Essex area Top 40 rock and soul cover band.
Members included Ken McAvoy (lead guitar), Mike Leary (rhythm), Larry Johnson (bass), Chuck Jones (drums), Don Muenzing (organ), and Tim Cech (sax). Tim was only with the band briefly before leaving to join the New Diablos. Also, Johnson soon left the band being replaced with bassist Danny Focht. The band added a lead singer named Larry Lingerfelter for a short period. They were seen at rec halls and teen centers. Performed at the Kenwood battle of the bands on August 26, 1967 along with the Gigs and the New Diablos.
Below: Two photos of The Vandells at Kenwood High School – August 26, 1967. Courtesy of Don Muenzing
In the summer of 1968 Muenzing had grown tired of the Top 40 scene and desired to perform rock album cuts. He and Focht split from the Vandells and formed White Lightning. Around the same time Leary and McAvoy also left to form the band Obsession.
