Soul band also known as the (Jumping) Jaguars consisting of Richard Walker (guitar), Sonny Jackson (drums), William Ross (guitar), ‘One-eyed Willie’ Melvin (bass)… They contacted their friend Bernard Purdie (see bio), who had since moved to New York as an accomplished session drummer, to get them a recording deal. Purdie informed them that it wasn’t easy to make it in New York and that they really needed something special in order to make the trip. The guys figured that if the Beatles could make it, so could they. Calling themselves the Tan Beetles they went out and bought black wigs, cutting them off to look like the British mop tops.
The group released a single “Hobo Walk” b/w “Skid Row” (songs written by Sonny Jackson and Floyd Barnes, Jr.). Barnes was a songwriter and producer who owned the Tamango, Baltimore Sound, and Forward labels. He passed away in 2006.
Apparently, the group never made it in New York, although bassist ‘One-Eyed Willie’ had once recorded with Phil Flowers & the T.N.T. Tribble Band, and later went to D.C. and performed with Jazz great Horace Silver.
Walker went on to join the Sound Track Band…
196* Baltimore Sound 116 Hobo Walk / Skid Row
