Lutherville / Towson based rock band. Members included Mel Minter (lead vocals), Pete Wilkin (lead guitar), Steve Ziegfeld (rhythm guitar), Bernie Dembeck (bass), Ralph Berry (keyboards), and Tom Robinson (drums). Mel was later replaced with Jerry Gibbs, who was in turn replaced with Gary Griffiths (ex-Moosical Migraine), and Tom was replaced with drummer Dale Trusheim (ex-Escorts).
The Chapparels were the original Bluesette house band. In November 1966 they competed in a battle of the bands vs. Severna Park’s Chaparals at the Glen Burnie Armory hosted by WCAO’s Allan Field. A late 1967 line-up featured Wilkin, Berry, Ziegfeld (moved to bass), Trusheim, and rhythm guitarist Drew Finn (ex-Escorts).
The group performed the teen center circuit including Pot Springs T.C., and a performance at the Overlea High School Spring Fling Concert on April 22, 1966 with the Chadwicks and the Midnight Walkers. The group played at the Teen Fair Battle of the Bands in 1968 at the Civic Center and made an appearance on TV’s Kerby Scott Show.
Wilkin, Gibbs and Finn went on to form Procreation. Gibbs was later with The Risk. Finn with Nightingale. Trusheim later with Libra… Ziegfeld continued to perform music in the ‘00s with the Lost Hiway band.
