A Sunday and Monday night fixture at No Fish Today. Members included Alethia ‘Mama’ Lee Diamond (lead vocals), Leo McLaughlin (guitar, harmonica), Curtis Bostic (bass), Brian Bull (keyboards), James ‘J.J.’ Jim Lawler (drums), plus a horn section. The Downstairs Band served as the Blue Seas Studios in-house group. In 1977 they performed at the 3rd Annual End of The World concert.
Vocalist Aleta Greene (ex-Little Hans, Tugboat, Bob Brown, O’Donel Levy Band) replaced Diamond in late 1977. TeeVee Feldman (vocals ex-Fabulous Dog Tones, Loose Shoes Rhythm Band) was also added and afforded the band dual lead vocalists. Feldman was later replaced with Richard Carbaugh.
In May of 1979 Diamond and Lawler departed for Florida. The band added former members of Both Worlds – Scott Johnson (keyboards), Ernie Thomas (drums), Tom McCormick (sax), and Dave Carrera (guitar).
Most members of this band continued to be prominent in many Baltimore bands in the ‘80s and beyond. Greene (see bio) later performed in a duo with Mark Roumelis (ex-Face Dancer), and can be heard on recordings by Wall Matthews.
McLaughlin worked as an engineer at Blue Seas and GRC Studios. He continued to play in local bands including Eight Ball, Self-Righteous Brothers, and the Shameless Mooks. Carrera later with Cruel Shoes…
