Group originated in Wheaton, MD, and went on to become a nationally popular touring show band.
The roots of the group started in 1965 as the D.C. Magnetones. Members were Joe Saitta (vocals), Don Halcombe (vocals), Billy Vabolis (vocals), Butch Boswell (vocals), Hunter Phillips, Ronnie Covell (drums), and Tommy Distal (sax). The Magnetones played all the local CYO’s, fire halls, and a few bars on M Street. The D.C. Magnetones released a single that has become quite collectible “Does She Love Me” b/w “Not Room for Two” (D.C. Magnetone 216).
By the late ‘60s Halcombe went to Korea and was replaced with Charlie Taylor. Saitta went to Viet Nam where he was wounded and received a Purple Heart and a Silver Star as a medic. When Saitta returned to D.C. the Magnetones had transformed to the Nowheremen, a twelve-piece blue-eyed soul group with horns. By this time Halcombe had also returned from Korea and the group sported a vocal trio of Saitta, with Halcombe and Vabolis, the group was managed by the Barry Rick Agency and performed various venues, colleges, etc. including opening for Three Dog Night.
Again the singers split from this band and formed the Second Coming Band, a name taken from their monicker “2nd Coming of the Whaling Crew” named because of their great vocal harmonies. Ultimately their fans simply called them The 2nd Coming, and the name stuck. The group played many night clubs in D.C., clubs on Wisconsin Avenue, Rath Skeller, Ocean City (The Hurricane…).
By 1969 the group consisted of Taylor (vocals), Halcombe, Mike ‘Pineapple’ Saragumba (keyboards), Mike Pirko (guitar) replaced with Dave Fultz (guitar ex-Dryed Ice), Tommy Rodante (bass), and Tommy Wright (drums), with Saitta sitting in. After Halcombe left Saitta came back full time. They worked extensively in the D.C. area including a stint as successor to The Eye as house band at The Montage on M Street. The group worked summers at Ocean City and continually developed their floor shows along the way.
In the ‘70s 2nd Coming went with the Starleigh agency in Baltimore and performed regularly at all the Starleigh venues including the Hollywood Palace, Club Venus, Mr. Pipps… The group toured nationally from Canada to New Orleans as one of the country’s top touring show bands.
Additional members through the ‘70s included April Howatt (vocals), Billy Caron (drums -Admirals)… Caron was replaced with Carmen Strollo… They could be seen at many local clubs including the Nashville Scene, Golden 40 Inn, Bojangle’s, Pecora’s, Northwood Lounge, Hurricanes in Ocean City…
2nd Coming recorded the song “Special” that was a TV theme for the Coca-Cola sponsored National Special Olympics, running for three years 1977-78-79.
A 1980 lineup included long-time members Saitta (vocals), and Taylor (vocals), with Rick Davis (vocals ex-Friends of the Family), George Bold (guitar), Dave Kunkel (bass), Tom Dildy (keyboards –Carry On…), and Carmen Strollo (drums ex-Brass Menagerie, Fantasy).
Photos from 1981: Hendrix act, Carmen on drums – Photos courtesy of Carmen Strollo
Their 1983 indie album release featured Saitta, Taylor, Bold, Kunkel, Strollo, and Kurt Gibbons (keyboards)
Other members of the ‘80s-00s included Jay Williamson (keyboards –Fancy Pants, Jeffrey…), Larry Kidwell (keyboards –Lawrence & the Arabians…), Gantt Kushner (guitar –North Star Band…), Allen Kunkel (sax, keys), Jay Hudgins (drums, vocals), Harry Lee Scott (keys), Chip Newton (guitar)…
Taylor and Saitta also owned the 2nd Coming night club where the group played along with many other D.C. and Baltimore bands. 2nd Coming’s last performance was New Years Eve 2005 at the Clarion Hotel in Ocean City.
Taylor continued performing in Annapolis area, seen at Adams Rib in duo with Kurt Gibbons. Saitta later played in a three-piece group based in Northern Virginia. Pineapple went on to Las Vegas where he played at the Excaliber. Strollo went on to join the Admirals. Davis, Bold, and Allan Kunkel later with Fancy Pants… Newton later with Danny Dolan & First Class… Dildy was later with the Hubcaps. Howatt (who also sang with Rock Island Express, The Fringe, Tiffany) continued to perform in the ‘00s with the group Bottom’s Up.
1980(LP) Under the Sun
