Rock and roll band from Montgomery County. Original members included guitarists Blaine Smith and Bill White (both ex-Galaxies), Dick Heinze (piano), Paul Demotto (sax), and Scott Mitchell (drums). Heinze went on to be the keyboardist for Roy Buchanan and then Danny Gatton. Gatton dedicated one of his albums to Dick (who died of a muscle ailment at age 42).
The Newports went through numerous personnel changes. Lead vocalist Cal (Linthicum) Linley was added to the group. Around 1963 Linley was replaced with Tom Willett and Charlie Willett (later well-known in the D.C. area as the Willett Brothers) with Tom as main lead vocalist.
A mid-60s lineup featured the Willett Brothers, Smith, White, with John Heard (piano), and Donny Williams (drums).
During their soul period, the group also featured Greg Novik (alto sax ex-Novikanes, Resumes), who later went on to form the Baltimore based jazz recording group the New Apocalypse. The Newports’ final lead vocalist was Rob Gordon circa 1966-67. Robert Gordon went on to become a successful rockabilly singer and recording artist working with Link Wray and others.
The Newports were one of the best-known groups to come from that area during the period.
They released seven singles mostly consisting of original songs written by Smith.
Smith and Novik were also members of the Resumes who recorded at Edgewood Studios and released a single in 1964 titled “I’ve Been Away.”
The Newports were revived in the ‘00s by Smith and Linthicum to perform occasional gigs. Seen at the Outta-The-Way Café in Derwood, Maryland…
1961 Limo 100 Deep Blue / Questions
1962 Limo 102 Big Boy Pete / I Won’t Cry
1962 MIBUS 356 I Won’t Cry / Come on Part Two
1962 DC 0431 Mess Around / Can’t Find a Girl
1964 BSM 406 Little Heart / Maybe You’ve Changed
1965 BSM 407 The Trouble Is You / I Want You
1965 Laurie 3327 The Trouble Is You / I Want You
