Soul group formed in 1972 by friends around Earickson Place in East Baltimore. Members included Donna Ray (lead vocals), Kelvis aka ‘Cake’ (lead vocalist, rhythm guitar), Samantha Matthews (vocals, bongos, sax), Jamell Matthews (lead guitar), Arrone Toomer (bass), and Maurice Matthews (drums). The group was managed and financed by Charles Dixon, and promoted by Mary Mullaney and disc jockey Hoppy Adams. Equipment manager David Dixon.
Young Generators were the house band at My Brother’s Place on North Gay Street. They played at various other clubs in the Baltimore area such as the Red Barn, Outer Limits, Bear’s Den, Sportsmen’s Lounge, Famous Ballroom, Al Brown’s Place, Elite Club, Cherry Hill Union Hall, 3 B’s, Twenty Grand, G&G Lounge, Carmel Hall, Maritime Union Hall, 1-2-3 Club in Aberdeen, Walter Reed Hospital in D.C., etc.
They opened for Jr. Walker & the All Stars at the Gentlemen 10 Club on Edmondson Avenue, and opened for the Manhattans at the Salisbury Civic Center. The group also played clubs on the Eastern Shore and traveled to surrounding states including Cross Creek Cabins in Warrenton, Virginia, Delaware State College, Dover Air Force Base, West Point, New York, Governor’s Island, New York, Washington, D.C., and numerous clubs in York and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
The group recorded at Blue Seas Studios under the direction of engineers Ben Kaplan, Guy Phillips, George Massenberg, and Victor Giordiano. The song “Sad & Lonely World” was written by Mary Mullaney and had been previously recorded by other local artists including the Arterials, and Collette Kelly.
Around 1980 the group became known as Revue. Hoppy Adams introduced Charles Dixon to Bill Boskent (manager of Lloyd Price, Fats Domino, etc…). As Revue they released singles on Dixon’s MaeDix record label, named after group members Matthews and Dixon.
1975 Mary YG:001 Sad & Lonely World / (same)
197* Star Ship 35101 Sad & Lonely World (Part 1) / (Part 2)
197* Star Ship 3510 What We Have / The City
198* MaeDix 1745 Stay in My Corner (Pt.1) / (Pt.2)
198*(12”) MaeDix Dance and Groove (Pt.1) / (Pt.2)
Young Generators photos – Courtesy of Charles Dixon. Thanks to Charles and David Dixon.
