Vocalist Betty Rauch developed a love of singing as a pre-teen. She performed on the Bailey Goss TV show and won talent contests at local venues including the Surf Club when she was still a minor. Taking the professional name Betty Beaumont, she subsequently made guest vocal appearances with many local groups. During the mid-50s Betty sang at the Roland Inn on Route 40 Catonsville.
Betty and her husband purchased the Pine Ridge Inn in 1958. Over the years the Inn featured live music and Betty made many guest vocal appearances with groups including Gene Franklin’s Pier 5 Dixie Band. They eventually sold the Pine Ridge Inn in 1973.
By the late ‘60s Betty and her son Bobby Rauch were singing as a duo at the Lauraville House. As a guitarist Bobby went on to form the groups Jeopardy, Double Jeopardy, Showdown, and also played in the Manhattan Project. Of course, Betty sang as a guest with all of these groups. She also took the opportunity to sing with New Censations, Mel Seebode’s group at the Greenspring Inn, pianist Paul Mangione (when they owned the Corner Stable in the early ‘80s)… Bobby jokingly refers to mom as “The Queen of guest appearances in Baltimore!”
During the early ‘70s Betty sang regularly for the Millersville area country group Jerry Frye & the Quadrasonics. The group played a special show for then Mayor Donald Schaeffer.
In 1974 the new country radio station WPOC conducted a search for local talent. Betty auditioned and won a trip to Nashville. She was given two songs to sing in the studio. Backed by a studio band the songs were recorded. With financial help from her family, she released her first single “I Ain’t Loved You This Much” b/w “I’m Gonna Sing a Happy Song” (Caprice Records). The single received airplay on WPOC. In 1975 she released a second single “You’re Not Gonna Hurt Me Anymore” b/w “His Kind of Woman.” Backed by Joey Welz & the Time Machine, the cuts were engineered by Steve Boone at Blue Seas Studios.
Betty and her family moved to Florida in the ‘80s where she and Bobby developed a successful karaoke business. They continue to keep a home in Baltimore where they make occasional visits.
1974 Caprice 2021 I Ain’t Loved You This Much / I’m Gonna Sing a Happy Song
1975 Stable 666-01 You’re Not Gonna Hurt Me Anymore / His Kind of Woman
