Formed in 1969 to be the house band at the Seagull Inn, As You Like It consisted of former members of the Emeralds. The Top-40 group featured lead vocalist Sammy Smith (ex-Playmates) – who later joined Lemon Lime and was replaced with Dawn Winkler, Wayne Jones (guitar ex-Galaxies, Notables), Skip Harris (bass ex-Peppermint Rainbow) – later replaced with George ‘Doc’ Dochterman (ex-And the Echoes), Richard Winkler (sax ex-Galaxies, Emeralds), Eddie O’Hare (trombone ex-Tempests), Mike Castor (trumpet), Tim Wilson (organ), Robbie Dlugokeski (drums ex-Chevelles). Wilson went on to join Coyote and was replaced with Joe Ercole (organ).
The group specialized in covers of horn band sounds including Chicago (they could perform the entire Chicago II album), Blood Sweat & Tears, Sly & the Family Stone… They went on to become the Club Venus house band, sometimes sharing double bills with Crackerjacks, the newly formed Paper Cup, and others.
After the group split Jones formed a trio called The Three of Us, he later joined Bob Brady’s Rise, and was a founding member of Memory Lane. Dlugokeski went on to play for Blessed. Harris later joined the New Diablos. O’Hare played for the Army Band. Dawn also went on to front the New Diablos, Paper Cup… Dochterman joined Raintree. Richard Winkler continued to perform sax with local groups including Gene Vincent & His Cadillac Cruisers.
