Born in Sinks Grove, West Virginia, Charles Richard ‘Bub’ Deskin’s family moved to Baltimore when he was very young. Bub picked up the guitar as a youngster and eventually with his brother, also a guitarist, played teen centers, school events, and even played with bluegrass groups in local bars. By his teens he was a member of local band The Serpents, then stints with The New Diablos, and Wanted.
By 1974 as an accomplished singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (guitarist, bass, banjo, keyboards) solo artists and soft pop music were increasingly popular, so he decided to embark on a solo career performing popular pop and folk songs along with his original songs. Venues where he performed included The Woodshed Lounge.
Also in 1974 he released his first single “My Heart Died a Million Times” b/w “Let Your Brother Live as Free” on his own Glen label – named after his oldest son. Al Cunniff, producer of the single for Bub’s previous band Wanted, produced the single as well as other singles later in Bub’s career.
Bub later went on to join bands Just Us, Side Show, Kotton, Michael Penn group… and performed with Zim Zemarel’s bands from 1975 through the mid-’80s.
In the early 1980s Deskin worked in Nashville on sessions with country artist Terri Gibbs and other artists. He co-wrote with David Astri the song “I Don’t Need to Know Right Now” which was a country hit and album title for Johnny Paycheck. A solo 1982 release on the Nashville’s Southern Star 052082 “Blue Monday” b/w “With Your Love” was produced by Cunniff and later that year re-released on another Nashville label Grand Prize 5201. The single received a “pick” in Billboard magazine.
Bub collaborated with songwriter / producer Jeff Pivec on the baseball novelty record “Wild Bill’s Fight Song” b/w “The Tale of Wild Bill” (Fanfare 802-01). The single featured live recordings from Memorial Stadium in a tribute to Orioles baseball self-appointed cheer leader Wild Bill Hagey.
In 1983 Bub sang lead vocals on the single “Preakness” by the Charm City Orchestra which was basically Zim Zemarel’s band. The big band sound recording was released on Harp 15341.
The band Rio (‘83-88) featured Bub with his sons Glen and Chris. Both sons went on to join Cornerstone. Glen continued to carry on the family tradition in the ‘00s performing in a Jimmy Buffet cover band and more recently with the New Monopoly (no relation to the ‘70s-80s band).
Bub released a solo Christmas CD in 1999 titled “My Favorite Christmas Songs.” All proceeds from the album of the traditional songs are donated to the St. Francis DeSalles Youth Center.
1974 Glen 1 My Heart Died a Million Times / Let Your Brother Live as Free
1981 Fanfare 802-01 Wild Bill’s Fight Song / The Tale of Wild Bill
1982 Southern Star 052082 Blue Monday / With Your Love
1982 Grand Prize 5201 Blue Monday / With Your Love
1999(CD) My Favorite Christmas Songs
With the Charm City Orchestra:
1983 Harp 15341 Preakness / (same)
