Dodds moved from Westchester, PA. to D.C. in 1973 to attend Catholic University and later George Washington University. While in school she began performing local clubs as a solo singer / guitarist. Seen at Harold’s Rogue in D.C. She also worked as duo with Sam Morgan, a member of the band Hickory Wind.
In 1974 she joined the local folk rock group Meretrix and performed with them for about a year (Meretrix drummer Barry Holober later joined the Hubcaps). Dodds formed her own band in 1975 with David Earl (guitar ex-Rodney’s Glory), Mark Evanko (bass ex-Rodney’s Glory), and Juan Dudley (drums). Bob Spates later joined on fiddle. The group played original country / folk music. They were seen at the Kennedy Center and the Cellar Door in D.C. The group was managed by Cellar Door Productions and opened for many big names including Livingston Taylor, Randy Newman, Don McLean…
In the mid-’70s Dodds toured as a duo with guitarist Gene Dawson. Also played locally with band consisting of Evanko, Michael Taylor (lead guitar), Steve Fordham (keyboards), and Stanley Hall (drums).
Joanne Dodds & the Pits circa 1976 featured Mark Greenhouse (guitar), Hank Morris, Bernie Smith, and Zack Drake.
Beginning to tire of the country music scene, Joanne found a new band in 1978 to play rock, rock-jazz, and progressive music. She joined forces with the Baltimore group Gyro with Johnny Mohn (guitar), Frank Grande (keyboards), and Joe Lee (drums). Initially, to the disappointment of their established base of country music fans, the new group and their new sound quickly developed a loyal following. They were seen at the Marble Bar, The Phoenix, Ellicott City Fest (July ‘78), O’Brien’s and Italian Gardens in College Park, Toni’s Dream in Reisterstown, Delaney Inn, Jo’s Organic Bar, No Fish Today in Fells Point, the annual Hopkins Fair…
Page from Joanne Dodds Band press kit
Mohn was eventually replaced with Bob Hicks (guitar ex-Free Flight), and keyboardist Steve Fordham replaced Grande.
The group worked at Sheffield Studios with Bill Mueller for his Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) engineering classes where they were the subjects of many recordings. They performed at Painter’s Mill with Bill Bruford, opened for Seals & Crofts at Merriweather… Also seen at Manor Tavern, Psychedelly in Bethesda, and all throughout the mid-Atlantic region.
In 1979 the group signed with Marc Gordon Productions in L.A., and Dodds was voted Top Female Vocalist in the Unicorn Times Readers Poll.
In the mid-‘80s Dodds dropped out of the music scene to concentrate on raising her family, later returning in the ‘00s to do voiceover and studio work.
Evanko later went on to join Beyond Words, and Love Riot… Hall later with 5th Avenue Band, Michael Hedges, Charlie Don’t Surf… Grande went on to Bootcamp, bONEhEAD…)
