The “patented soul sound” of the El Rays could be heard throughout the teen center circuit.
The El Rays with the addition of lead vocalist George Calloway (G.C.), became known as G.C. & the El Rays. They were backed by a female vocal group called the Raymours. The band featured Calloway – later replaced with Dwight Weems, along with John Linthicum (guitar), Tony Fenloch (bass), Michael Bavota (sax), and Joe Stamboni (drums). Weems was later replaced with Arthur Anderson.
Noted as one of the best Temptations revue bands on the area, the East Baltimore group earned honors as February 1968 Band of the Month at the Fort Meade Service Club. Later in 1968 the group placed 4th in the huge Civic Center Teen Fair Battle of the Bands.
The group performed at the Patterson Park Y-Teen, Our Lady of Fatima CYO, St. Casimir’s CYO, Holy Rosary CYO…
John, Tony and Joe went on to form the band Jeremiah in 1970. Stamboni collaborated with Doug Lewis on the Better Half single “City Song.” He later played in Falstaff, 4-Way Street, and went on to join Doug in the band Phoenix. Linthicum played for the bands Animal Crackers, Lower East Side, Bandit, Night Shift, Pinch, and others throughout the ‘80s, ‘90s, and ‘00s. Bavota later with Betty & The New Breeds. Weems eventually became the lead singer for Gazze.
