Soul, rock, and jazz band from Towson. The group was originally known as the Satyrs Ensemble and worked steady at the Night Owl. They became known as Morgan’s Pirates and featured Ray Huettner (Ray Morgan) (lead vocals), Tony ‘Junior’ Gruebel (guitar), Donald Price (bass), Mark Tiernan (organ), Harold Lloyd (sax ex-Holidays), and John Sankonis (drums ex-Flintstones, Rhythmaires). Other musicians who played with the group included ex-Marauders guitarist Scott Jordan (replacing Gruebel), drummers Marty Fischer, Terry O’Patterson, and Paul Treffinger. Keyboard players included Chris Johnson, and Rody Barthelmes… Seen at the Night Owl, Tuesday nights at the Escapade, Judges filling in as house band for the Progressions, Hoffman’s, Keystone…
L-R: Sankonis, Lloyd, Morgan, Gruebel, Price
Promoter Bill Lilly booked the group at the Club Venus, Hollywood Park, and other local clubs. He also had the Beach Club in Ocean City and when the group couldn’t commit to a long-term stint, Morgan left and worked briefly there with the Lafayettes. Ray then moved to Florida where he worked on his artwork drawings (garnering some interest from Frank Zappa) and jammed with the Blues Image in their formative stages. He returned to Baltimore and a brief stint with the Echoes replacing the recently departed Tommy Vann.
Lloyd assumed the name Morgan as Morgan’s Pirates continued for a while including doing some studio work.
Gruebel, Price, and Sankonis went on to play for Phil Hanes & Cyrkle. Tiernan joined And the Echoes.
