the CHARADEs - Promo Pic
By 1967 the times … they were a changin’.
At the time, we were drifting away from Richie’s musical vision and the four of us decided to go in a different direction. We talked about how cool it would be to play our R&B music with two horns – an actual horn section – and another voice would make harmonies thicker and more lush. We added a singer named John Vossos who played tenor sax and decided to strike out on our own.
We called the new band The Charades.
The lineup was Buddy Maver on drums, Tony Bodanza on guitar, Jay Mohler on bass, Terry McCloud and John Vossos on sax. We started out as a straight-ahead Rhythm and Blues band with matching sharkskin suits playing R&B, Soul, and Funk. Everybody was a good singer so there was a heavy emphasis on 4 and 5 part vocal harmony and, with two horn players, we could replicate any horn arrangement on records of the time.
We had played exclusively in Akron and Canton 4 or 5 nights a week since 1964 and we had a huge following. But eventually, it was time to break into the Cleveland market. In the summer of 1967, we decided to invade CLE. We came into the city as a well-rehearsed, tight band with a repertoire of great songs and signature arrangements by Tony Bodanza. We became the regular Friday night band at the Inn Spot, a popular teen dance hall and played clubs like the Speakeasy in Willoughby and The Agora in Downtown Cleveland. Later that year, the band then went into Audio Recording in Cleveland and recorded the following seven songs. Tom Baker was the producer.
- “Don’t Waste Your Time” – John lead Vocal
- “No Time For You” – Buddy lead Vocal
- “That Lucky Old Sun” – Terry lead Vocal
- “Ain’t No Big Thing” – Buddy lead Vocal
- “Sweet Little Girl” – Buddy lead Vocal
- “It’s You That I Need” – Tony lead Vocal
- “Don’t Look Back” – Buddy lead Vocal
The Charades were THE band I remember the most, out of ALL the really great live bands that were performing in town at that time, and there were A LOT ! I first heard them at The In-Spot in the old Eastgate Coliseum, where a Target store stands today. I was MESMERIZED. Being a musician myself I never heard such great lead vocals, such tight harmonies, such great arrangements, . . . I mean, even the break songs were cool. One night I remember in particular was at The Speakeasy lounge in downtown Willoughby. The band was whipping the dance crowd into a frenzy, when all of a sudden a girl screamed, a beer bottle flew, and all hell broke loose. I got out because I had just paid $ 250 for a brand new sharkskin suit and didn’t want it ruined. I just let the Collinwood and Mayfield boys duke it out. The last time I saw the band was at The Agora at one those great Sunday night shows. It was the first time I heard the song “It’s For You”, with the “Three Dog Night” arrangement. That was a magical moment for me, really. Never heard anything like that before or since (and to think it was a Lennon/McCartney tune to boot . . .man!). Anyway, thanks for the memories.
Dennis, thank you, thank you, thank you for the kind words. Those musical arrangements were mostly done by a brilliant talent, Tony Bodanza, one of the most creative musicians I’ve ever known. But of course, we were lucky to have players who could play and sing those parts. And yes, I liked “It’s For You” too. It gave me a chance to come out front and see what all the fuss was about!
It was no doubt a magical time. Including the craziness you described.
Thanks for this, Buddy – a great compilation of music I had thought was lost forever. I enjoyed many, many sessions listening to Charade at the Agora and the Plato. Actually when Tony B sang Rich Girl that was the first time I had heard it covered and I remember thinking, “Damn! That’s better than Hall and Oates!” Charade was a Cleveland Treasure. I only wish that NRSRC had such a good set of recordings!
Eric, thank you. I really appreciate it. I wanted this music to come out of the archives and onto the internet where it will live forever. Especially the New York studio stuff. Many of those songs were never heard before. It’s really gratifying to bring memories back to so many Charades fans. You guys made those nights at The Agora and The Plato magical for us.
Buddy,
It’s been a very long time … I was recently made aware of this site that you put up. What a Herculean task that must have been. I perused it with great interest and gratification …. How lovely to have all those great memories on display for all to see and enjoy. The site is very well done … Kudos to the tech people who helped you.
You have brought much joy to many. I am sure those folks who visit and comment enjoy the grand bugaloo down memory lane.
I had forgotten much about those days, but seeing all the pics, words and music on this great site was a wonderful treat and a real memory jog.
Best of luck with your up-coming book. I will watch for it.
Again, thank you for this site and for finding me all those years ago honking it out in a cheesy little bar around the cornier from … what was it called .. the Viking lounge or some such? Then dragging me back down from Canada to spend a few great years in one of Cleveland’s most memorable musical groups.
I still remember you Visiting me in on Vancouver Island, British Columbia a couple of decades ago with two of your lovely kids. What I remember most about that visit Is when we went to see the old growth forest with it’s giant trees where you promptly fell into the Englishman River.
Cheers and all the best.
John Vossos
Hey Johnny, Good to hear from you. What a long strange trip it’s been ! It was serendipity for me to walk into that bar FIFTY YEARS AGO OR SO to see you playing on the bandstand. It was about 1:30 in the morning and there was 6 people in the joint. I immediately liked your playing and loved your tenor voice with that slow vibrato. The wheels in my brain started turning. When the band got done I walked across the dance floor to the stage. You walked directly to me and stuck out your hand saying, “You’re a musician right?” What gave it away? My blue sharkskin suit or that herbed up look in my eyes? The rest is history.
Those years we played together were magical … The Agora, The Plato, The Inn Spot, the crowds, the laughs, and the recording sessions in NYC But most of all the music we made was special. And that will live forever on this site and in the memories of those people in the crowds that followed us during our wild adventure in the 1960’s.
Hope all is well with you. Roger and I are planning a road trip to Seattle and Vancouver this summer. We’ll look you up. Oh by the way, thanks for helping me get out of the Englishman river that day. That would have been more helpful than the laughing….
It is lovely memory of your past and I am appreciated with this homepage get to know more about “Charades group”.
More over, have you consider reunification for the onetime tour concert?
Thanks! There will be lotsa stories about The Charades in the book I’m writing. Stay tuned. But a reunion is not in the cards.
Hey Kenny,
Great to see you online. Loved your history of the times. I have missed the Charades dearly since the break-up. You guys were my favorite band and my favorite musicians. And, I don’t think that that I had to say that, because I’m sure you already knew. Especially You, Tony and Billy. Best drummer, guitarist, and vocalist of your time. There was no better band at getting the crowd onto the dance floor. That goes for all the clubs in both Cleveland and Akron where I spent many, many nights listening to the best in Rhytm & Blues, and later Rock & Soul – The Draught House, The Sands, Odin’s Den, The Agora, The Plato. It was a pleasure that I have missed, that I carry with me, and one that I will never forget. I have always had a copy of the tape that Sue Cornicelli had made at Odin’s Den since it was available. Now due to your kindness and generousity I have all these great downloads to listen to and reminisce about the old days. I am especially grateful for the studio stuff and had long wondered if I would ever get to hear it. I still think about the night we sat together at one of Tony’s solo gigs – that was the last time I saw you. I always hoped you guys would reunite for one of your get-togethers but I knew it would be impossible to bring everyone back. I will close by just saying that you guys were the best and this music proves it. Best regards from one of your biggest fans.
Hey Kenny it’s great to hear from you. I remember you well. I saw your face many a night. The Akron clubs were the hippest in the mid sixties. Stay well brother.
This took me back to the Plato on some Fridays and some Sundays. slugging down that 3.2 beer and listening to the best band Cleveland had to offer. In later years I found myself playing in Easy Street and thinking back to all the great bands in Cleveland that “might have been”…. Between The Charade and The Sensations I had all the could I could handle!
I had a copy of And You Do. I had it signed by Billy, Tony and Buddy, and once when Easy Street went up to Canada, I dragged that record up there with me. When we hit North Bay I used some social engineering to find out where John was, and went to the house, only to find that he had recently moved to Vancouver. Was never able to track Kubec down despite my father working at King Musical Instruments, which Don endorsed.
As good as Rainbow Canyon was, I really missed that Charades lineup. I remember the split when half the band went one way to Rainbow and the other half to Ramu with Bobby Huzar. Good times 50 years removed.
Hey Eddie Those were the days. 3.2 beer created a whole industry of bars and clubs that all had live bands. That was an incredible era. Thanks for the shout out.
Great job buddy it brought back great memories of the plato and all the groups. Best years of my life. Thank You
Oh yeah … Odin’s Den in Akron and of course The Plato. All the people I met during those years will be in my cabeza forever.
What a super site Buddy, so happy we finally located it after you telling us about it. Those memories will never be forgotten!!
Thanks guys. Those days were amazing. You were a part of it too. Stay well.
While cleaning in my basement I found a tape that I recorded at The Sands. I don’t know if it’s good. I brought my brother’s tape recorder and set it up on a table. I remember driving out to Akron with you many times when you lived on Taylor Rd. Dancing my days away four nights a week. I still have a trophy somewhere that I won at a dance contest at The Sands. First dance contest I was in I danced to Wooly Bully. Hope you see this. Al
Hey Al, sorry it took me this long to reply. I would love to get my hands on that tape. You’d be surprised what modern technology can do to clean up the sound on an old tape. Email me at Buddymaver@aol.com to talk about it.
Man -o Man those songs bring back so many great memories Your version of the Ojays No Time For You was always my favorite being from Canton and all. But Aint No Bg Thing by the Radiants is even better than the original. And the Temps songs are FABULOUS.I’m also a drummer and always kept my eye on you Buddy when you played.. You did it ALL!. When I moved to Cincinnati in late 68 there was a drummer who led The Dapps and Bo Dollar and the Coins who also was a main influence. His name was William Bowman (RIP).. they backed up james brown on a few King singles and played live with him when he came to Cincy.When i would come back to Canton on winter and spring breaks i always tried to catch you guys either at the Colonial Lanes in North canton, the Draught house and maybe even The Riviera in Canton. ..All the best Buddy, love your old Rogers kit , I still have my 2 Rogers sets from 1967, and a 65 Ludwig “Hollywood kit.. Thanks for having this GREAT web page, it’s been fun going through all the lineups since the Bocky days and those Rolling Stones photos are too much. Stay well Chris Roberts
Thanks for your comments Chris. Your reaction is exactly what I was going for when I put this site together. I’m glad you dig it.
Every musician I played with brought a unique magic to the music. Each group had their own special sauce that kept the mojo working.
And yes I knew about the drummer with Bo Dollar. He was smokin’ . Anither drummer from Cincy that gassed me was Ron Grayson who played with Lonnie Mack. We did a couple shows with him and we got a chance to talk about triplets and double beats on the bass drum. Thanks for the good vibes.
Thanks Buddy, yeah I saw Lonnie Mack several tines, but Ron Grayson was gone and Lonnie always seemed to have different drummers. But Ron’s drumming on The Wham of that Memphis Man album is unbeatable.That was a helluva band. Wayne Bullock playing that Explorer bass .Thanks for your reply Buddy, to be able to hear these songs 50 years later especially the early ones from Audio Recording are a gas.Great musicianship and those vocals bring me right to the days seeing and hearing you and the guys. All the best to you..Chris Roberts
Hi Buddy ! Listening to The Charades again woke up so many Great memories. When you guys played at The Speakeasy in Willoughby my friends and I were there every Sunday. One memory that popped up was the time you guys cut a demo album. At the time I was also working part-time at the Speakeasy as a waiter. (That was a whole different experience) . You may not remember but I asked you if it was possible for to get a copy and you really surprised me and asked me if I had a way to copy it. When I said I did you gave me the address to your apartment in Willowick to pick it up. This many years later my copy has disappeared and became a distant memory. Finding this website has awoke that memory ! I got a huge surprise looking at your picture gallery. You posted a news paper clipping of an ad for the Speakeasy and in that ad it also says , The Generation Gap will be there Halloween night. I was the guitar player in that band ! Mike Harwood was our manager. Thank you for the trip down memory lane…John Ready
Buddy, I mailed you before, your awesomeness is already noted. Since I have lived in Stark county since 1977, do you remember a group down here similar to you guys called Jimmy and the Soul blazers?? They are still an active band, and they remind me so much of the Charades. Jimmy said he remembered you guys. Thanks for this site Buddy, I’m going to go play my Rickenbacker 325 now, bye.
Hey Chris, John and Bob,
Just listening to YOUR stories brings back even more memories for ME.
The Speakeasy was a great rock joint. Lotsa memories there.
And I used to love watching my favorite drummers and talking shop with them. Ron Grayson had an amazing bass drum foot, Jackie Cooper introduced me to playing BEHIND the beat, and Gene Marrotta told me how to tune my bass drum to get THAT SOUND. Whatta blast!