Expressions, (Bill James &) The

North Baltimore soul band. According to drummer Jon Zemarel we “started when in early high school and played for 6 or 7 years. I formed the band along with Page Haacke and Jay Haacke.

“Members of the group were Jon Zemarel (drums), Page Haacke (sax), Jay Haacke (guitar), Frank Schwartz (trumpet), Doug Schroeder (trombone), Paul Schroeder (bass), and Bill James (singer), with John Cain (band assistant).

Jon adds that “we never had a full-time keyboard player, off and on with that. We played all Motown: Temptations, Four Tops, Miracles, and more… James Brown, Sam and Dave, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, etc. After a few years together, we decided to change the group name to Bill James and the Expressions.’

“We played CYO’s, fraternity’s, local clubs and dances, The Forum on Tuesday nights over at the Club Venus, colleges, graduation nights for some time on Saturdays at the downtown Holiday Inn for the new Army Officer’s graduating each week from Fort Meade.”

Page adds “a couple jobs I really remember besides upstairs and downstairs at the Club Venus were the Civic Center once (June 1968 Teen Fair Battle of the Bands), the Bluesette, the Eager House, colleges and frats at St. Mary’s College, Western Maryland College (Frock’s Sunny Brook Farm), and Johns Hopkins University.”
The Expressions also made appearances on the Ron Richman Show on WMET-TV. They performed frequently at the Zoo Club in Brooklyn, and Owings Mills Fire Hall teen dances sponsored by WCAO’s Allan Field.

Jon left band for a few months and as a result was not pictured in the only known photo of the group. Page says ” Like Ringo, Jon quit for a short period… probably because of a girl. The fill in guy’s name (I think) was Danny. We really missed Jon’s playing and energy and were really happy when he came back. He kept us tight.” Original member Frank Schwartz played trumpet for the group. He later went on to play guitar for many area bands including Uppinsmoke, Gabriel, Raintree County, Trigger Happy…