The Huns played rock and R&B throughout the teen center and school dance circuit. The group originated in the Armistead Gardens area and was known as Timmy & the Huns. They could be seen at teen dances including the Berkshire Teen Center, Our Lady of Fatima CYO, and St. Ursula’s CYO where they were known for their “walking soul line dances.” The group won a battle of the bands at the Belair Road Assembly Hall in March 1967. On July 8, 1967 they were featured on the Kerby Scott Show.
Used with permission from Alvin Y. Shapiro
Also known as the Huns Revue, with their Chicago sound, they teamed up with the Soul Brothers and the Hunettes go-go dancers, fronted by ‘The Soul Brothers’ vocalists Charles ‘Snookie’ Patterson and Nathaniel ‘Butchie’ Rice. The group included Roger Horne (lead guitar), Leonard Buerhaus (rhythm), Stuart Evry (bass), Steven Brown (drums), Carl Conn (trombone), Terrance Hanlon (trumpet), and Ron Mellman (sax). The group was managed by David Evry.
Nightclub gigs included performances at the Club Venus and a regular Monday night slot at the Latin Casino.
Huns Revue – Sorro Records promo photos courtesy of Jean Liverman
The Huns recorded at Virtue Studios in Philadelphia and released the single “Danger Zone” b/w “Don’t Make Me Love You” on Sorro Records out of Allentown, PA.
Later members included Doug Purviance (trombone), Eyre McKendrick (keyboards), Bob Matarozza (guitar ex-Shawn & the Lads), and the last two Soul Brothers ‘Bubba,’ and Dwight Weems.
Additionally, they recorded original songs written by Matarozza-Thompson “Don’t Laugh,” and “Me, Mr. Sun” at Bradley Studios.
In 1970 the group began to split. Hanlon and Bubba left the group and weren’t replaced. By 1971 after it seemed the Bradley recordings weren’t destined for release McKenrick made the decision to attend college in New York. Purviance, Matarozza and Weems later formed Gazze while other members of the group continued on for a short while as the Huns. Conn was later with Falstaff.
The Huns Review performed at the Our Lady of Fatima Spring Carnival in May ‘71, and in ‘72 they were the first band hired to perform at the newly opened Harborplace. Purviance went on to record several albums with the Stan Kenton Orchestra. In New York he joined the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra and played bass trombone for the long running Broadway musical “Cats.” He has appeared as studio musician on many recordings and has worked as an instructor.
196* Sorro 967 Danger Zone / Don’t Make Me Love You
