Formed in 1957 in the Calvert Hall area by members of the Jay Rockers. Members included Charlie Shriner (guitar), Wayne Grimm (guitar), Joey Welz (piano), Richard Flirbie (standup bass) and/or Dan Leonard (bass), with Lou Hinkel (drums). The group played the teen center circuit and clubs throughout the Baltimore area and the Eastern Shore.
Vocalist Marty Thompson was a member briefly in the late ‘50s after passing an impromptu audition at the Uplands Teen Center. He remembered that “Joey and the guys would play the first set and then they’d call me up in the 2nd set and I’d do some of the hits of that time period and of course rockabilly songs. Joey would act like I was some new phenom and would really build me up, telling the audience that I was just about to release my first record, which was news to me! I’d come out with a drape style hairdo and wiggle and sing and the kids would all gather around me and scream and applaud. And then on the next break, they’d have me sign autographs. This went on for another four or five months and then the group disbanded.”
The Rock-A-Billies did some studio recordings and released singles on Berman Records including the songs “Pony Walk,” “Twangy,” and “Happy Train.” Additional recordings included “Come on Baby.” “Let’s Do It,” “Shore Party,” and some of Welz’ early singles including “Boppin’ the Stroll,” and “The Mystery of Love.”
Welz (see bio) left to join the army in 1959.
In the late ‘50s the group could be seen at Charlotte’s Fiesta on double bills with the Straker Brothers, and the Crystalettes.
Early recordings can be heard on the import reissue albums “Bison Bop – volume 32,” “Joey Welz – Rockabilly Years” on Hydra Records, and “Joey Welz – Top Ten Radio Hits of the 50s” (Canadian-American 1950).
The group later morphed into the Galaxies. Thompson had a brief stint with Little Jimmy & the Tops before joining the Galaxies.
