The Ardvarks were a teen band formed by students at Clarksville Jr. High and later attended Atholton High School. The original members were Marc Lane, Gary Goggin, Carl Salas (sax), Charles ‘Bub’ Whitaker, and Greg Hawkes (guitar -see bio). In 1965, they entered the Howard County Amateur Talent Show at Rockland School – winning third place in the competition. They continued as a very popular band at teen centers and school dances throughout Howard County.
In May 1966 the band won the battle of the bands at the Service Club in Fort Meade. They appeared on several occasions at the Last Straw Teen Center, also the Columbia Teen Club in Atholton.
The band split up in 1967. Whitaker joined the Eppics. Salas joined the Barons, and later the Chelseas. Goggin joined a psychedelic band called the Triadelphia City Electric Orchestra.
Guitarist Greg Hawkes was a member of an Atholton High School jazz/rock ensemble called Teeth. He eventually traveled to Boston where he continued his musical education. After playing keyboards in several bands in the Boston area he became a member of a group that went on to become popular Elektra recording group the Cars.
