West Baltimore soul group formed near Coppin State College and Warwick Avenue. In the mid-’60s Gerald Williams and Ray Williams had a group called the Glands. Billy Herndon joined and the group became known as the Whatnauts (named after a collection of ‘what-nots’ they saw in a relative’s curio cabinet).
The Whatnauts featured vocalists Billy Herndon (lead), Garnett Jones, William Brown, Gerald Pinkney aka ‘Chunky’, and Ray Owens. They eventually became national recording stars with the million selling single “I’ll Erase Away Your Pain.” The group was backed by local musicians who later became known as the Sound Experience. Everett Harris was the original bass guitarist.
Below: ads for The Zoo Club – June and October 1967:
In the early days they performed at school dances (Catonsville High 1968 Christmas Dance) and teen centers, The Zoo in Brooklyn… The group played at the Civic Center with the Admirals. A talent show at Carver High School gave the group the big break to play at the Famous Ballroom where they were introduced to producer George Kerr. Working under the direction of Kerr they eventually established the professionalism that earned them 7 national hit records, including recordings with Philadelphia’s great R&B group the Moments.
After the first album Owens left the group and they became a vocal trio. They eventually did three albums. Band members included Robert Williams (sax), Thomas Williams (bass), Corby (trumpet), Louis (trumpet)… Throughout the ‘70s-80s the Whatnauts toured nationally – many times on double bills with the Moments. They returned to Baltimore for shows several times a year. In addition to the studio groups and road groups, they were backed regularly by Michael Watson (guitar ex-Castelles), Allen Thomas (guitar -ex Junior Ultratones), Curtis McTeer (bass), and Donald McCoy (drums).
In 1976 the original Whatnauts broke up. Their manager assembled a new vocal group and musicians who carried on the name into the ‘80s. Drummer James Carter went on the play and write hits for Teddy Pendergrass ‘80s-00s. The new group eventually released singles on the Harlem International, and Pic-Hit labels. Early Whatnauts albums have recently been reissued on CD (and vinyl!) by Rhino Records.
In the ‘00s Herndon performed Gospel music.
Record releases as The Whatnauts & the Whatnaut Band:
1970 A&I 001 Message from A Black Man / Dance to The Music
As The Whatnauts:
1970 Stang 5014 Please Make the Love Go Away / Souling with The Whatnauts
1971 Stang 5018 What’s Left to Give / Just Can’t Leave My Baby
1971 Stang 5023 I’ll Erase Away Your Pain /Just Can’t Lose Your Lovin’
1971 Stang 5030 We’re Friends by Day (And Lover’s by Night) / Just Can’t Leave My Baby
1971 Stang 5034 We’ll Always Be Together / World
1972 Stang 5037 Blues Fly Away / Try Me
1972 Stang 5039 I’m So Glad I Found You (by Linda Jones & The Whatnauts) / World Solution (by The Whatnauts)
1972 Stang 5044 You Forget Too Easy / We’ll Always Be Together
1973 GSF 6897 Instigating (Trouble Making) Fool / I Can’t Stand to See You Cry
1973 GSF 6905 Give Him Up / I Wasn’t There
1974 Stang 5055 Let Me Be That Special One / We’ll Always Be Together
1981(12”) Harlem Int’l 110 Help Is on The Way / (Instr.)
1981 Harlem Int’l 111 Help Is on The Way / (Instr.)
1983(12”) Pic Hit 1001 Still I’ll Rise / (Instr.)
1984 Pic Hit 530002 Party On – This Is It / All I Need
As the Moments & The Whatnauts:
1974 Stang 5057 Girls (Part 1) / (Part 2)
Albums by The Whatnauts:
1970 Stang 1005 Introducing the Whatnauts
197* Stang 1012 Reaching for the Stars
197* Stang 1018 Whatnauts on The Rocks
