A premier ‘70s Baltimore rock band formed by members of Bob Brady’s Con Chords. Members included Chuck Beaty (lead and acoustic guitars), Rod Arment (guitar, piano), Tim Wilson (keyboards), Rusty Steele (organ, guitar ex-Ravins, Time Machine), Jim Kestle (bass ex-Dimensions, Cindy & The Censations), Tim Lloyd (drums), and studio appearance by Liz Hein (flute).
The group recorded at ITI in 1970 with engineer/producer George Massenburg, and released a self-titled album on Chariot Records in 1971.
“The group was very eclectic” according to Tim Wilson “with oddball songs and odd influences. One interesting side-bar… If you listen to the Coyote song ‘Charles Charles, The Dancing Frog’ there is a unique organ solo when the bug starts to jam in the song. I had this cheesy Farfisa organ and we actually played the track in half-time and I soloed it like that. Then when we played the track at full speed, we got this very fast odd pitched ‘smokin’ fast solo that was very unusual.”
Coyote appeared at the Putty Hill Park free concert on June 4, 1972 along with Aux, Felix, Legend, Grok, and Expressway. They performed at the WKTK sponsored Flood Relief Benefit concert at Steelworkers Hall on August 22, 1972. Also seen at the Steelworkers Hall concert on October 8, 1972 with Joshua, Grok, Turn Blue, Staggerwing, and Zed. Another large affair included the Maga Vista Beach Party on September 15, 1973 with the Royal 5+1, Betterhalf, and Animal Crackers.
Coyote held house band slots at numerous clubs including The Other Place (‘73), Club Venus (‘73 and again in ‘74), Mimmie Jr.’s, Bastille in D.C. (‘75), Rhapsody… The group played virtually all the local clubs including the Half-Way House, Lighthouse, Keystone Inn, Quarter Deck, Triple Crown, Hurricane Club (O.C.)…
Above: The Other Place ad October 1973 Club Venus ad 1974
Below: Triple Crown ad June 1976 The Lighthouse ad
In 1973 the group went through a transformation of membership. Beaty and Kestle continued as Coyote along with new members Dave Gable (lead vocals), Brian Boyd (keyboards), and Dennis Meros (drums ex-Meros Brothers). This lineup lasted until around 1976.
Kestle later played bass for Paper Cup, Dion’s Streetheart Band, Rosco… Wilson joined Fresh Air. Lloyd went on to Sawbuck. Steele played in Sawbuck, City Star, Streetheart Band, the Wave… Arment later with Felix, City Star… Gable went on to Class, Racer…
Record releases by Coyote:
1971 Chariot 1126 Charles Charles (The Dancing Frog) / Super Tuesdays Floozy Buckwheat Man
1971(LP) Chariot 5000 Coyote
