The Prodigals were most likely the first rock and roll band in Howard County. Formed by classmates at Glenelg High School in 1959 by Larry Sturgill (lead guitar), Will Seibert (sax), Griff Jones (vocals), John Lee Standifer (guitar), Dale Hough (guitar), Ed Duvall (bass), and drummer Billy Phoebus who was later replaced with Jim Floyd. They played local parties and dances.
In summer of 1960 the band entered and won a talent contest at the Howard County Fair. They went on to become a fixture in the early ‘60s at the Lisbon Fire Hall, while also venturing into Baltimore, Frederick, and Washington venues. After some early shuffling the line-up settled as Jones, Sturgill, and Seibert, with Tim Nichols (bass), John Baines (drums), and adding the brass sounds of Charlie Condon, and Frank Felice. Former Edmondson High student Charlie ‘Butch’ Gerringer joined the band in 1962 as a singer and guitarist. Organ player Mike Kelly joined the band in 1964.
Griff remembered the addition of Mike Kelly to the band. “There was this young kid performing a pipe organ demonstration at the Howard County fair. Griff thought they could use an organ player so he asked Mike to join. A recent Peabody student, Kelly was a great addition because not only could he play the organ and trumpet proficiently, but also his dad provided a van for the band to haul the equipment. Besides his B-3 organ was not going to fit in Larry’s VW!”
In 1965 Griff left the band after he had become a county police officer. Gerringer took over as the lead singer and Woody Graham joined as a guitarist. It was about that time that Kelly also left – going to Boston to attend the Berklee School of Music. Once the group felt that they were performing well enough, they sent a demo to Metro-Meteor Artists in Philadelphia. Metro immediately got them a job at the Wagon Wheel in New York City during the week of October 18, 1965. Being right next door to the Peppermint Lounge where Johnny Maestro & the Crests were performing, they had finally made the big time! Little did they know that as the new band in town they would be the opening… and closing act – and the club stayed open until 4:AM! In between happened to be a local band Damien & the Classics. After a week of this schedule, the band made $750. Not bad, except that it cost them more than that to make the trip! It was back to home turf for the Prodigals.
Shortly after returning from the New York trip Nichols left to join the Navy. He was replaced with bass guitarist Harold Davison. At that time the group decided they needed a new image. Other bands had names that featured a headliner. The name Payton came up and it stuck – they became Payton & the Prodigals. It was this line-up that recorded their single in 1966. The group played many fire hall dances, bull and oyster roasts, school dances and proms, along with club gigs including stints at the Patapsco Inn.
L-R: Baines, Seibert, Sturgill, Gerringer, Spence, Davison
Photo courtesy of Larry Sturgill
During the summer of 1966 into 1967 Sturgill, Seibert, Gerringer, Graham, Baines, and Kelly (who had just returned from a stint with Bobby Hirschmann & the Originals) formed a sideline variety group called the Waywards. They performed for yacht clubs and private parties.
The war in Viet Nam took its toll on the Prodigals as it did to many bands of the era. After already losing Nichols to the Navy, Sturgill was the next to leave for the service in 1968. Seibert was also to eventually leave (later playing in the Army band) and was replaced with Graham who switched to sax. The band continued once again as the Prodigals (dropping the fictitious “Payton”). Dave Poist came on board as the new lead vocalist, Baines was replaced with Frank Felice on drums, and Kelly continued on keyboards. Basically this line-up continued performing at local venues such as Sarano’s, Rhapsody, Howard Place, Patapsco Inn, while traveling around the tri-city area until 1972 when the band finally folded.
Graham went on to join Circus, later forming his own appropriately named Woody Graham Band, and later Roll the Dice. Sturgill became involved in the guitar manufacturing business buying the Harptone Guitar Company of New Jersey along with tooling and manufacturing equipment from Microfret Guitars in Frederick. He and Bob McHenry were partners in the American Musicians Supply store in Sykesville. Gerringer later played in the Loose Booty Band in the late ‘70s. Felice became lead vocalist for City Star. Kelly went on to many bands including Brandy, Milk & Honey, Cherry Smash, Bandit… Harold Davison rumors have him playing in the Ardvarks, moving to the west coast and performing with Pacific Gas & Electric, before returning and playing briefly with Bandit, Barking Spiders, Biker Joe Warren, and other area bands.
In 1980 a couple of the guys started talking about the idea of a 20th anniversary reunion. The idea clicked and the practicing began. On August 15, 1981 they had a reunion concert at the Mt. Airy Carnival Grounds. Eighteen of the former band’s members participated. The show went over so well that they decided to re-form the band.
L-R: Sturgill, Gerringer, Seibert, McHenry, Nichols
The new group consisted of original members Sturgill (lead guitar), Seibert (sax), Gerringer (bass), along with Nichols (switching from bass to drums), and new member Bob McHenry (guitar and keyboards). This latest line-up was primarily a country band mixing it up with their crowd-pleasing blend of Top-40 and oldies, until calling it quits in 1991.
Prodigals discography:
1966 Acadian 1000 I Need You / You Better Move On
Below: Contract for The Wagon Wheel in New York City. Courtesy of Larry Sturgill
