Top-40 and funk dance band evolved out of Smokestack Lightning / Brass Tax. Over their 10+ year history group members included vocalists Jim Caronna, Diane, Debbie, ‘Mouse’ Rohrbach (guitar), Mike Zaruba (guitar), Don Rogers (bass ex-Bittersweet, Smokestack Lightning), Mike Reese (bass ex-New Chalet, Spice), Carole Watkins (keyboards), Ed Kernan (keyboards ex-Ten Grand, Wind), Bill Johnson (drums), Dave, Brian Richardson (drums ex-Viper, Boys Say When), and the Smokestack Lightning / Brass Tax horn section of Bruce Ingram (sax/flute), Tom McCormick (sax also ex-Both Worlds), and Chris Grimaldi (trumpet)…
Steppin’ Out photos courtesy of Brian Richardson:
Steppin’ Out played many social clubs, weddings, and private affairs. They could be seen at the Patapsco Inn, Maxwell’s, Pikesville Hilton, Johnny Walker’s, the Dungeon in Ocean City, and nightly at the Golden Horn on Taylor Avenue at Loch Raven.
Rogers went on to join Monopoly. Kernan was later with Crowded Stage, Lovecraft… Zaruba’s other bands included Harvest, Impulse, Slo-Fortune… Reese went on to play in Rock Island Express. Richardson later surfaced in all originals alternative rock British band Sound 609 (circa 2003 Warner Bros), then was later with Timonium based eclectic band Release (2004-09+) while concurrently with alternative rock originals band Hockaday (Jet Speed Records, Hollywood, CA) led by Baltimore native Carlton Hockaday… Brian’s youngest daughter Jena also became an accomplished drummer who opened for the likes of the Jonas Brothers, and MTV’s Cheyenne Kimbal…
