Rock, pop, dance band morphed out of the Mo-Jos. Original lineup featured Jim Sowder (guitar, sax ex-Mojos, Libra), Greg Gerald (bass), Joe Dimaggio (keyboards), and Jamie Weber (drums).
Boss Company started out as a house band at the Consul House. Bob Brady sang with the group for a few months before moving on. Weber left during the first year and was replaced with Tommy Tucker…
Next, they worked as house band at Vinnie’s on Northpoint Boulevard for four years, then as steady group at the Merritt House. Along the way, Tucker was replaced with Sonny ‘Lurch’ Clutter. Dimaggio was replaced with guitarist Bob Parrish.
This group split up in 1985. Sowder played in wedding band Just by Chance during the ‘80s…
In 2002 Sowder was playing in a group with Bobby Berger (vocals, sax), Bobby Morris (keyboards), and Tony Bonitz (drums). Sowder and Morris were also members of Gene Vincentt & the Cadillac Cruisers.
Berger left the group, and the trio remained together. Jazznicks hired them as house band. Eventually John Sankonis (ex-Inner Cyrkle, Legend, and many others) came aboard as new drummer. He suggested naming the group Boss Company, even though Sowder was the only link to the previous group by that name.
They performed American Legion halls, bull & oyster roasts, fire hall dances, weddings, and some club work.
Jim’s daughter Laura Hooper sang with the group for a couple years.
In 2007 ‘Barry G’ Gregory (vocals ex-New Sentries) joined along with Ed Hall (sax). Sowder left a few months later and was replaced with Larry Bonaccorci (guitar, bass, percussion ex-Loose Change, Bobby & Street Rods).
A versatile group, they gigged as a trio or quartet as needed to fulfill job needs, while also utilizing the lead vocals of veterans Barry G, or Tommy Vann.
