Somewhere in Elkhart - just east of South Bend, a band spouted and bloomed - The Swingin' Stingrays! Before the British Invasion sound, the frat - Blues Brothers - soul type of thing ruled. Great for dancing and getting that "special" girl.
The Swingin' Stingrays released one 45, and "perhaps" a second.....
Tom Tom
Teen Queen
There may also be a second 45 with "Searchin'" and "Big Fat Woman", but alas, I don't have it.
And up for more input / debate: the members:
Rex has been fingered as Maze, Mays, and most recently, Masterson.
Paul, Pat & Rick (in the 1965 promo pic) remain unknown. The Swingin' Stingrays reportedly formed in 1958 and lasted until at least 1968 as evidenced by the Top Deck newspaper ad, circa August 68'.
60's Indiana band Szene team, you have been very good at filling in the blanks, and I need help here. Let's get these guys the due they deserve and get some recognition here!
Thanks to the late Bill Wagoner (of US Male - Warsaw, IN) and Terry Turner for the inspiration and tunes!
I have an hour-long interview (it has been in my notepad for weeks!) with Rod Sanders, a Sting Ray for several years, that has been in my notebook for years, and he names all the members, well at least most, and talks about Sting Ray history and much more. Will try to get to it in next few days. And there was another Sting Rays group from Rensselaer. I will try to get the newspaper story next week that appeared in the Rensselaer Republican. They have reformed and play occasionally. Terry Turner. Rod's info is much and gives a lot of real names and years... including the band backing up the Everly Brothers and appearing on the same stage as Diana Ross and the Supremes
ReplyDeletePat Gaynor played keyboards. He was fantastic.The Swingin Stingrays performed many weekends at Bass Lake,IN.
ReplyDeleteGeoff Snyder was also in the Swingin Stingrays and now has a band, Soul Funkshun, in South Bend. I played drums in The Basooties after Dennis left the band, joining in late 1968.
ReplyDeleteI am friends with Rick Maze, pictured on far right above. He is a great guy and tells many stories about the past with the band.
ReplyDeleteJim Bryar.
Wilbur Ritchie was my Uncle. The founder of the bad was Rick Maze. Rick was the lead Singer and Bass player, Wilbur played lead guitar and also sang. This band was very popular throughout the 60's and had opened for some famous bands, Everly Brothers among them.
ReplyDeleteI serendipitously met a former Stingrays drummer just today, who is getting more details from Rick that I'll post.
My father is Rick Maze. He is still the entertainer he was back then!
ReplyDeleteRick met Wilbur in 1962, at a Teen Dance in Plymouth, IN. Wilbur Ritchie, Larry Samuel and Rod Sanders, all from Knox, were playing in a saxophone style band. (No drummer, no singer) Rick got ahold of Rex Masterson (drummer) and got the original band together. (Rick Maze -guitar, lead singer -Plymouth IN, Wilbur Ritchie -guitar,singer -Knox IN, Rex Mastermon -drummer -Walkerton IN, Rod Sanders -bass -Knox IN, Larry Samuel -saxophone -Knox IN
Then came along Pat Gayner -keyboard -Knox IN.
"They were the only rockers in this area!"
They played on the same stage with "The Kinks"
"The Beach Boys"
"The Everly Brothers"
"The Rivieras"
"Paul Revere and the Raiders"
And a lot of other bands.
Additionally, they played with numerous singers, one timers. Moreover, they played all over the United States and Canada. The band split when Rick Maze got drafted for Vietnam, July 5th 1966.
I enjoyed what you had to say. Excellent.
DeleteI was engaged to Wilbur Ritchie when he passed away.
ReplyDeleteI'm Rex Masterman and I was the original drummer of the Stingrays! I lived in Walkerton Indiana and was recruited by Rick Maze in 1962. Our first gig was at the Walkerton Youth Building. The original group was Rick Maze, Wilbur Ritchie, Pat Gaynor, Rod Sanders and myself.
ReplyDeleteWe had four Teen Dance halls that we operated. Crystal Ballroom at Bass Lake Indiana, Dance Hall in Hamlet Indiana. The Hut in Elkhart Indiana, and the Attic in La Paz Indiana.
We only cut one record Teen Queen and the flip side was Tom Tom. We should have cut another one called "Shake A Tail Feather" it was a remake of an original recorded song. We changed the song and added a special dance that our fans went crazy over. WE would get 4 to 5 request to play it nightly! We cut an additional 10 demo's just never put them on label.
When Rod Sanders left the band and Don Mortimer joined us as our bass player.
Originally we were the "Stingrays" I received a letter from an attorney from GMAC, and said that we had to change our name because GMAC owned the Trademark! I got advice from an attorney and he said t0 change our name to the "The Swingin Stingrays" and GMAC couldn't do anything about it, so we did! I remember we played at the Indiana State Fair "Battle of the bands" and came in second place to over 20 bands throughout the area.
After Rod Sanders left the band Don Mortimer joined us as our bass player. When Rick got drafted in 1966, the band played on with the addition of Geoff Snyder filling in for Rick.
We made a great contact with Chicago WLS Dis-Jockey Dex Card, we became his preferred house band when he was doing gigs throughout the area. This was great exposure for us.
A couple bands that we opened for was "The Kingsman" the Louie Louie hit band, and The Byrds which David Crosby was a member of. Their big hit back then was Turn Turn Turn.
I left the band in 1969 and continued to manage the teen dance hall in Elkhart Indiana called "The Hut" The Swingin Stingrays" played on for several more years. We talked about a reunion get together, however it just never happen. They were a great group of guys to play with and I have many great memories with them. Sorry to say that Wilbur and Rick have passed on.
Thank you, Rick for you post. What a life! I was born in 58 so you guys were giants in this little boys ears and eyes.
ReplyDeleteWilbur, my Uncle, was one funny guy.
Wilbur and his entire Ritchie family of brothers and sisters are all gone, so every story of Wilbur's life is great to read.
Write a book of your life as a Stingray. It would make a great movie. Seriously!!
Every life is amazing. You Stingrays can inspire young kids even still.