Top-40 and variety cover band founded by Richard Rice, previously a guitarist in a Dundalk group called the Coachmen prior to college. Rice recalled “I was working for the Baltimore City Cultural Arts Project (CAP) in early 1971 at James McHenry Elementary School, Number 10. The director was an artist named Ernest Cromer. I gave piano and other instrumental lessons… Ernest oversaw day to day operations and gave drawing and painting lessons. There were instructors in other disciplines as well, modern dance, theatre, etc. The center was open (daily). It was a very nice thing for those inner-city folks, and at no charge to them. I enjoyed my time there.”
“At some point it dawned on me that I had at my disposal a perfect rehearsal place in Center G. So, I decided to form a band. Being a sax man, and having moved past my Beatles guitar phase some years earlier, I was now enamored of Blood Sweat and Tears, Tower of Power, Chicago, etc. So, I placed an ad for musicians in the “Young World” section of the Baltimore News American. To my surprise, I got a heavy response, and found myself auditioning people every night very quickly. About that time, it also occurred to me that if I wanted to have a “horn group” I’d better start writing some charts in a hurry. So, I got real busy real fast. It all paid off, and within a month or two we were playing out locally, and were eventually spotted by Charlie Steinmetz, who approached us about booking us. I named the group Chrome in honor of my good friend and artist Ernest Cromer.
Early members featured Rich Rice (sax, flute, vocals), Carl Hodge (lead vocals ex-Chelseas), Fay Carmichael (trombone, lead vocals), Allan Dean (trumpet), Tom Walsh (trumpet, vocals), Greg Serau (trumpet), Jim Podgurski (guitar), Fred Lillienkamp (guitar), John Sompayrac (bass), Joe Casper (keyboard), and Al Randle (drums) replaced with John Hall (drums, vocals),
“We played all around town at pool parties, private parties and all the typical kinds of gigs that Charlie booked.” Also seen at Club 175, Golden 40, California Inn, Club Vista, Club Charles, Baltimore City Fair, Washington College, (Chestertown), Green Dolphin, Stardust, The Chanticleer, and Ocean City clubs Pier Ballroom, Hurricane Club, Paddock… Chrome made one TV appearance, a Sunday morning promotional show for the very first Baltimore City Fair on Channel 2.”
“In 1972 we broke from Charlie Steinmetz and joined up with Greg Arnold, and backed him up on 2 shows per night as well as our dance sets. (Greg) was a pitcher for a short time with the Baltimore Orioles, but was fired because he hit an umpire. Made all the news. You may remember reading or hearing about it. Anyway, Greg was a very good-looking guy who was kind of a cross between Elvis and Tom Jones. The ladies loved him and many of his Oriole buddies would come out to watch the shows.”
Members during this period included Rice, Hodge, Carmicheal, Walsh, Casper, and Hall, with Phil McCusker (guitar), Dan Bandy (bass, vocals), Bob Baum (bass, vocals –A New Day…), Mark Stein (trumpet, vocals ex-Gazze), Rody Barthelmes (keyboards ex-And the Echoes, Con Chords), and Bob Butta (keyboard).
The middle 3: Lillienkamp, Sompayrac, then another shot of Hodge. Courtesy of Richard Rice
In January 1973 the group split up after a one-month engagement in Providence Rhode Island. Some of the members returned to Baltimore. The guys who were left eventually picked up some additional players. Among them were Joe Conway aka ‘Buzz’ (trumpet ex-Upsetters…), Mike Carrick (sax ex-Highlights), John Lodsin (bass), and they re-formed as a group called Just Friends.
Rice went on to join Brass Menagerie… Carmichael moved back to upstate NY where she was originally from. Hall later with Iguana, Proxy… He passed away in 2001. Walsh later with Little El… Podgurski also played for Clay Price band, Virginia Breeze… He also went on to work with Roger Whittaker, Danny Gans, and others, and taught guitar at Dundalk Music. McCusker also with Gabriel, East Coast Offering… Baum played for O’Malley’s March in ‘90s-00s… Barthelmes later with Horizon… Butta went on to Both Worlds and many other groups. Conway later with Admirals… Carrick later with Both Worlds… Carrick later with Phil Cunneff Trio… Lodsin with Odyssey, Brass Menagerie, Helmut Licht… Rice and Walsh with Dockstreet in ‘00s.
