R&B group from Essex / Middle River / Highlandtown area formed in 1959. Original members included Terry ‘Bunn’ Honeycutt (guitar, vocals), George ‘Doc’ Dochterman (bass), John Piluk (sax, vocals), and Ron Alder (drums). Alder was later replaced with Dave Kane. Honeycutt joined the Navy and was replaced with Walt Anderson. Around that time the group added Jerry Kaminski (keyboards), and Charlie Anastasia (vocals). Eventually Chuck Klapka (sax) and Bernie Robier (trombone) were added. Other members included Joe Primavera (tenor sax), and Walt Caldwell (drums).
In 1961 an Essex police officer / business owner John ‘Smitty’ Smith became the group’s manager. The El Gatos played teen centers, CYO’s, social clubs, etc. The group was one of the finalists of the Buddy Deane Battle of the Bands. In 1962 the group performed a special show to honor the arrival of the Baltimore Colts football team, who were accompanied by Steve Allen. Allen obliged the group by playing a song on Kaminski’s piano and the El Gatos backed him.
The group disbanded in 1962. Dochterman formed Doc & the Medics bringing Anderson, Kane, Primavera, and Piluk into his new group. Klapka went on to join the Casuals, Admirals, Inner Cyrkle… Anderson, Dochterman and Caldwell would later become members of Tommy Vann’s Echoes. Kaminski and Primavera were later with Rockin’ Airs, Wee Three, and Charm City Band…
