Formed in the summer of 1971 by former members of And the Echoes, the Concords, Carnegie Attitude, and Legend. The group of talented musicians initially played for their own enjoyment and that of other musician friends. They performed covers of album cuts by groups with extensive vocal harmonies such as CSN&Y, Yes, along with their favorite cuts by groups such as Jethro Tull and other non-mainstream rock groups.
Members included Walt Anderson (guitar ex-And the Echoes), John Glorioso (bass), Gene Bracken (keyboards ex-Rivieras, Legend), Wilkie Zeuch (drums), and Bob Grant (lead vocals ex-Carnegie Attitude).
Hollywood Park manager Dave Hutchinson heard the group and offered them the opportunity to become house band at his new club on Belair Road called the Single Source. Dave also requested that the band alter their playlist for the new club to include less obscure music with more Top-40 and hard driving oldies. With their new repertoire Abilene Road House became the full-time house band.
In 1972 the band signed with the Barry Rick Agency out of D.C., changed their name to the Road House Revue and took their rock and roll show on tour nationally, traveling to places such The Coral Gables Point After in Grand Rapids MI, the Ramada Inn in Charlottesville VA (where they opened for the Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose), Cape Cod and other cities, the Northwood Lounge in Salisbury MD, The Loft in Waldorf MD… The Roadhouse Revue played locally at the Golden 40 Inn, the Lighthouse, Keystone Inn. Also seen frequently on Wednesdays and Saturday nights at Mr. Bojangles. The group added a second lead vocalist Steve Nuskajian whom they had met in early 1973 while performing in Orlando, Florida. Bob Grant left in late ‘73 and vocalist Mike Jones (ex-Elegants, Admirals) was added. George ‘Doc’ Dochterman (ex-Echoes, Raintree, Lurch, Brass Rail) also shared lead vocals with Jones for a brief period in the mid-’70s until the addition of second lead vocalist Marty Thompson (ex-U.S. Male). Bracken left the group in late ‘75 and was replaced with Bill Manning. Jones later left the group and Thompson remained as main lead vocalist.
Bracken later played for the bands Rhythm Method, Majic, Sentries, Charmed Times Reunion Band… Dochterman went on to join the Greg Arnold band. Glorioso went on to join Krackerjax. Thompson joined Harbor City…
