Formed around 1953 in East Baltimore. The original line-up included James Gilyard (bass), Gene Hawkins (guitar ex-Magic-Tones), Dave Saunders (sax), Celestine Austin (lead vocals).
The Shyndel’s Band featured a continuous transformation of members over the years. Drummers who played in the band at one time or another included Chester Thompson, Percy Smith, Dennis Chambers… Vocalists included El Jay (Sonny Daye), Kenny Hamber, Winfield Parker… Leader James Gilyard (bass guitar), also known as J.G., took pride in the fact that the group always consisted of talented musicians who could all read music. As a result, they opened for – or backed – many big-name artists locally and on tours throughout the country. Hawkins, Saunders, and Smith, along with bassist Dave Robinson at one point were the backing band for Bill Kenny’s Ink Spots (an off-shoot of the original Ink Spots).
In the ‘60s the group doubled as Rufus Mitchell’s Ru-Jac Records show band. They performed the backing music for many of the label’s record releases. The group played the larger halls including the Lyric Theater, Civic Center, Carr’s Beach. With vocalist Winfield Parker the group performed a show at the Civic Center with the Temptations and Lou Rawls. Groups and performers that the Shyndel’s backed (or opened for) reads like a who’s who of R&B music of the era… artists include Moms Mabley and Redd Foxx Shows, Gladys Knight & the Pips (at the Black Jack Club), Fantastic Four, Percy Sledge, James & Bobby Purify, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, Contours with Dennis Edwards, Mad Lads, Walter Jackson, Barbara Mason, Baby Washington, and many others. Locally the group also played the Rally Club, the Sierra Club (now known as Cancun Cantina)…
Hamber, and later Parker, both moved on to Philadelphia where they both gained notoriety as talented soul singers and recording artists. Around 1969-70 Hamber and Gilyard formed the J.G. Hitchhikers which also featured vocalist Kitty Karl.
Gilyard and his band continued to back Hamber in the ‘00s.
