The Aristocrats were originally from the Philadelphia area. They toured up and down the entire east coast and performed regularly in the Baltimore / Washington area. The group was heavily influenced by the sounds of Bill Haley and was one of the first bands in the area to play the musical style that would become known as rock and roll. The original line-up featured Schaff (sax, vocals), Al Carmen (electric guitar), Frankie Mayo (electric bass), Bobby Boyd (piano), and Dave Black (drums). Carmen was later replaced with Don Farrell.
A 1956 single by Schaff and the Aristocrats “How Many Miles” b/w “Tombstone No. 9″ (King 45-4977) listed the band as Schaff, with John McLean (guitar), Lou Cavae (bass), Jerry Kay (piano), and Johnny Ogden (drums).
The Aristocrats were seen locally at Mimmie Lorenzo’s New Surf Musical Bar, the Spa Club, Carousel, and at D.C.’s Blue Mirror in the early ‘50s.
Murray left the group around 1960 and the band continued to be seen at clubs such as the Shamrock Inn (‘62), the Keystone (‘64), and the Green Dolphin (‘64).
Schaff and the group released a record on Baltimore’s Sunny label:
195* Sunny 100 Little Devil / Love Ya’
