Rock and roll band from Cliffside Park, NJ. The Corvairs played the Carousel club appearing with Chris Fiorita and Lou Voir. In 1962 Billy Martin and his New Corvairs were playing as the house band at Sweeney’s on Greenmount Avenue where they worked several extended engagements. The group included saxophonist Bill Fechtmuller (stage name was Bill Miller).
Above left: Billy Martin circa 1961. Above right: The Corvairs circa 1961
Billy Martin & the Corvairs recorded a single titled “Sweeney’s Twist” on the local Monitor label which was published by WITH’s Jack Gale and his Jalo Music. According to Bill Miller (Jr) “the Corvairs were a Bergen County, NJ based band that played the Jersey Shore juke joints every weekend. I remember that it was a big deal in our house when dad was far away playing at Sweeney’s. Not hard to see where the Baltimore connection came from. By the way if you listen to “Sweeney’s Twist” one line goes “well they got a little Millie and she’s mighty pretty, twistin’ on down at that Ocean City,” that Millie is my mom, Mildred. (Miller) was also in a group for a short while with someone named Bobby Blue, along with Frank Vincent and Joe Pesci. Vincent and Pesci went on to become successful actors. Apparently, they met in Northern NJ and played the Transfer Station in Jersey City.”
Martin and his group continued returning to Baltimore to perform as regulars at Sweeney’s through 1963.
Record releases by Billy Martin & the Corvairs:
1960 Lucky 0009 If It’s Lovin’ That You Want
1962 Tribute 115 Come On
1962 Monitor 1402 Sweeney’s Twist / I Found My Baby
