Country music group formed by former members of Tex Daniel’s Lazy H Ranch band. Guitarist Paul Seipp (see bio) left Daniels’ band in 1950 to join the service. While on tour in Korea, Paul played bass drum with the 25th Infantry Band the Wolfhounds. Upon return stateside, he organized the members of his former band Frank Stone aka ‘Stoney’ (steel guitar), Dottie Lee Penninger (rhythm), and Rick Penninger (guitar) and created the Rhythmaires. Seen at Dovi’s Lounge on Gay Street, Harry’s Corral, Stanley’s Drive-In, Ed’s High Life, Golden Ring Inn, Cloverleaf, Elmer’s Musical Bar, the Southern Inn on Holabird Avenue… The group also played gigs at the New River Ranch in Rising Sun where they opened for notables such as Wanda Jackson and Patsy Cline…
Another group named Joe Tucker & the Rhythmaires performed at the Lighthouse Hotel on Camden and Light Streets.
Paul Seipp & the Rythemaries (sic) released a single in 1958 on Blue Bell Records #1040/1041 titled “Little Gray Shack” b/w “Hold Me in Your Arms.” The group traveled to New York and auditioned for Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts. Known as the King Ford Rhythmaires (named after the King Ford car dealership in Essex) in the mid-’60s with Seipp, Stoney, Don (vibes), and Randy (drums), they did a weekly live show on WBAL-TV called “Bar 13 Round-Up”, and a live WBMD radio broadcast every Saturday, emceed by Richard Scherr. The group played as house band at many clubs including the Golden Ring Inn, Cloverleaf, Southern Inn, Lighthouse Inn, Stardust…
Photos courtesy of Frank Stone (Jr)
Stoney later played with L.C. Smith, Jimmy West, and others. He passed away in 1996. By the ‘00s Seipp continued to do solo work consisting of 20-25 dates per month at nursing homes and assisted living centers. His repertoire consisted of pop standards, country, and light rock supplemented with jokes and storytelling.
Since the mid-‘70s Paul has also worked with Don Henry (keyboards, vibes ex-Whitey Johnson’s bands, Ralph Johnson’s bands) as a duo at the Stoney Creek Democratic Club and various gigs. They continued to perform monthly gigs at the Dundalk Moose.
1958 Blue Bell 1040/1041 Little Gray Shack / Hold Me in Your Arms
