Members included Phil ‘Butch’ Hanes (vocals ex-Pastels), Tony ‘Junior’ Gruebel (guitar), Don Price (bass), Eddie Wockenfuss (keyboards), and John Sankonis (drums). Gruebel, Price and Sankonis were formerly with Morgan’s Pirates.
The band’s first gigs were at Nina’s Musical Bar on South Oldham Street where they became the house band. During the spring and summer of 1969, the Inner Cyrkle played weekends at the Paddock in Ocean City. It was there that they attracted the attention of agent Dick Earl who signed them to his D.C. based booking agency. Earl booked the group in many D.C. area clubs including the Act IV, and the Bastille. They appeared on the TV program “Panorama” and on radio’s “Here’s Barbara” show.
In late 1969 while traveling home from a gig Phil Hanes and Tony Gruebel were in a terrible auto accident. Junior could no longer play. He was eventually replaced with Doug Lewis (guitar ex-Peppermint Rainbow, Better Half). The group returned to the Paddock for the summer of 1970. They began playing more Baltimore clubs as well as traveling to clubs in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Florida… In 1971 while at Club Venus the group added Frank Fertida (trumpet), and Chuck Klapka (sax ex-Admirals).
The band secured extended stints at most of the clubs where they appeared including the Keystone (‘69-70), Paddock in Ocean City (summers of 1969, 70, 72), Club Venus (‘71-72) appearing on double bills with Renaud & the Junction (6/71), Ventuno 21 on 21st & K in D.C. (‘72-73), Mr. Bojangles, Red Rooster (‘75), Quarter Deck (‘75-76), Ground Floor, and the Flaming Pit (‘76) – all with help from road managers Alan Allen and Chuckie.
Hanes left in summer 1972 and formed Phil Hanes & Cyrkle and was replaced with Jay Stinemire. The group continued as a four piece. Fertida and Stinemire both went on to join the Capris.
Lewis left in 1975 joining Phoenix. Klapka later joined Spice, Comets, Cruel Shoes, Bobby & the Believers…
Inner Cyrkle photos courtesy of Eddie Wockenfuss
