Admirals, The

The Admirals originally got their start as a rockabilly band at the Lutherville Teen Center. They eventually went on to become one of the most well-known Baltimore area bands. Formed in 1958 by Tom Berry (bass guitar), Craig Bradenbaugh (sax and guitar), Jay Stermer (piano), and original drummer George Stover, who was replaced early on with Ed Tajkowski (stage name Ed Blandis). The original singer was George Bell.

Craig Bradenbaugh recalls:
Tom and I were best friends in 1958, and were the very original members along with Jay. The rumor about the name being driven by the Commodores is partially true. Tom and I were walking along Seminary Avenue in Lutherville and decided to start a band. The Commodores made us think along the lines of military officers, but most of all we just liked the name ‘Admirals’. There was also a hotel in OC named the Admiral so also it may have had an influence on the name.

We had Jay [Stermer] on Piano, Leo Smith on Guitar, Tom on Bass, me on guitar, (learned the sax and sang because we needed it), George Stover on Drums (later replaced by Ed Blandis whom we met at a gig at the Legion hall on Reisterstown Road), Bob Chilcoat on sax (later left), and George Bell singer (who was later replaced by Wilber McClamb). We later added Ron Gompf and another guy named Ron on trumpets and Bernie Robier (who had played for Sy Zentner) on Trombone.

An April 1961 line-up featured the originating members Berry, Bradenbaugh, Stermer, and Tajkowski along with Ronnie Gompf (trumpet), Bob Chilcoat, and Leo Smith (rhythm guitar). In the early 1960s Bell was replaced with lead vocalist Will McLamb. The Admirals boasted a four-piece horn section (two trumpets, sax and trombone) that featured Peabody graduate Bernie Robier (ex-El Gatos).

Craig:
So there we were in our original hay-day: electric piano, guitar, bass, four horns and a singer. When I was still there (left in ’63) we were doing gigs at the Rhapsody, Hollywood Park (behind ‘Peaches,’ a guy named Sammy who appeared on Ed Sullivan Show, did the Limbo and sang), country clubs, and Beaver Springs on Sunday afternoons (where I met my wife). What a great history. I sold my sax a long time ago, have three guitars and still play for the neighbors, grandkids and anyone else who will listen. When with the Admirals, I sang most of the Elvis songs, some Louie Prima, Coasters, etc.; still do some of these. Tom & I used to do a Louie Prima/Keely Smith song where he wore the wig as Keely, great stuff.

With the ability to play a variety of R&B as well as rock and roll, they eventually graduated to the club circuit, playing at all the major Baltimore venues such as Hollywood Park in Essex, and Sperl’s as house band, as well as traveling to Ocean City where they continued as a very popular attraction for many years.

Tom Cook wrote to add information to the Admirals bio and his later experiences: “One of my best friends, Bruce Bremner lived across from ‘Jay’ Stermer and when he got into the Admirals he asked me if I wanted to try out and I went the Lutherville Church basement and then to the Berry house in Lutherville for rehearsals and on to playing teen centers around Towson for a while (1958) until a kid from Pikesville ‘out drummed’ me which was a good move on their part because I was more of a Jazz man who had sat in with many of the ‘old’ Jazz guys, mostly Rivers Chambers groups at dances and once with the Pier Street Five which made half a page in the Balt Sun. Jay would always berate me with “MORE BASS Cook”.
“I spent my summers in Cape May and joined up with great guys from South Philly, The Chip Bond Band, and played from Ocean City NJ, Wildwood and we had our own teen grotto in Cape May. After that went to UVA and got a chance to play with the traveling R&B bands (black) who played all over the South…what A KICK! and learned most of what I know… which now isn’t much but I still play. My son Tommy in CA went on to become an excellent R&R drummer and still plays.”
“One of my memories of the early Admirals was getting pennies thrown at us which bounced off my cymbals… a real thrill 🙁 “

The group was popular for their floor shows and variety shows, including big band sets and stump the band contests. When not performing in Baltimore, D.C., or touring the eastern seaboard from Nova Scotia to Puerto Rico, the Admirals called Ocean City Maryland their second home. They began performing summers at Ocean City clubs in 1959, often playing 20 or more weeks a year. O.C. club appearances included the Pier Ballroom, Hunka Munka’s (which later became known as the Electric Circus), Bobby Baker’s Carousel Hotel (in the late ‘60s, before it burned down), the Gazebo (later known as the Ganders), Ship’s Cafe, and into the ‘80s at the Fenwick Inn.

After the split up of Tommy Vann & the Professionals in 1971, the Admirals approached Tommy about fronting the band. He accepted, and went on to sing lead for them through 1976. After leaving the Admirals, Vann went on to a brief stint with Teddy Bell’s Trio and a shot at re-forming his earlier band the Professionals. Eventually Tommy decided to retire to his home in upstate New York, later returning to the Baltimore area where he hosted karaoke at local clubs.

The Admirals recruited vocalists Denny Twigg and Woody Woods (both ex-Trilogy). The vocal duo performed with the group circa 1976-77, before going off to reform Trilogy.

Through the ‘70s the Admirals appeared locally at Club Venus, Wishing Well, Golden 40 Inn, Bojangles Too, Flaming Pit…

Drummer Jere Stermer, Jay’s brother, sat in with the group numerous times throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s. Jere played Hollywood Park when the Admirals backed up the Platters for a two-week engagement. In 1963 Jere and Ed Blandis played dual drums for gigs at Salisbury State College and the Pier Ballroom in Ocean City. Additional members during the ‘70s included drummer Dennis Larkin (ex-Sheratons).

Singer / saxophonist Barbara Riehl (ex-Al Rossi & Joy) joined the Admirals in 1979 and fronted the group for 14 years. Members during the ‘80s included Mike Hodgeman (ex-Majestics, Elegants) sharing lead vocals with Barbara, Harry Johnson (guitar), Tom Thompson (bass), Bill Caron (drums), Carmen Strollo (drums ex-Second Coming), Tony Neenan (first trumpet), Joe ‘Buzz’ Conway (trumpet, flute), Mark Tiernan (keyboards), and Bernie Robier (trombone). Caron later moved to Las Vegas and was replaced with John Gleim (ex-Harbor City, Phoenix). Other members included guitarist Doug Lewis, and drummer Larry Kegley. Ray Lombardo was drummer for the Admirals from 1993- ‘00.

Bradenbaugh, who left the group in 1963, was a member of Denny & the Hitchhikers for about one year. Riehl and Lewis both later joined the Hubcaps in 1994. Klapka went on to play for the bands Inner Cyrkle, Spice, Comets (Bill Haley’s), Cruel Shoes, and Bobby & the Believers; Conway later with the Majestics.

The Admirals continued to perform a diverse mixture of rock, soul, big band standards, and even country music. There were many other members throughout the group history. One such was Steve Rosch (guitar) who played for the group in the ‘90s and later went on to The Janglebachs. A 2001 line-up included Bernie Robier (trombone), Ray Disney (trumpet), Joe Brieker (sax), Tommy Thompson (bass), Marty Fischer (drums).

Recordings by the Admirals include:

1967           Pulse 2075                    The Gentleman / Sawmill

1968           Soultrain 2079             I Can’t Turn You Loose / Wrong Love

1972           Lefta 6176                    Romeo and Juliet Love Story Medley / Joy to the World