R&B group formed by merger of vocal groups the Spinners with Little Ray & the Playboys. Both groups had competed against each other in battles of the bands. After each group lost a couple members to the draft, the remaining members decided to join together to create one group. Originally known as Frankie & the Spinners, the group was fronted by lead vocalist Frank Kennedy, along with vocalists Robert Kennedy, Joe Shields, Raymond Shields, Ronnie Green, and Charles Stanback Graves. Larry Moore was the first guitarist. They heard bass guitarist Charles Hawkins aka ‘Hawk’ at a talent show and asked him to join.
Courtesy of Charles Hawkins
Moore was later replaced with James Forney (guitar). The rhythm section consisted of original member ‘Hawk’ on bass, with Stan Green (keyboards), Reuben Armstrong (drums), and Don Johnson (congas and business manager). The brass section included Roscoe Evans (alto sax ex-Ricky & the Chips), Leon Ferguson (tenor sax), Dennis Holman (baritone sax), Benny Woodson (trumpet), and Joe Harris (trumpet). One of the original backing bands, named Albatross, featured guitarist Guy Curtis.
Harris, Woodson, Evans. Courtesy of Charles Hawkins
Early gigs included the Holy Rosary, St. Michael’s, and St. Brigid’s CYO’s. On Saturday June 17, 1967 they were seen on the show ’67 Set’ on TV Channel 11. Also seen in May 1967 at The Zoo with the British Walkers, at a North Point Gardens show with the Gigs on July 14, 1967 hosted by Kerby Scott, the 5th annual Moonshot Dance at the Congregation Hall with the Aces, Tangiers, Chancellors, and Continental Rockers.
The Spinners had to change their name in mid-1967 due to a conflict with the popular Motown Spinners group. On September 13 they appeared with Motown’s Four Tops in a show at the Club Venus.
Now known as Franky & the Spindles, they recorded and released some of the best soul / rock material to come out of Baltimore during their era. The group performed at the Civic Center on April 7, 1968. Also seen at the UAW Hall, the Dark Corner.
Over the years the group opened for (or backed) such top artists as Wilson Pickett, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Marvelettes, Temptations, and others. The Spindles performed at the Baltimore City Fair on September 22, 1973. They were also seen at the People’s Outing at Timonium Fairgrounds on May 26, 1974 with Bill Withers along with many other local groups.
Courtesy of Charles Hawkins
A mid-’70s concert at Morgan State featured the vocal line-up as noted above. The rhythm section consisted of Robert ‘Wah-Wah’ Legrand (guitar), Daryl Stokes (guitar), Clyde Harris (bass ex-Little Beavers), Lois Stewart aka ‘Chocolate Chip’ (keyboards), Kelvin Jones (drums ex-Black Ice), and the only remaining ‘60s era member Donald Johnson (bongos).
Legrand went on to join the backup band for Teddy Pendergrass and appeared on the albums “It’s Time for Love” (1981), “This One’s for You” (1982), and the 2002 live set “From Teddy with Love.” He also played for the ‘70s band MFD. Armstrong could be seen playing jazz music in the ‘00s with Tim Harris & the Do It All Band.
The Spindles reunited in early ‘00s with original vocalists Joe Shields, and Raymond Shields, adding Fernando Lewis, Joe Wiggins (ex-Crosswind), and Jay Sharp. The re-formed group also included original members Charles Hawkins (bassist who had played in mid-70s with Earth LTD…), and Roscoe Evans (sax), with Kim Williams (keyboards ex-BADD), Roland Williams (drums ex-BADD), Ferrante Baker (guitar), and Anthony Ashton (trumpet).
The Spindles continued to perform special affairs, clubs and concerts. Seen at the Windsor Inn, Lyric Theater, Meyerhoff, Towson Afro-American Festival, Maryland Live! Casino, benefit concert for American Lung Association, annual concerts at the Lurman Woodland Theater…
In May 2003 the Spindles performed at the 1st annual Baltimore All Stars R&B Reunion.
Raymond passed away in 2008. Carlton Scott came aboard as new vocalist.
In 2016 Playback Records released a retrospective CD consisting of all their single releases.
As of this writing in 2025, The Spindles have continued performances for over 60 years!
Franky (Frankie) & the Spindles discography:
1968 Roc-Ker 100 (My Girl) Is Made of Candy / My Letter to You
1968 Roc-Ker 101 Count to Ten / Handwriting on The Wall
1969 Roc-Ker 575 May Be Tomorrow / There Is a Beauty
1971 Roc-Ker 3314 Don’t Let It Happen / For Your Love
1972 Funny “A” 2000 You Seen Her? / Maybe Tomorrow
1973 Gamble 2510 Makin’ Up Time (Pt. 1) / (Pt. 2)
1974 TSOP 4755 As Long as You Love Me / Wanda
1977 Strawberry 108 Crazy About Your Love / (instr)
2016(CD) Playback 8507 Count to Ten – The Complete Singles Collection 1968-77
