Rock band out of Howard High School formerly known as Misty Harbor. Their original name “Charon’s Boat” came from a suggestion by friend Tom Kerchner about a boat which crossed the Styx River in Greek mythology. However, no one was sure how to pronounce “Charon” and the name became shortened to “The Boat.”
Members of the group were Jimmy Neeson (guitar), Bill Stahly (drums ex-Vikings), Jimmy Baker (bass), Doug Lynner (guitar, then later switching to keyboards), Rex Allen (guitar). In mid-1969 Allen was replaced with Creston ‘Mickey’ Gaither (guitar ex-Getches).
The Boat frequented the Columbia Teen Center. They played at several local battles of the bands and also appeared at the Civic Center Teen Fair in June 1968. Bands were required to register well in advance of the Teen Fair. When the day came the group did not have transportation to the show as none of them had their driver’s license yet. A friend of the band “borrowed” a car from his parents who happened to be out of town. While running around picking up girlfriends they managed to wreck the car twice before catching a bus to the Civic Center. The guys had to use borrowed equipment and were still so shook up from the ride that their performance did not go over very well. The story goes that their driver friend is still grounded to this day!
The band released one single on Kaymar Records “She Was Gone” b/w “Goin’ Home” recorded at Accent Sounds in Baltimore. Other originals “No Place to Go” and “Suddenly” were recorded at Accent Sound but reportedly not released.
A full-page photo of the Other Barn Teen Center in Columbia with the Boat in the foreground appeared in the January 1971 issue of Life Magazine. In addition to the teen centers, the Boat played gigs at the Club Venus, and the Chanticleer…
Neeson went on to play lead guitar for Appaloosa, Bandit, Pinch, Mars, Freed at Last… Stahly later played for the Ellicott Brothers, Sage, Bandit, and Night Shift. Allen went on to Liberation Front.
1970 Kaymar 2958 She Was Gone / Goin’ Home
