Essex / Middle River band managed by Tony Matarozza. An early line-up featured Reed Martin (lead vocals, sax, tambourine), Darryl Matarozza (guitar), Dean Slack (guitar, sax), Tom Grzech (bass), Drew Bauer (sax),and Earl Slack (drums). Other early members were J.D. Anderson (vocals), Dean Ravar (organ), Larry Guderjohn (guitar)…
The Gigs were seen frequently at the Sea Gull Teen Center and performed for the grand opening in June 1967 along with the Fabulous Monarchs. On July 14, 1967 they performed on the Kerby Scott Show.
They appeared at Kenwood High School, Overlea H.S., Dundalk H.S., St. Dominic’s CYO, Our Lady of Fatima CYO, Holy Rosary CYO, Edgewood Teen Center, Bluesette, Northpoint Gardens at shows hosted by Kerby Scott, and at the Parkville Armory in October 1967 where they won a battle of the bands contest vs. The Rysing Sun, and the Yellow Pages. The group performed a benefit concert for St. Jude’s Hospital on April 27, 1968 with The Bristols, Hypnotics, and Little Richy & the Jesters. In June of 1968 the Gigs won the WCAO Super Team Talent Contest Search for the Baltimore area – a recording was sent Hollywood for the national finals. Also in June 1969 they competed in the Teen Fair Battle of the Bands at the Civic Center.
Members as of September 1969 included Martin, Matarozza (who had switched to bass), Earl Slack, with Steve Adamski (lead guitar – formerly of the Bristols), and Kirk Dancy (organ ex-Chapter VI).
A Young World advertisement from August 31, 1969 stated that the band had acquired a new guitarist and would now be called the Permanent State. Apparently this was not very permanent, as the band remained known as the Gigs until 1979.
Below: The Gigs circa 1977-78 – Courtesy of Gary Waugh
The band once included keyboard player Drew Bauer (ex-Tommy & the Artelles – later with Denny & the Hitchhikers, Hinge, and Good & Plenty). In 1976 the band featured keyboard player Bob Kropkowski (formerly of Uptowns, Scottsmen, Better Half… later of Phoenix, Windows). A 1977 lineup featured Reed Martin (vocals, sax), Vernon Snead (guitar), Gary Waugh (bass ex-Proxy), Tommy Thompson (keyboards ex-Proxy), and Norb Bertling (drums ex-Patent Pending, Southwind). Other members included Don Marino (drums), Tony Sciuto (guitar), Michael Sciuto (bass). During this time the group played the Holiday Inn (Airport, Cromwell…) and Ramada (Dover, DE…) circuits, Ocean City clubs, Seagull Inn…
The many faces of Reed Martin:
Fast forward to the modern version, photos circa 2018
Martin and Waugh formed Fireworks. Dancy, and Matarozza went on to join Staggerwing. Darryl later played in the bands Daylight, Paper Cup, Shor Patrol and could be seen in the ‘00s with the Approach.
Adamski went on to join Tumbleweed… Martin was later with Staggerwing, Gazze, Stranger, and in the ‘00s he was a member of the Satellites – a “Boomer Music” band which doubled as Stevie & the Satellites playing for Steve Rouse, the morning show host on WQSR radio 105.7FM.
After the Satellites split in 2007 Martin, Bertling, Dancy, and Adamski re-formed the Gigs. They continued performing throughout the 20’s including events such as Stanstock Festivals, Lurman Theater, and many others.
Darryl Matarozza wrote both sides of the single that was released on Jim Kelly’s O’Dell label subsidiary and published by E. Holden Kelly.
197* Heart 119 Walking Man / Leave You Behind
