Baltimore born singer Jean Albert Renaud White/JAR attended Garrison Jr. High and Carver Vocational High School where he studied dance under renowned instructor Wally Saunders. As a young vocalist Renaud performed jazz with groups featuring Jimmy Wells, Purnell Rice and others at the Club Casino, the Red Rooster, and Henry Baker’s club Peyton Place. After serving four years in the armed forces, he returned to Baltimore and attended Peabody Institute to study singing. Billed as Renaud, as lead singer of his vocal quartet Renaud Plus Groovonus, that included vocalists Yvonne White, Gayle Jones, and Nick Chesno. They appeared at many Baltimore clubs including first opening act for the Club Venus, as well as performing at the Playboy Club, Mardi Gras, Chanticleer, Gatsby’s, while also making appearances in other cities across the country. Renaud & the Groovonus played as house band at the Chanticleer and were the opening act when the club became known as the Hippo.
Renaud – circa 1967
In 1968 Renaud released a single on the Pumpkin label titled “What Are Friends For” b/w “Blues for Baby.” Both sides were written and produced by WCAO radio personality Alan Field. Field also produced a radio commercial sung by Renaud for Utz potato chips. The ad ran on Baltimore radio for many years.
Also, in 1968 Renaud released his first album “The Many Moods of Renaud” recorded by Joe Bradley. He was also the featured vocalist on an album by guitarist Marty Celay on Bradley Records.
The group Renaud Plus Three released a single on Mount Vernon 001 “Stop” b/w “Soul Brother” arranged by Bobby Martin and Tom Bell. Renaud (vocals), Gayle Jones (vocals), Jerome Jones (keys), Bill Harris (vocals), David Vaughn (vocals), Bob Myers (drums), Charles Demarco (guitar), Eric Ward (bass), Jim Gallon (bass), Ralph Fisher (drums)…
The group became Renaud Plus Four, then Renaud & Company managed by Talent Management of America (Premier Attractions). Vocalists David Vaughn and, Gayle Jones remained with Renaud, as well as band consisting of Harris, Jones, Myers, and Demarco.
Renaud & the Junction was formed in 1968 consisting of Bob Myers (drums ex-Princetons), Charles ‘Mick’ DeMarco (guitar ex-King Solomon’s Minds), George Parrish (guitar), Hoby Cook (B-3 organ), and Alphonso Johnson (bass). Johnson went on to play and record with Woody Herman, Chuck Mangione, Weather Report and many top jazz musicians. He was replaced with bassist Eric Ward. Over the years the group featured a number of personnel changes. Jim Tilton (drums) and John Novik (bass) both were formerly with King Solomon’s Minds. Junction guitarist Gary Leslie ‘Boo’ Langston was also with United Chair, Brockington’s, Mighty Upsetters, Both Worlds. Mike Lang (keyboards) played in Renaud’s backup band in the late ‘60s. Bassist Carey Ziegler was once a member of band in the ‘70s. Norman Politic (Hammond B-2), Cole Makay (piano, organ), guitarist Denny Romans (Maypole) worked with Renaud at the Chanticleer.
Renaud & the Junction were under management of Premier Attractions and traveled nationally as opening act for Chicago, Three Dog Night, Jackson Five, and many other top artists. They were the first group to play the second floor of the Club Venus on “Heavy Mondays”, opening for the 5th Dimension, Buddy Miles, Moms Mabley, and others. Later they were the featured group at Club Venus – sometimes on double bills with the Inner Cyrkle. Renaud & the Junction also opened shows at the Civic Center for Sly & the Family Stone, and the Jackson Five.
The group existed with various lineups through the 1980s.
In May 1971 Renaud was signed with Motown Records by Marty Perellis. Renaud and the Junction toured as the opening band with the Jackson Five and Sly & the Family Stone.
Renaud hired the band Jake as his rhythm section to tour with the Jackson 5. The band featured Tony Sciuto (guitar), Bill DeLoach (keyboards), Ken Fitzgerald (bass), and Mark Weidinger (drums). They were known as Renaud & the Contraband for the tour. The group worked as a house band at the Rhapsody throughout 1973-74. They opened for Mandrill and Harold Melvins & the Bluenotes at the Civic Center on December 16, 1973. The group also played summers at Ocean City.
Above: ads circa 1973-1974
Renaud later went on to tour with the Diana Ross, and others. After leaving Motown Renaud did some modeling including ads for Jordache jeans, Headski, Beauty Beat magazine, Contempo magazine, and was featured on national advertising campaign as the bullfighter in Yago Sangria print and live advertisements.
Motown’s Gil Askey produced an album for Renaud at Blue Seas in Hunt Valley (before the studio was moved to the Inner Harbor). The rhythm section was Ralph Fisher (drums), Gary Leslie Langston (guitar), Jim Gallon (bass), and Scott Johnson (keyboards). The group continued playing together as a backing band for Winfield Parker as the Mighty Upsetters, and later they became Both Worlds.
In 1976 Renaud released a single as A.R.W. & the J.T. Audren Band titled “Colt Express – Part 1” b/w (Part 2) in tribute to the Colts going to the Super Bowl. During this time he made many appearances at the Village Gate in New York.
In 1977 Renaud did recordings at Sheffield with David Bravo. He wrote lyrics to Deodato songs and was invited to New York by Deodato to record. They came back to Baltimore and did recordings at Sheffield.
Renaud’s 1987 album “The Way You Look at Me” featured co-vocalist Nancy Bender, and keyboards and digital instruments by David Spradley. The set was mixed by Spradley, Renaud and Gary Cooper.
Among Renaud’s songwriting music and lyric credits include Lou Rawls’ “Sunshine (When Are You Coming My Way)” released on 1984 LP “Close Company” (Epic Records), and “I Feel Myself Falling in Love with You” a duet with Tenita Jordan on her album “Tenita (1986 CBS Records).
Renaud released an album in 2001 titled “Roots” that featured Demian Bell (Denny Romans ex-Maypole).
More recently Renaud continued his work with underprivileged kids and promotion of humanitarian issues including AIDS awareness. He worked with bass guitarist Terry Battle at their Producers Workshop studio in Baltimore County. Battle played bass for Herbie Mann, and also recorded, produced, and performed with local artists such as David Bach, Jimmy Wilson…
Recent Renaud releases include “Yesterday’s Child”, and the perennial Christmas favorite “It’s That Time of The Year Again” was produced as a music video and received some TV airplay with promotion by local air personality Tim Watts.
On February 25, 2009 Renaud was honored by the Afro-American newspaper and Coor’s beer with the “Legends and Pioneers Award: For Community Excellence, Perseverance and Leadership” for the Category of the Arts / Music.
Projects in the works include TV special “The Last Mustang“ and new album “I Ride Horses.”
Photos courtesy of Renaud
Record releases by Renaud include:
1968(LP) The Many Moods of Renaud
1968 Summertime /
1968 Pumpkin 102 What Are Friends For ? / Blues For Baby
196 Mount Vernon 001 Stop / Soul Brother
1976 Canadian American 112476 Colt Express (Pt 1) / (Pt 2)
1986 Vision Quest 91586 The Way You Look at Me / (instr.)
1987(CD) Vision Quest 91587 The Way You Look at Me
2000(CD) PWS 001 choices
2001(CD) Roots
