Woodlawn area Top-40 band. Members included Bob McClafferty (guitar) later replaced with Sid Weaver (guitar), Tom Roach (bass) later replaced with Jim Groszer (bass ex-Playmates), Bob Groszer (keyboards), and Jerry MacNeish (drums ex-High Tyde, Playmates). (Jimmy and Bobby both formerly of the Groszer Brothers Band, Cobblestone). The brass section included Bob Bischoff (sax ex-Neuvelles), Greg Politis (trumpet), Ken Jackson (trombone ex-Keith Lamotte Band), and Bill Cornell (trumpet, keyboards ex-Del Prixs).
In November 1973 McClafferty, Roach, Cornell, and Jackson split off to form April Sky.
Bobby left to join Felix and was replaced with Joe Seitz (ex-Friends, Band of Gold). Jimmy Groszer also moved on (joining Fragile) and was replaced with bassist Craig Weaver. The group featured numerous lead vocalists over the years including Bill Harris, Mike Myers (ex-Promo), Greg Dock, Greg Therres (ex-Dr. Feelgood), Lou Preston, Mike Franczkowski (ex-Hyde Park), and Ray Hentz (ex-Band with No Name). Danny Lough (guitar ex-The Core) later with Kaos, Mary Lou & Untouchables… Andy Armetta (drums ex-The Foundation) went on to Fashion… Randy Lotz (keyboards) later with New Diablos, Apricot Brandy… Craig Weaver later with Kotton…
vocals Bill Harris, bass Tom Roach, guitar Bob McClafferty.
Saxophonist Ray Sydnor wrote to identify the above uncaptioned photo taken from a 1973 Baltimore Polytechnic Institute yearbook. Ray notes that he joined a re-formed version of the group later that year and the name was changed to April Sky. Thanks, Ray, for the update.
Beginnings performed at the Latin Casino, Golden 40 Inn, house band at Patapsco Inn, also appeared at the Eastwind along with Summer’s Misfits as part of the Super Rock Sunday concert series in 1974.
Beginnings continued into the 1980s with various members.
Jerry moved to Clovis, New Mexico in the mid-’80s where he worked at Norman Petty’s studios and released some excellent surf instrumental records (see bio). Bob Groszer eventually went on to play keyboards with Sly & the Family Stone and KC & the Sunshine Band and he continued in the ‘00s as a successful writer / producer in Florida.
