Oxfords, The

East Baltimore soul group.

Members included Mike Hoyt (lead vocals ex-Rooks), Lew Cammarata (lead guitar), Mike Pugh (rhythm guitar), Paul Gervas (bass), Tim Reid (drums), Gene Callahan (trumpet), Frank Fertida (trumpet), and Tim Retlains (sax).

The group performed at many local teen centers including the Sacred Heart of Jesus CYO, St. Stanislaus CYO, St. Elizabeth’s CYO, the Zoo in Brooklyn…

Paul Gervas recalled that “our original lead guitarist (Oxford’s & Rooks), Lewis Rae Cammarata, passed away (November 2025). He was excellent musician and a great guy. Unfortunately, he developed multiple sclerosis and lived with it for several years. We will miss him. We were very sad when Louie (Lewis) told us (many years ago) that he was leaving us to join the Chateaux. They were more successful and recorded several local hits, including “Try Some Soul” (my favorite). Louie eventually moved to California where he was in a successful recording group called The Zippers, and then to Arizona [where he had a successful career on his own].”

The Oxford enjoyed a series of reunion concerts in the 2000s.

The Oxfords history by Mike Hoyt:

The Oxfords started out in August of 1965, Tim Reid (drums), Paul Gervas (lead guitar), Rick Long (bass guitar) and Mike Hoyt(vocals) all from Govans joined with Mike Pugh (rhythm guitar) from Northwood to form The Rooks (copying The Kingsmen of Louie -Louie fame) about 6-8 months later we changed our name to The Pipefitters Local 80 (we thought it was a cool name.) We played mostly British Invasion music. In late spring 1966 we decided to add horns and became The Oxfords, a soul band. Rick Long dropped out of the band, Paul Gervas moved to bass and we brought in Lou Cammaratta on lead guitar. In just a few months we added Tim Will on keyboard, Frank Fertita and Gene Callahan on trumpet, Bernie Bigham on tenor sax, and Gary Putnam on vocals. About a year later we added Mark Stull on Alto sax. From the fall of 1966 through the spring of 1970, we played for dances in just about every CYO in the greater Baltimore area. We also played in many teen centers and several night clubs. In late 1967 Lou Cammaratta left the band and Bill Colbert joined as lead guitar. Over time a few members left but we remained relatively intact until we broke up.

Two members went on with their musical careers, full time. Frank Fertita played trumpet for Phil Haynes and the Inner Circle through the early 1980’s but then pursued full time employment in the 9-5 world. Lou Cammaratta moved to Los Angeles in the early 70’s and has spent a large part of his career playing music full-time ever since. He resides in Arizona today and is very active in recording soundtracks as well as performing.

“We played as the “break band” in the balcony at the teenage nightclub in Brooklyn “The Zoo” a few times, for peanuts. In short, we were far better than the bands on the big stage and we all knew it, including the crowd. Ron the Zoo Keeper finally agreed to bring us in as a featured band. He put us on his TV show on Channel 45 but he went out of business shortly thereafter and we never made it to the “big “stage.

In 1968 we had the opportunity to play at a benefit for Vietnam Veterans at a park in Washington DC. We had been told that The Temptations (who were playing at a DC nightclub at the time) and Bob Hope would be there as M.C. We had to settle for Bert Parks as M.C. However, he was a nice guy, funny and very gracious and deferential to the veterans.” —Mike

Several of us had stayed in touch with each other over the years. In the fall of 2013, Bernie Bigham contacted Mike Hoyt out of the blue. After a long conversation of catching up with each other, (they had not spoken since the early 1980’s) they agreed that it would be great if we could have a social re-union. Mike had some free time on his hands so he began searching for all the members of the band. We had our first social reunion in February of 2014 followed by two more in February 2015 and 2016. Tim Will (keyboards) had remained active in local bands and had access to Orion Studios in Arbutus. He suggested at the 2016 reunion that we should try to play together again for our own enjoyment.

We had our first “gig” at Orion Studios in the fall of 2016. The first time we had played together in 46 years! A cool benefit of playing at Orion Studios was that they were able to tape the event and we all received video and audio tape of our “performance” (if you could call it that). Suffice to say that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is not asking for copies of our performance. Every six months or so thereafter (up until the pandemic) we got together and played for family and friends (but mostly for ourselves). Through email we agree on a song list and since we are now spread between Florida, Maryland and Rhode Island practice, individually, for the next “gig”.
We have improved, musically, since 2016. But since we only get together every six months it is difficult to get timing and some vocal harmonies down pat. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame still hasn’t contacted us.