Rock and roll group with original lineup featuring Chuck Dehn (bass), Lester Sexton (guitar), Ronnie Madden (sax), and Will Carnes (drums). The Triumphs performed as the house band at Sadie’s Lounge on Broadway Street, Elmer’s Musical Bar, the Tarry Inn, the Keystone Inn…
The group was one of the first Beatles influenced cover bands in the Baltimore area. Their play list featured covers of popular hits including the current Beatles songs and an original local favorite composition “Anything I Can Do.”
In early 1964, as the Beatles were making their major musical impact stateside, Elmer Greenwall (Elmer’s Twistin’ Musical Bar owner) jokingly advertised his house band Chuck Dehn’s Triumphs as the Water Bugs in Bernie Lit’s Playboy entertainment guide.
Sexton was later replaced with Bobby Godsey (lead guitar), and Dennis Fox (keyboards ex-Crossfires) was added to the group.
Godsey went on to play country / rock with the Ernie West Group. He came back with Dehn and Madden as a trio playing the Tarry Inn before going on to play with Dave Nicely, and touring nationally with the Jimmy Case Show. Madden later appeared as member of the Early Tymes, Group 5… Fox was later with the Palisades, Fox & Company… Carnes went on to the Wrecking Crew, Jay Grainger’s Persuasions…
