Popular R&B review group that featured the vocals of Robert Owens, Clarence Owens, James Garrett, Winston Lee, and Craig Johnson. The band, formerly known as the Coachmen, with the addition of the vocal quintet they became known as the Startones. The band included Fred Smith (guitar), Mark Dennis (bass), Ken Miller (keyboards), Barry Goodman (drums), Mark Siegmeister (trumpet), Robby Bloom (sax), Mark Kramer (sax), and Joey Finkelstein (trombone). Marty Goldstein replaced Goodman in mid-1968.
The Startones played many high school dances, fraternity and sorority parties, proms, private affairs as well as regular stints at The Zoo, Jaguar Club, The Crystal Ballroom, Famous Ballroom, and the Milford Mill Swim Club. They won the 12 group “Rock-o-Rama Battle of the Bands” at the Randallstown Plaza Theatre on June 16th, 1967, competed in the Teen Fair Battle of the Bands at the Civic Center in June 1968, performed on television’s Kerby Scott Show, and the huge Decency Rally at Memorial Stadium on April 20, 1969, with many of Baltimore’s top acts. They also could be seen at the University of Virginia, and American University sharing the stage with the Blues Magoos. The band recorded at Flite Three Studios.
By the late ‘60s, with a growing interest in psychedelic music, the group disbanded. Smith and Dennis went on to form Lucifer’s Mother. Smith and Miller eventually re-united in 1978 as members of Used Parts. Smith also later played with The Justin Taylor Band, and Checkered Past. Garret went on to join the D.C. based Fantasy recording artist The Blackbyrds. Kramer continued to perform jazz in the Baltimore area.
