Bob Hirschmann was from Southwest Baltimore where he learned to play the guitar. He started out playing country music and switched to rock and roll by the late-’50s. At the age of 12 he won a competition on the Fred Astaire Kiddie Show which was televised locally on Channel 2 on Saturday mornings. He went on to host his own TV show called the Junior Hoedown Show which was broadcast from the Lyric Theater. The Hoedown featured Hirschmann with his 5-piece country group. It was aired on Wednesday nights just before the Tex Daniels show on WAAM-Channel 13. On the radio Bob hosted live country music on Saturday nights on WBMD. Other TV appearances included The Collegians (WMAR-TV), Milt Grant Show in D.C.(Ch.5), Buddy Deane Show (Ch.13), and he performed for the first local telethon which was broadcast from Poly Tech High School and hosted by Royal Parker.
Hirschmann’s friend Bobby Anderson grew up in the same neighborhood. His group featuring Charlie Rent, Peck Shinafelt, and Russell Anderson performed weekly on TV Channel 13’s “It’s High Time” which aired on Saturdays at noon in 1951. He later played on the Junior Hoedown show with Hirschmann. The two friends also had a mid-’50s band called “The Bob Cats.”
The Originals were formed in 1958 with Hirschmann (bass), Anderson (guitar), Hal Stesch (keyboards), Danny Sapanero (drums), Harry Kleintank (sax), and Mike Palmieri (trumpet ex-Pier 5 Jazz Band).
The rock and roll band eventually played all the local teen centers, the Surf Club, Bitner’s D’Mitry’s. Often on double bills with Ralph Emmel & the Counts or Frank Adams & the Crystals. The Originals appeared at teen centers including Catonsville Teen Center, Hamilton Teen Center (hosted by WCAO DJ Les Alexander). They were the first rock and roll band to play at the Civic Center when it opened in 1961 as host to a national CYO gathering featuring two other local bands. The show was televised on Channel 13. Their song “Birdwatchin’” was recorded in 1959 at the WCAO studios featuring the Originals (with a young Roger Pace) along with a black vocal duo named the Green Brothers (Joe Green and Jerry Green – later adding a third brother Charlie Green). The song was later released by the Spinners on End Records with credits to Alexander-Graham-Bell.
Hirschmann claims that his Originals were the group that backed Rosie Hamblin on the 1961 hit “Angel Baby.” (Rosie Hamblin was from San Diego – her bio says she was paired with a studio band that backed her on the record – but no further details are available).
Bob Hirschmann, Jerry Donahue, Roy Mahoney
The Originals performed stints as house band during the ‘60s at clubs including Buddy’s Subway Lounge, D’Mitry’s, the Old Mill Harbor Room, the Jazz Room, and the Pioneer Club. Other members of the group included Roger Pace (sax), Roy Mahoney (piano), Jerry Donahue (bass), Mickey Mezzanotte (tenor sax), Fred Winterling (sax), Frank Smith, Jimmy Flint, Mike Farinacci (tenor sax ex-Crystals), Mike Kelly (organ), Jimmy Sapanero (sax), and Tour Hesty.
Bobby Anderson (guitar), Harry Kleintank (sax).
Jimmy Sapanero (sax), Anderson (guitar). Courtesy of Bob Hirschmann.
Kleintank went on to play with Woody Herman. He also appeared at the Left Bank Jazz Society in 1966 as a member of Hank Levy’s Orchestra. Hal Stesch played for the Hi-Times and later joined the Si Zentner Orchestra. Danny Sapanero went on to join Tommy Vann’s Professionals, and Teddy Bell & the Bell System. Anderson went on to form the Jades, Fourth Generation, Group V, and the Top 4.
In the ‘70s Hirschmann could be seen at the Pioneer Club with Bobby Anderson & the Group 5. In 1972-73 he played with recording group the Goofers in Las Vegas. In mid-’70s played with the George Maxwell Trio as house band at the Playboy Club. He also played the Playboy Club circuit with Freddie Weiner (later known as Freddie Stevens). When the Playboy Club in Baltimore burned down, Bob had recently met Dave Gimble’s agent Lou Ginsberg who offered him a chance to perform with a “society band” appearing at private residences and parties for celebrities. The group played classy high-brow party music and Bob perfected his Frank Sinatra vocal stylings. Hirschmann shortened his name to Bobby Mann. He continued working the Society Band while also appearing in Las Vegas clubs (Sahara Lounge) and supplemented his income with studio work including commercial ads for automobile agencies, etc. including local businesses Ezron Tires, and Ritchie Datsun. Bobby played for Ronald Reagan’s Inauguration Ball. He also worked in Nashville where he recorded the songs “Eatin’ Jimmy’s Peanuts and Drinkin’ Billy’s Beer.” A single was released as by Bobby M with the Nashville Edition on MARC 2223 (Main Attraction Recording Co.) label b/w “No Longer Free.” The novelty single got some airplay nationally.
Music continued in the family as Bob’s son Tom Hirschmann studied with Hank Levy, appeared on Towson State Jazz recordings and in the ‘00s worked for BMI and as an arranger in Nashville. Bob, Jr. played for Jupiter & the Jets in the ‘70s. He later joined the U.S Army Band and in the ‘00s played for the local big band Shades of Blue.
