Joey Michael Patrick Welzant began playing piano at a young age. His mother was a classically trained pianist and Joey took an interest in the R&B sounds of the late ‘40s and ‘50s. As a big fan of rockabilly as well as R&B music Joey met and became friends with many of the top national stars who came through Baltimore – especially Bill Haley & the Comets for whom he worked as a roadie whenever the group was in town.
Welz formed his first band in 1954 (see Jay Rockers) who cut a few rockabilly records in Baltimore in the mid-’50s. He later formed the Rock-A-Billies (see bio).
In 1959 Joey started hanging around Monumental Studios to learn about the recording business. He re-cut some of the Jay Rockers songs along with some originals and later that year released his first solo single “Boppin’ the Stroll” on Bat Records. Bat was a Monumental subsidiary named after founders Brenner, A’Hern (President), and Taylor (engineer).
Shortly after his first single release Welz joined the Army. He was eventually stationed in Germany and obtained a position working at Armed Forces Radio. While stationed in Germany he had the opportunity to continue with music by performing and producing groups from the area. Joey once met and jammed with a group called the Silver Beatles at the Star Club in Hamburg. He also ran into Bill Haley & the Comets who were touring Europe.
After returning to Baltimore in 1963 Welz became A&R man for the Bat and Monumental labels as well as Ralph Johnson’s Dome and Wedge labels. Most of the releases on those labels featured production, arrangements, and keyboards by Joey. He played many local recording sessions including Rita & Upsetters on Zenette. Joey’s song “Hey Rattlesnake” featured backing by the Upsetters and was a chart topper in the Pittsburgh area.
In 1966 Welz joined Bill Haley’s Comets to tour the U.S.
Over the years Joey worked with many of the local guitar legends including Link Wray and Roy Buchanan. He has appeared on many television programs including Milt Grant (‘58), Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars (‘63), Buddy Deane Show (‘64), Prom Time (‘64), WBAL’s Baltimore at One (‘75), WJZ-TV’s Larry Angel Show (‘76).
Welz claims to have co-written “Forever” with Buddy Killen which became a national hit for the Little Dippers (who’s vocal group was known as Anita Kerr Singers and appeared on some of Joeys records). The song also charted as an instrumental his for Pete Drake, and also was recorded by the Kimberly’s on the Can-Am label.
The early 1970s psych-rock group Joey & the Time Machine featured members from mostly the Annapolis area. The group also provided backing music for country singer Betty Beaumont’s 1975 single on Stable Records.
In 1976 Joey’s song “Going Back to Maryland” won a bicentennial award that was presented by Governor Marvin Mandel. Keyboard Magazine began listing Joey in its polls for top players in 1977.
In 1978 he joined original Comets to form a traveling revival show. He later released a single “The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” b/w “Bring Back the Music” on Keystone Records (the B-side recorded with the last original Comet’s group). Joey also obtained an original master of Bill Haley with Comets’ Rudy Pompelli and Billy Williamson singing and clapping along to “Football Rock and Roll.” Welz got permission and used his studio band consisting of Welz (piano), with Bennett Rabiega (guitar, bass), and Bobby McCormick (drums) to provide backing music. The record was released on Jukebox Records b/w “Six Year Olds’ Can Rock and Roll.”
Joey evolved into a country music artist and scored several Cashbox hits in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Seen in the mid-’80s as a regular performer at the Ott House in Emmittsburg, and Ye Olde Millstream Inn. In 1985 he cut the single “Takin’ Care of Business” featuring the group Great Train Robbery, who also accompanied Joey on his 1987 single “Rockin’ in America.”
In the ‘00s Joey continued his role as President of Gerry Granahan’s Caprice Records located in Lititz, Pennsylvania. The company owns and leases the original recording masters of the Canadian American record label.
Joey Welz singles discography
1959 Bat 1001 Boppin’ the Stroll / Shore Party
1963 Bat 1002 The Whistling Piano Man / The Mystery of Love
1963 Bat 1003 Let’s Bop and Stroll Again / The Whistling Man’s Boogie
1964 CanAm 169 Hey, Little Moonbeam / In My Blue Room (Where I Dream)
1964 Monumental 510 I Ain’t Got a Thing (But the Song I Sing) / Here Comes the Juke Box Man
1964 Bat 1004 Maybe / I Will Sing a Rhapsody
1965 Game Time 123 Hey, Rattlesnake / I’m A Lonely Guy
1965 Teardrop 3082 You Changed / Baby Let Your Hair Hang Down
1966 Fraternity 522 Time Won’t Let Me / Double Shot of Piano Jerk
1966 Swan (Bat) 4274 Wooly Bully Rides Again / The Ooby Duby
1966 Teardrop 3082 Baby, Let Your Hair Hang Down / You Changed
1967 Leedle 801 Hey Rattlesnake / I’m A Lonely Guy
1968 Palmer 5023 Rhapsody for A Summer Night / Maybe, You’re A Girl
1968 CanAm 208 Candle in The Wind / Million Drums
1968 CanAm 210 Forever / Marine’s Diary
1969 CanAm 212 Punchinello / Soldier’s Star
1969 Palmer 5030 What Did She Wear / (I’ll Remember) Our Summer
1969 Audio Fidelity 149 I’ll Do Anything for You / I’m A Wheel
1970 Palmer 5032 The Mini Rock N’ Roll Revival / A Rose and A Baby Ruth
1971 Palmer 5034 Return to Me / Pretty Is the Word for Love
1972 Palmer 5036 Runaway / Come Go with Me
1973 Palmer 5038 Flamingo Love / Touch Them with Love
1974 Music City 890 Listen to The Voices That Want to Be Free / Right on To Rock and Roll
1975 Music City 891 Country Comforts / Rippin’ em Off in The Name of Love
1976 London Amer 1976 Goin’ Back to Maryland / Love Is a Moment
1976 Disc-Go 301 Bump A Bump / Legendary R’n’R Boogie Band
1976 Disc-Go 302 Rollerballin’ / The Keyboard Wizard
1977 Music Machine 1111 Fire and Brimstone / The Legendary Rockin’ Roll Piano Playin’ Man
1977 Music City 892 It’s A Long Way from Country / Kozmic City Blues
1978 Disc-Go 303 Sir Duke at The Hop / New Wave Blues
1979 Disc-Go 304 Rippin’ em Off in The Name of Love /Right on To Rock’n’Roll
1979 Music City 893 Return to Me / We Should Be in Love
1980 LeCam 629 Hey Baby / On My Way to Lovin’ You
1981 Music City 895 Bring Back the Music / The Hawk Talks
1982 Fraternity 3475 Rock Around the Clock / I Remember R&R
1983 Fraternity 3484 In My Car / American Made R&R
1984 Amer.Radio 195484 I Love the Radio / Video Rock
198* Jukebox 1958 Football Rock and Roll / Six Year Olds’ Can Rock and Roll
1984 Caprice 2338 Take Me Home Country Roads (West Virginia) / Down on The Farm (EI-EI-OH)
1985 Caprice 2339 American Made Country Roll / No More Nightmares
1985 Caprice 2340 Heavy Metal Kids / Takin’ Care of Business
1986 Caprice 2342 Return of Haley’s Comet / Space Ryder
1987 Keystone 5104 The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame / Bring Back the Music
1987 Amer.Radio 195490 Rockin’ in America /Dancin’ in U.S.A.
1988 Caprice 2348 Born to Be Wild / Song for My Lady
1989 Caprice 2349 Six Days on The Road / Rocky Top
1989(EP) Caprice 2350 Good Ole Country Music Rock and Roll /
1989 Caprice 2352 Discovery / Dooms Day Dawn
1990 Caprice 2354 My Spanish Rose from Mexico / Oh Donna
1990 Caprice 2358 One Way Ticket / Headin’ for the 90’s
1990 Caprice 2359 Say A Little Prayer / Someone in Nashville Write Me A Song
1990 Caprice 2360 16 Ways / If That’s Where It’s At
1991 Caprice 2362 Where Would I Be Without You / My Kind of Country (Is Rock and Roll)
1991 Caprice 2368 Dooms Day Dawn / Sole Survivor
1992 Caprice 2370 Heading for Armageddon / Freedom Waits
1992 Caprice 2378 Rock-A-Billy / Rocket to The Moon
1992 Trend 5393 Rock Around the Clock / Rock-A-Billy Son
1994 Bold1 BL-304 Shake, Rattle and Roll / Summertime Blues
1995 Caprice 2398 Nashville Now Boogie / Did the Wheels Come Off the Wagon
1995 Caprice 2408 My Spanish Rose from Mexico / El Paso
Single as by Joey & the Time Machine:
1970 Rabbit 1001 Caught by Love / Big City
Album releases by Joey Welz:
1968 LeFevre 533 In A Memphis Bag
1969 Palmer 13402 Rock Revival
1970 Palmer 13404 Revival Fires
1971 Music City 5004 Comfortable in The Country (Joey Welz & The Time Machine Band)
1978 Music City 5005 Cosmic City Blues & Mellow Dreams
1986 Caprice 1986 The Return of Haley’s Comet
1989 Caprice 2022 Rock and Roll Gold – Headin’ for the 90’s
1990 Caprice 2024 Forever and A Day
1990 Hydra 7713 Rockabilly Years
1993(CD) Caprice 195593 Bring Back the Music
Singles notes: Bat 4273 with the Kidd Brothers. 1964 CanAm release “Hey Little Moonbeam” featured vocal backing by the Angels. Monumental 510 featured the Shirlettes vocal group. Audio Fidelity 149 with the Ray-Men. Palmer 5032 The Bluze Revival. Music City 893 with the Anita Kerr Singers. Disc-Go 303 with the Comets. American Radio 195490 A-side with Great Train Robbery.
Album notes: LeFevre 533 with Link Wray at Ray Vernon’s Dawn Productions. Palmer LP’s and Music City 5005 feature Wray and Roy Buchanan. 1990 Hydra album is a German import.
Joey later had releases on Fraternity, American Radio, Caprice, Keystone, Doorknob, Bold… Photos courtesy of Joey Welz
