Formed in early 1963 by friends from Dulaney, Archbishop Curley, and Patterson Park High Schools. The group consisted of vocalists Jim Kelly (guitar), Richard Croucher, and Sandy Meade, along with Chet Dembeck (lead guitar), Wade Randall (bass), Joe Blizzard (drums), David Hatcher (trombone), Bill Jeise (trumpet, arranger), and Gene Lubrecki (sax). Earl Mummert, and Ernie Berger (keyboards ex-Shadows, Rivieras) were also members.
Drummer Joe Blizzard explained that “the group got its name from Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford Upon Avon. In the summer of 1963, I had the privilege of going to Europe and had the opportunity to visit Stratford Upon Avon. When I returned, we were sitting around trying to come up with a name for our group. We decided to use the name ‘The Stratfords’ which we all seemed to like.”
The new group performed in a Buddy Deane sponsored Battle of the Bands which featured the Lafayettes, Flintstones, Pastels, and many others.
Their first original record release “Never Leave Me” was written by Kelly and Croucher, although Croucher had left the band before its release. The group persuaded Jim’s father Eugene Kelly to foot the bill for their demo recording, appointing him as the Stratford’s agent. After shopping the tape around to area DJ’s, they traveled to New York and cut a demo. With the demo in hand, it was still not enough to persuade local radio stations to play it. They insisted that the record have a label and be commercially distributed. This led to the birth of O’Dell Records. Since Mr. Kelly would summon his wife by calling “Oh, Dell!” thus the label name O’Dell.
Within the first two months of release the record sold 19,000 copies in the Baltimore area, climbing to number 4 on the local Top-40 popularity charts, while also charting in other cities as well. The record was rated a ‘Regional Breakout’ by Billboard Magazine in 1964 and charted in individual markets across the country.
The Stratfords at number 4 of the W-I-T-H radio survey for week of January 19, 1964: (Note: Survey sheet is incorrectly labeled 1963 – should be 1964)
Below Left: Sandy Meade and Jim Kelly – 1964.
Rec Studio: Ernie Berger on piano and Joe Blizzard on drums in recording session at Recordings Incorporated in Baltimore (spring 1964)The Stratfords traveled in support of the single, appearing in many cities including Hartford, CT where they opened for Freddie Cannon, and Pittsburgh, PA opening for Skeeter Davis. The group went on to open shows for many top acts including the Four Seasons, Chiffons, Angels, Linda Scott, Diane Renay, Pixies Three, Freddy Cannon, and others.
By early 1964 the Stratfords were producing their second single and had secured underwriting and distribution for O’Dell by Herald-Ember Records. Unfortunately, by this time Herald-Ember was on the decline and never afforded the Stratfords the backing they needed for a hit record.
Below: The Stratfords in the studio circa 1964 – Photos courtesy of Jim Kelly
“In the fall of 1964 Sandy Meade, Bill Jeise and I went off to the University of Maryland” recalled Blizzard, “We still managed to keep playing around that time and we mostly did jobs in the Baltimore area in lounges and nightclubs. I remember playing until 2:00 AM in Baltimore and then driving back to U of M at College Park to try and make an 8:00 AM Micro Economics class. I believe that I passed the course but that is still a mystery to me how that happened.”
Randall was eventually replaced with Bill Whitney on bass – who was later replaced with Larry Cox. A 1965 lineup featured Kelly (vocals), Dembeck (lead guitar), Eddie Wockenfuss (rhythm guitar ex-Statics), Whitney (bass), and Blizzard (drums). With guidance from Alan Field and Paul Rodgers the group made trips to Virtue Studios in Philadelphia where they recorded songs including the Field composition “Throw Stones.”
Standing L-R: Frankie, Jim, Eddie. Seated L-R: Tim & wife Maria, Pat & Chet Dembeck,
and Margie (Eddie’s girlfriend).
The Stratfords played teen centers, school dances, and local clubs including Bob Leonard’s Satyr House on Perring Parkway, and in 1968 they were the house band at the Keystone Inn. The group played many of Les Alexander’s (WCAO) record hops at the Milford Mill Swim Club and the Owings Mills Fire Hall, sometimes opening for other aspiring local stars such as Jimmy Jordan, and Joey Welz. The Stratfords also traveled to Wildwood New Jersey with DJ Steve Wade (WITH, WCAO) where they opened for the Shangri-Las.
A 1967-69 lineup of the group featured Jim Kelly (vocals), Chet Dembeck (guitar), Tim Torba (bass), Eddie Wockenfuss (keyboards), and Frankie Taylor (drums). The group performed at Ramona’s, Rhapsody Club, Keystone Inn…
In 1969 the group re-formed as Some People’s Kids.
Kelly went on to join A New Day. Berger also was a member of the Neuvelles, Esquires, Nunsuch, Persuaders, and became a disc jockey on rock station WLPL-FM in June 1969 known as Ritchie Steele. Whitney later joined the Scottsmen and Better Half. Dembeck went on to stints with the New Dynamics, the Epics, and The Package. Randall joined the Esquires. Wockenfuss went on to play keyboards for the Inner Cyrkle.
Photos and information courtesy of Jim Kelly.
Record releases by the Stratfords:
1963 O’Dell 100 Never Leave Me / Enaj
1964 O’Dell 101 Two Lovers / Crosstown
1964 O’Dell 104 Really Need Your Love / Night Train
1965 O’Dell 112 A Fool and His Girl / Tossin’ An’ Turnin’
1965 O’Dell 114 Throw Stones / Where Is She Now
