The Fugitives story, courtesy of Carl Lazero: “Six very white, Jewish kids in a garage, form to create The Fugitives. Bert Schwartz on keyboards, Dennis Kravitz on bass, the absolute extraordinary David Greenberg on drums, Kenny Caplan on that stunning Fender strat, Teddy Okum on saxophones, alto as I remember, and me, Carl Lazerow on a ’66 A-21 Bach Strad brass trumpet. Our manager was Neil Kravitz. “
“Teddy’s father owned the Trading Post on Baltimore Street across the street from the Civic Center, now Baltimore Arena or something like that. He connected us with a group of African American singers (at first Leroy, Jerry, and Cubby? maybe) and dancers.”
“The lights, the costume, and tuxedo changes, smoke, white gloves, and black lights. Punk teenagers all of us. Our friendly competitors were The Startones, Fred Smith, Mark Seigmeister, that crowd. Both bands were big in the Bar and Bat Mitzvah scene, sweet 16’s, battles of the bands, these in Northwest Baltimore. And we were exposed as teenagers, oh our poor parents, to, among other similar venues in the City, starting with Petacvh Tikvah in Upper Northwest and wedding on Gay Street that included weed, big deal right, and needles, Ya, what did this nebish kid just witness????? Sam and Dave, the Four Tops, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, the Chambers Brothers and SleepWalk. Jimi Hendrix and acid rock, the Beatles and Stones surfaced with the British Invasion and we were headed to high school graduation and college, and disperse we did. But the love of music never left.The Fugitives also made an appearance on The Kerby Scott Show. “
“Fast Forward to 2022. The Baltimore residents, Caplan, Greenberg, and Lazerow, with an assist from Fred Smith, meet regularly around a round table, hence it’s a meeting of the King and his Roundtable. Greenberg (on dobro), Caplan (on rhythm guitar), Lazerow, (on mandolin, dobro, ukulele, banjolele, and a Bazouki (google it). The others are welcome to join. We will be known as “Strings For Her”, and the goal is to play for Jewish Day School students, for free.”
Thanks Carl Lazarow – June 2022.
