Pianist / organist Lou Voir formed the Versatiles while in high school. The original group split up and Lou kept the name, forming a new group in the early ‘50s.
A 1955 lineup included Lou on the 88’s with Reds Feehley (sax), Walt Cole (sax), Gregory Gaydos (electric bass), and Jake Needleman (drums). Gaydos was drafted into the service and was replaced with Dominic Russo.
The Versatiles released a single in 1955 “I Said Ooh” b/w “My Shirley.”
The group could be seen locally at the Coronet Club, Carl’s Musical Bar, D’Mitry’s, Ravelers on Holabird Avenue, Jazz Room, Celebrity Lounge, Minnick’s, Phil-Mar’s… In addition to local appearances, they also traveled throughout the east coast and mid-west.
Back in Baltimore the Versatiles were house band for the Surf Club for an entire year. On Sundays they played jam sessions which featured many musicians including saxophonist Al Baitch. The group would form a conga line across the highway and stop traffic.
Walt Cole went on to perform and record with the Troubadors. Members of the Versatiles group formed the Hi-Five in 1958.
1957 Lou Voir and saxophonist Joe Skiavo were both drafted into the service. As fate would have it, both ended up in the same unit. During their stay they traveled and performed with the Third Army Recording Band. Upon returning in 1959 the duo went to Las Vegas and continued to perform together with a show group called the Debra Hayes Revue.
Lou later joined and went on the road with Pete Rubino & The Crackpots, a traveling group that was working in D.C. Members of the group split off and became known as the Punchinellos, performing a show that consisted of comedy, vocals and instrumentals.
In 1960 Voir re-formed the group headlined as Lou Voir’s Versatiles. The Versatiles could be seen throughout the ‘60s at clubs such as the Keystone, Celebrity, Surf Club…
Voir answered a call from Chris Fiorita, a trumpet player from New York, and joined the Corvairs. The traveling group included a one-year stint in Puerto Rico where they shared the stage and became friends with stars such as Sammy Davis, Jr., Neil Sedaka, and Nat ‘King’ Cole…
In 1965 the Versatiles became a house band at the Hollywood Park in Essex playing on double bills with groups such as Tommy Vann & the Echoes.
Lou Voir continued to perform with a combo, solo, or accompanying other groups at clubs including the Carousel, Latin Casino, Oyster Bay, Place in the Alley, and in the ‘70s at the Chanticleer, Green Dolphin, Raven’s Nest, Pecora’s, Russo’s… Accompanists included Jake Needleman (drums), Andy Gargano (drums ex-Bob Fields Quartet), Marvin Simmons (drums), Jimmy ‘Little Red’ Blount (Louis Prima’s trombonist)…
In mid-‘80s Lou wrote the song “I Need Your Love.” He organized a big band that included saxophonist from the Navy Commodores, brass from the Airmen of Note, and strings from the Marines band. The band recorded an album at Bias Studio, Falls Church, Virginia.
In the ‘00s Voir continued to perform at Delaware ocean resorts Harpoon Hanna’s, and House of Welsh on Fenwick Island where he appeared for over 20 years.
I (Joe V) caught a couple of Lou’s entertaining performances at The House of Welsh on Fenwick Island in the early 2000’s. His album “I Need Your Love” was a cassette release. Recorded at Bias Studios (Springfield, VA), Engineered and mixed by Bob Dawson.
A resident of Selbyville, DE, Lou passed away in January 2012 at age 77.
Gregory G led a jazz trio in the ‘70s. Skiavo later played with the Glenn Miller Band, Buddy Morrow…
1955
1955 (indie) I Said Ooh / My Shirley
1989(CS) (indie) I Need Your Love
