Formed in late 1973 in Wheaton, Maryland with Rob Mattera (guitar, harmonica), Mark Roumelis (guitar, keyboard, violin), Scott McGinn (bass), David Long (keyboards, flute), and Carey Kress (drums). Long and Kress were originally from Rhode Island and were attending American University in D.C. The group performed a variety of music including rock, country, and even some jazz. Bassist Dale Marks was soon added to the group and McGinn moved to guitar.
An early stay at The Heron in Ocean City brought the group to the attention of the Baltimore area and they soon developed a local following which was later fueled with much promotion by radio station WKTK. Meanwhile they also played in the D.C. area. Face Dancer performed a benefit concert for WGTB at a sold-out Gaston Hall in February 1975. The WKTK was a loyal supporter of the band and aired their early recordings.
The group composed and performed the composition “Make Way for The Birthday Boy” at the Bayou in D.C. in celebration of the Bicentennial on July 3 and 4, 1976. The Face Dancer line-up continued to evolve in 1976 with Robert Wind replacing Mattera on guitar.
In December 1977 the group settled into a line-up featuring Kress, Dave Utter replacing Marks, McGinn going back to bass, Jeff Adams (guitar), and Billy Trainor (drums). This lineup played the Showcase Roller Rink in Taneytown 1978 to a packed and frenzied house. In July 1978 the long-awaited recording contract finally arrived. The group traveled to L.A. to record and in May 1979 their debut album “This World” was released on Capitol Records. The single culled from the album “Red Shoes” got heavy airplay in the region.
Face Dancer could be seen locally at the Seagull Inn, Pier 7 (Annapolis), Club Venus, Jr.’s Inn (Edgewater), Hollywood Palace, Babylon’s, the Paragon in College Park, Bayou, Louie’s Rock City (D.C.), Eastwind with Crack the Sky…. Some highlights included opening for Patti Smith at Painter’s Mill, Rick Derringer at the Seagull Inn, Charlie Daniels at Merriweather Post Pavilion in ‘79, and winning the WKTK Spring Fling at the Civic Center.
After an Eastwind farewell show in January 1980 the band, now consisting of McGinn, Adams, Trainor, and Michael Milsap (keyboards) headed off to London to try their luck at the British club circuit. Returning to the states in April they performed at the Electric Circus in Towson. 1980 also saw the release of their second album “About Face.” After disappointing U.S. sales McGinn and Adams quit. Kress and Long returned to the group and Tim Tanner (ex-Cherry Smash) replaced Utter on guitar.
Adams went on to join Monarch. Utter joined Fast Eddie, and later with Deanna Bogart’s Full Service Band. Roumelis worked in ‘80s as a duo with Aleta Greene. McGinn and Trainor later reunited with original member David Long to form the ‘80s group Growing Up Different – seen locally at Marshall’s on Calvert Street… They released a 12” EP “A+B=C” and their song “Never in A Million Years” was included on the “98 Rock Album – Vol. III” (1984). Tanner later with The Natchez Trace Band…
Face Dancer discography:
1979(LP) Capitol 11934 This World
1979 Capitol 4734 Red Shoes / Time Bomb
1980(LP) Capitol 12082 About Face
1980 Capitol 4900 Forever Beach / How to Be a Man
As Growing Up Different:
198*(12”) CES 1716 A+B=C
