or WMEX) in 1967 when various versions of the song were released all over the country like versions by The Wanted, Kit and The Outlaws, Michael and the Messengers and a slew of others
Wow … thanks for the blast from the past. BTW …Edwrad?
Your years are off! Richie and the Fortunes were playing at The Draught House in 1966…they moved to the Sands in ’66 or ’67 and changed names. I was a regular at the Draught House in ’66 and the Sands in ’67 and ’68 when they were playing great covers of BS&T, Hendrix, James Brown etc. I’m black and I’m proud instrumental was their break song. Great memories!!!
Hey Phil,
Richie did play at the Draught House during the years you mentioned but it was AFTER part of the band split off and formed the Charades. Richies band at the time was a great group of players.
And to set the record straight We DID start playing The Sands in 1964 with the original Richie and the Fortunes. Thanks for your interest
If I remember correctly, Dick Wittington had a recording studio on the near Westside of Cleveland. Many bands and musical artists and composers recorded there – including myself. He was a genuinely good spirit; very supportive, and he understood what we were trying to do with our music. He lended his talents and ideas to my demo, and made it much better than I ever though possible. AND he stayed within my $375. budget – even though his assistant engineer thought I was trying to “low ball” him. Really, I was not trying to get something for nothing, it was trully all the money I had.
Thank you Dick for your gifts to all of us.
I still have that demo. I can send it to you if you are interested.
Thank you, Buddy for all the time and work it takes to keep this site up and running. I know how much time it takes. A great job!
Marty Gallagher
now out in Portland, Oregon
Wow fantasstic photos and live recordings . Saw Dick Whittingtons Cats on Upbeat and then live at the Draught House in Akron and always at the Colonial Lanes in North Canton. They always had great soul bands like The Chambermen, Jimmy and Soul Blazers, and Dick Whittington’s Cats. Still have the 45 and love the B side as much as midnight Hour. Also saw the Charades many times at the Draught House and have their EPIC 45 And You Do
In 1966, Peggy and I were the new girls of FC Hammond HS of Alexandria VA. I don’t remember where she moved from, however, I remember her father died not long before we met. Also, she was in the girls’ branch of the Masons- called Job’s Daughters or Rainbow Girls. In the Spring of 1967 Peggy’s mother’s boyfriend became very ill and was hospitalized with liver problems. Sometime prior to this I was at their apartment and he gave me a 45 record that he and his band mates had made. I remember Dick Whittington’s Cats was the name on the label. It seems to me he had dark curly hair. Peggy moved not long after the hospitalization and I don’t remember anything else. I am curious though, if her mother’s boyfriend was the guy I met and whether he was in the Alexandria VA-Washington DC area in 1966-‘67.
Marty, Chris and Laura,
Thanks for the memories. We played Akron and Canton from 1964 til 1967 when I figured it was time to play in our hometown, Cleveland. The rest is history.