Known as Denny & the Chadwicks featuring dual lead vocalists Denny Twigg, and Woody Woods, the teen band played a mix of Beatles, Rock, Soul, and originals. Members of the group included Marion Trimper (drums), John Hardy (lead guitar), Steve McCullen (rhythm), Jimmy Carothers (organ), and Van Ertel (bass).
Originally called the Chadwicks, they performed at the Overlea High School Spring Fling Concert on April 22, 1966 with the Chaparels and the Midnight Walkers. Also seen at teen centers such as the Hideaway in 1967, Violetteville Rec Center, and many high school dances. The group appeared with the Marvelettes and the Admirals at the Zoo Club on April 2, 1967.
Their song “The Only Way to Do It” was featured on “Baltimore’s Teen Beat a Go Go” LP (Dome Records) as by the Chadwicks.
The band took first place at the Teen Fair Battle of the Bands at the Civic Center in spring 1968, beating out over one hundred local bands. Placing 2nd were the Deltas, third place were the Soul Marques. Denny recalls “I had always heard there were 140 bands at that place. I know there were 3 stages all going at once for a week. I also thought the New Diablos came in the top 3. What a moment! I kept thinking we had been passed over and when they said our name, I must’ve jumped 3 feet in the air! We started with “Tighten Up.” The drummer walked on stage by himself and started playing, then the bass player came out, then one guitar, then the other, then the organ, then me and Woody. Always thought that was a good idea. We ended with ‘”She’d Rather Be with Me” by the Turtles.” The Chadwicks also performed a medley of songs from the Beatles Sgt. Peppers album.
Two members of the Strangeloves were judges at the Battle of the bands and were instrumental in awarding Denny & the Chadwicks a contract with Capitol Records. They did some recordings for Capitol including a song titled “Battle of The Bands” at Century Sound studios, the same place where the Four Seasons recorded. Also, their original song “I Want a Girl” was advertised in local papers but never released commercially.
“Well, you know ‘The Only Way to Do It’ was pressed on the Baltimore Teen Beat album” said Twigg, “What you probably don’t know is that I wrote and sang the Destinations song on that album called ‘Shame Shame.’ They put (the songs) back-to-back and when the Chadwicks sat down to listen to the album, I was busted. I never told them that I went and did another song with another band.
“The song ‘Battle of the Bands’ (written about the Civic Center event) was recorded and finished, but after that I don’t know what happened. (Century Studios) wanted the singers to come back up and the manager of the band was the drummer’s father. He said that he never heard from the (studio) again.”
Ertel went on to join Felix. Woods was later a member of Pssst. He and Twigg were later with Trilogy.
