Folk group formed in 1966 by Danny O’Neal (guitar, vocals) and his two sisters Karen O’Neal and Mary O’Neal who both provided vocals. They named themselves after the Baltimore County Villa Nova neighborhood. Soon after forming they added Don Coburn (guitar, vocals) and the quartet concentrated on multipart vocal harmonies. In 1967 the line-up also included vocalists Jean Hanson and Shelley Kune.
In 1968 Danny left the group. Mark Janney (guitar, vocals) and Bob Sellers (standup bass, guitar, vocals) joined the group.
The group played frequently at various colleges, high schools, coffeehouses and private events. They were regular performers at Patches & Liz’s 15 Below Coffeehouse in Timonium, Ordell Braase’s Flaming Pit restaurant and also seen at Oxymandian Ruins Coffee House.
The Villa Novas made some recordings at the Bray Recording Studio but nothing was ever released.
By 1970 marriage, jobs and college had separated the members and the group split up. Coburn and Sellers continued to perform the folk circuit as a duo. Sellers went on to join the bands Opelika (with Karen O’Neal), and the Jim Sellers Band.
