R&B and rock Top-40 club band which featured musicians from many of Baltimore’s top bands. Members included Leo Smith (guitar ex-Admirals, GTO’s, Fugitive 6), Bob Ross (keyboards ex-Lafayettes, Fantasticks), Bob Baum (bass ex-Prime Movers), Ted Brittingham (sax ex-Neu-Velles), Keith Vinroe (sax, trumpet ex-New Apocalypse), Brent (trombone), Sonny Lurch (drums ex-Verdicts), and lead vocalists included Jim Kelly (ex-Stratfords).
Smith was replaced with Mike Gallaher (ex-Crown of Creation, Jabez Stone, Kingdom) – who later joined local band Trilogy and went on to work with Tommy Roe, and was in turn replaced with Ralph Reinoldi. Baum was replaced with bassist Mike Mathias (ex-Radicals). Mathias went on to play keyboards with Trilogy and was replaced with Harry DeBusk. Mark O’Connor (keyboards -OHO) replaced Bob Ross after his untimely death in 1976. Later that year O’Connor left to joined a re-formed OHO and was replaced with Jimmy Shiplett, then Larry Hoffmeister (ex-Tamerlane, Cyprus). Kelly was later replaced with Sally Rouch. Lurch went on to play with Krackerjax and was replaced with Billy Lipman.
A New Day could be heard at the Act III, Club Brandy in Elkridge, Hollywood Palace, Patapsco Inn, Sarano’s, and as a frequent guest at the Frigate on Ritchie Highway. In addition to clubs, they played many bull roasts, fire halls, etc…
Brittingham left the group and joined Rock Island Express. Reinoldi went on to play with country-rock band Mason Dixon in late seventies, then in the ’80s to the rock band Murphy’s Law that evolved into the rock band Shooter. He later joined the Top-40 band Horizon, and then played briefly with the Lost Incas. In the ‘90s-00s Baum and Reinoldi played for the Irish pop band O’Malley’s March. Shiplett also played for Arch Angel, Blue Meanies… DeBusk later with Secrets, Hay for The Donkey… Rouch later with Brandy… Lipman later with The Heyokas…
After touring for several years, Gallaher settled in Atlanta, then on to Las Vegas where he worked with local bands. He later moved to Dallas where he continued to develop a reputation as a highly respected guitarist. He was once voted ’best jazz improvisationalist’ by the Dallas Observer and has been compared to the likes of guitar greats Johnny Winter and Eric Johnson. Gallaher has toured and recorded with many jazz and rock artists including a 1999-00 tour as lead guitarist for Joe Cocker. He released a solo instrumental CD in 2001 on Leon Russell Records titled “Blue Paradise” featuring studio work by Dennis Chambers (drums) and Victor Wooten (bass).
