Towson area band formed in 1960. Original members Bill Whitelock (drums) and Frank Invernizzi (keyboards) met at the May Day Festival in Lutherville and decided to start a band. Taking their name from a Siegal-Majestic advertisement they added Duke Gore (bass), Ray DeMoss (sax), Randy Fillmore (trumpet), Don Lehnhoff (trombone ex-Poker Chips, Mello Men). The original lead singer left after about six months being replaced with Denny Picasso. Other members during the early to mid-’60s included Larry Schumacher (sax), Jim Cosby (trumpet), Rex Little (trombone), and Bob Sutton (guitar).
The band played covers of Top-40 hits throughout the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s and adapted well to the various musical styles during their 27-year history. Initially a horn line band in the early ‘60s they went through several transformations with and without horns throughout the various eras: the early ‘60s; the British invasion period; ‘60s soul and Motown sounds; downsizing to a 5-piece psychedelic and rock group. Around 1969-70 the horns were brought back enabling them to cover bands such as Chicago and BS&T. The group continued to adapt through the disco era and general Top-40 sounds of the ‘70s and ‘80s. At one time the band was accompanied by the Towson State Jazz Ensemble’s horn section. Whitelock was the most constant member playing drums for the Majestics for 22 years. He estimates there were over 80 members of the band over the years!
The Majestics began playing teen centers and school dances starting with a gig at the Hampton Teen Center in 1960 on a double bill with the Van Dykes. Picasso eventually left the band joining the Dynamics and later going on to the Lafayettes, Soul Machine, Denny & the Hitchhikers, Hinge… During the ‘60s the Majestics appeared at Hollywood Park on double bills with Tommy Vann & the Echoes. They were seen at the Latin Casino, Club Venus, the Paddock in Ocean City… The band played countless school dances and were a popular prom band appearing for proms at Eastern, Dunbar, Northern, UMBC, Loyola, Parkville, Howard, Westminster, proms at the Eastwind, Peter Pan Inn, Emerald Gardens, Turf Valley, etc. Seen at the Glen Burnie Armory on May 26, 1965 as the opening act for Paul Revere & the Raiders. The group performed a set of James Brown songs in the Fat Daddy Christmas Show at the Baltimore Civic Center. They also performed at the Inaugural Ball for President Nixon.
In late 1966 original members Invernizzi and Lehnhoff (along with Princetons Bob Shipley and Jimmy Wilson) left the band to play for Mitch Ryder. Frank was replaced with Mike Foreman (ex-Delmonico’s, Lafayettes). Other Baltimorean’s Jimmy Loomis (ex-Echoes, Fugitives), and Gary Chalmers (ex-GTO’s, Fugitives) also went with Ryder. DeMoss and Gore were also offered jobs with Ryder but both declined opting to stay in school. Lehnhoff quit Peabody Conservatory to join the band (losing his student deferment) only to be drafted for military service six months later. Don was able to rejoin the Mitch Ryder Show while on leave to perform in an August 1967 concert in New York’s Central Park. A studio session was also done during that time but was never released.
The group re-formed as a rock-psych band consisting of Whitelock, Gore, Reds (guitar), Tony (keyboards), and Danny Shaw (lead vocals ex-Danny & the Elegants). They played as house band at the Keystone Inn sometimes appearing on double bills with other local groups including the Luvs, and B.J.& the Betrayers.
After their short period as a rock band the Majestics once again transformed back to their soul roots assembling a new horn band. A 1969 line-up included mainstays Whitelock (drums), Fillmore (trumpet), Gore (bass), and Bob Sutton (guitar). Gore and Steve Sackett (bass ex-Denny & Hitchhikers) flip-flopped positions several times. Other new members included Don Armstrong (vocals ex-Neuvelles), Steve Sandebeck (vocals ex-Noblemen), Glen Hyde (sax ex-Esquires), John Armstrong (trombone ex-Eternity OC), and Wayne Tyson (trumpet). Guitarist Scott Jordan (ex-Morgan’s Pirates) joined in spring of 1969. Other additions to the line-up included Doug Bull (trumpet ex-Lafayettes) replacing Tyson, Bill Selway (bass), and Chuck Ansell (keys ex-Chelseas). The group played as house band at Hoffman’s. Ansell went on to join Alias Sheep, and Appaloosa. He was replaced with Mike Foreman.
Fillmore and Gore moved on to Las Vegas in 1970. Steve Sackett took over on bass and was later replaced with bassist Mike Miller. Jordan was replaced with Bill Kalkman (ex-Admirals, Jetsons). Fillmore later played in Celebration. Mike Hodgeman (ex-Dynamics, RaVons, GTO’s, Elegants) joined the band as lead vocalist in the ‘70s. Hodgeman went on to join the Admirals, and Celebration. He also released some recordings under the alias Mike Jones (see Mike Jones Band).
Above Left: Majestics @ Woodlawn Sr. H. S. May 1974 L-R: Whitelock, Cobbler, Miller, Armstrong
Above Right: The Majestics at Dundalk High School – 1974
Above L-R: Don Armstrong 1974 – Mike Foreman 1975 – Steve Kanis 1975
Throughout the 1970s the Majestics were regarded as one of Baltimore’s best Top-40 bands. They performed at countless school dances, proms, private affairs, and night clubs.
Other members included Mike Cobbler (trombone), Steve Kanis (guitar), Obadiah Potsdam (keyboards), Al Dahlstrom (sax ex-Legends, Sentries, Fugitive 6), Paul Cridler (trumpet), John Mancini (trumpet ex-Yorkshires, later with Fizz, Sonics).
A 1976-77 lineup included mainstays Armstrong, Miller, and Whitelock, with Al Schlimm (guitar ex-Flywheel, Clover), and Eric Heiberg (keyboards).
In 1980 the group briefly went by the name Majestic. The Majestics early ‘80s line-up consisted of Armstrong (vocals, horns), Kirby Storms (guitar), Gary Waugh (bass ex-Gigs, Fireworks), Gary Gilpin (keyboards, guitar), Dean Barber (drums), and Dennis Cohen (vocals) replaced with Denny Twigg (vocals, sax, flute ex-Trilogy, Secrets…). The band continued to perform locally with additional personnel changes until finally splitting up in 1987.
L-R: Gilpin, Waugh, Armstrong, Twigg, Barber, Storms
After his stints with the Mitch Ryder group and the military, Lehnhoff settled in Minnesota and later appeared on a couple albums by a group called Copperhead. Their 1972 recording on Capitol was released as by Minnesoda as some ex-members of Quicksilver Messenger Service were using the name Copperhead. In the early ‘70s Don returned to the Baltimore area appearing with And the Echoes, and Celebration. In the ‘00s Don played with a big band group in his adopted state of Minnesota. After a brief stint with Ryder in the ‘60s, Invernizzi also returned to Baltimore and played with Denny & the Hitchhikers.
In 2001 Lehnhoff helped to organize a reunion for Towson R&B musicians of the ‘60s at the Alcazar Ballroom. The reunion went over so well that it was repeated two months later at Stingers in Overlea. On June 15, 2002 Don organized (with help from many others) a hugely successful show at the Overlea Hall featuring reunion performances by the Epics, Dynamics, Mello Men, Majestics, and the Charmed Times Reunion Band. A web-site was created to remember these and other groups at www.artweb.org/RandB. A 2004 reunion at Bobby B’s Place (formerly known as Hoffman’s) brought together many players from the Majestics and other ‘60s and ‘70s era bands, one of the highlights being a Ray Charles big band tribute organized by Randy Fillmore and fronted by guitarist/vocalist Chauncey Harris.
A new Majestics group re-formed in 2003 after a chance meeting between Scott Jordan and Bill Whitelock. After reminiscing about the old days, they contacted Steve Sackett and Mike Foreman. This foursome was the rhythm section for the group during the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. After a few jam sessions friends began asking if they would ever play any gigs. Upon deciding to become known as the Majestics they needed to add a horn section. They recruited John Miconi (trumpet ex-Rich & Roadrunners), Lou Silvia (trombone ex-Rich & Roadrunners), and Roland Rizzo (sax). With the addition of lead vocalist Jane Ashley, the new lineup was complete. Ashley was once lead vocalist of new wave group Jane Aire & the Belvederes, releasing 5 singles and an album on Akron, Ohio based Stiff Records.
The new Majestics first gig was at Gold’s Gym during the Christmas season 2003. Over the next several years the group performed weddings, carnivals, private parties, etc. with the assistance of sound man and guitarist Paul McKeown.
Personnel changes included Miconi replaced with Joe ‘Buzz’ Conway (trumpet ex-Both Worlds, Admirals…), Rizzo replaced with Frank Borzymowski, then in turn with Paul Faatz. Sackett was replaced with Jim Groszer (bass ex-Beginnings, Fragile…). Miconi and Rizzo continued to fill in when needed. Later members included David Kaminkow (keys), Paul McKeown (guitar)…
