Eric & the Wall of Sound was formed in 1963 by classmates at Herring Run Junior High School in order to perform at a school talent show. The original group consisted of (Lou) Eric Hammond (vocals), Albert ‘Chuck’ Huber (lead guitar), Carl Frock (rhythm guitar), Bill ‘Butch’ Hensel (bass guitar, band manager), and Ron ‘Froggy’ Gershive (drums). The group played the song “House of the Rising Sun” for the talent show. From there they went on to play teen centers, CYO’s, Mt. Washington Youth Club dances, and other teen events. During the summers Eric & the Wall of Sound played at the Twin Willow Swim Club where Lou Hammond’s father was on the board of directors.
By 1965 the group began going through some personnel changes. Froggy left and was replaced for a few months by Jerry (?) and then by Ronnie Carroll on drums. In 1966 the group added keyboard player John Bianconi. Frock left the group in 1967 and was replaced with John Smith aka ‘Smitty’ from Overlea High School.
In 1968 Ronnie Carroll was climbing a tree behind John Bianconi’s house in Rosedale when he fell and broke his back. The timing was bad because the group had an appearance scheduled on Kerby Scott’s television show in two weeks. Luckily Norb Bertling, the drummer from the Rockin’ Airs, lived in their Gardenville neighborhood. He practiced with the group three times and the Wall of Sound was able to make their television appearance.
After the Kerby Scott Show, Dennis Balog replaced Bianconi on keyboard. Later in 1968 the band changed its name to the Sand Pebbles
Carroll later played in the Kinde.
