Rock and roll Top-40 group from Silver Spring area. Original Members were Rick Johnston (guitar), Raymond ‘Tink’ Jones (guitar), Sam Weinstock (drums), and Ken Kaplan (sax). Later members included Bruce McClendon (keyboards), Keith McClendon (guitar, vocals), Paul Dunlap (bass, vocals), Bobby Johnston (drums), Les Hatley (guitar), Bob Yesbek (keyboards), and others. For three years in the late ‘60s the group added a horn section of Mike Wells (baritone sax), David Posner (trombone), and John Staley (trumpet).
The Hi-Notes played virtually every type of venue including CYO’s, clubs like The Keg in Georgetown, frat parties, a Washington Redskin party “not sure of the year” says Kaplan “but Otto Graham was the coach and Sonny Jurgensen asked us politely to turn it down. (We) played up and down the East Coast at colleges like U of N Carolina, but mostly worked at local colleges and clubs in the D.C. and Baltimore area. We also met Jimi Hendrix and band at the Shorem Hotel when he was doing his very first concert in D.C. We released a record called ‘Without You Darling’ in 1965 or 66 with Lillian Claiborne in D.C. The record got local air time but basically went nowhere.”
The Hi-Notes recorded a demo album at Omega Studios with a lineup of Bob Yesbek (organ), Paul Dunlap (bass, vocals), Kenny Kaplan (sax, clarinet, vocals), Rick Measell (lead guitar), and Boothe Norton (drums). The album featured covers of contemporary hits of the day. For the summer of 1970 they performed regularly at The Hideaway in Ocean City, and The Paddock where they recorded their second independent album ‘Live at The Paddock.’
After 1970 the group became a trio that did variety as a full-time house band at The Devil’s Fork Lounge in D.C. – Kaplan (sax, vocals), Yesbek (keyboards), and Bob Johnston (drums). This led to a lot of weddings, embassy, and private party work. Also seen at the V.I.P. Lounge in Randallstown.
In 1973 the group expanded to five pieces and was called Nite Life. This part time band’s members included over the years Hatley, Kaplan, Keith and Bruce McClendon, Rick and Bob Johnston. They did weddings, country clubs, and embassy work, continuing until finally splitting up around 1996.
Measell was later with Wild Rice… Dunlap’s work includes recordings with jazz artist Kim Waters… Yesbek became a recording engineer working with Tim Eyermann, Hot Mustard, Charlie Byrd, Monty Alexander, and others… Kaplan continued playing in Venice, Florida. He and the McClendon’s reunited in 2011 as The Boomer’s at The Venice Theater, and other area venues.
