A D.C. group formed in 1964 as a British invasion group originally called the Intruders. In 1965 they were known as the English Setters and appeared at many teen dances throughout the Montgomery, PG, and Howard County areas. They competed in a talent show at Baltimore’s 5th Regiment Armory earning a chance to travel to New York for a recording session.
Members were Punky Meadows (lead guitar), Chris Grimes (rhythm guitar), Doug Grimes (vocal), Larry Gray (bass), and Dave Alves (drums).
Early in 1967 Gray was replaced with Pick Kelly on bass. The teen group changed their name to The Cherry People and embarked on another summer trip to New York where they opened for Jimi Hendrix and earned a recording contract with the newly formed Heritage label. Alves soon left the band and was replaced with Rocky Isaac (ex-Fallen Angels). Pick Kelly also moved on being replaced with Jan Zukowski (ex-Nobody’s Children). With this new line-up the band recorded their self-titled album on Heritage and embarked on a national tour. After many cities crisscrossing the country the group became increasingly frustrated with their national management and their record company’s attempt at presenting them as a bubble gum group. They returned to the D.C. area and worked as house band at clubs such as the Silver Dollar, the Keg, Bastille, Bogey’s, and the Bayou. In Baltimore they played Hollywood Park, and a weekly gig at the Club Villa.
The group went through a number of personnel changes around 1972 and finally split up.
Shortly thereafter Grimes brothers Chris and Doug assembled a new version of the group keeping the same name. New members included T.C. Tolliver (drums), Chris Noe (guitar), and Pick Kelly rejoining them on bass. The group played locally and underwent many personnel changes throughout the last couple of years until folding in 1975. Guitarist Wayne Tomlinson joined briefly in ‘73. He later went on to several bands including Root Boy Slim, and Junior Cline & the Recliners. Wayne was replaced with Rick Benick. Other members included Andre Sokol (bass), Barry Brandt (drums), Mike Zack (drums ex-Lawrence & the Arabians, The British Walkers, Puzzle, Sun Country), and Steve Riley (drums). In the mid-’70s the group morphed into the Grimes Brothers who continued to play hard rock throughout the D.C. club circuit.
Benick went on to tour with Mitch Ryder, and later with Henry Lee Summer in the ‘80s. Zukowski had left the band and joined the Nighthawks in 1974. Meadows and Brandt went on to form Foxie, which later became the nationally successful rock group Angel. Riley joined W.A.S.P., and the L.A. Guns. Mike Zack played in the Nils Lofgren band. Tomlison later with Fast Eddie in ‘80s.
The Cherry People released several singles along with an album on the Heritage label. Their song “And Suddenly” reached the national charts.
Singles by the Cherry People:
1968 Heritage 801 And Suddenly / Imagination
1968 Heritage 807 Gotta Get Back (To the Good Life) / I’m The One Who Loves You
1969 Heritage 810 Feelings
1969 Heritage 815 Light of Love / On to Something New
1972 Hot Cotton 2 Sea and Me / Come on Over
Album by the Cherry People:
1968 Heritage 35,000 The Cherry People
