Orphans Bloomsburg/Berwick, Pennsylvania 1966-1970      Band was formed by Jack Edwards & Fred Bird in 1965. Personnel in the first Orphans included Jack Edwards, Fred Bird, Kim Rescorla, George Pavalonis & Don (Lurch) Boudman, and Fred's cousin Gary Miller. The name "Orphans" was borrowed from a Providence RI band with the same name, The Orphans played every Friday night (or was it Saturday?) at the Varsity Grill in Bloomsburg. Photo shows second incarnation. Third incarnation was called "Steamshovel" and included Mark Piazza, Jack Edwards, Wayne Rudolph - drums, Doug & Dave Levan - dual lead guitars. Steamshovel played most every song the Doors ever recorded.   Personnel: Julie Muldowney - Vocals Kim Rescorla - Drums Mark Piazza - Keyboards Fred Bird - Guitar & Vocals Jack Edwards - Bass Mike Coons - Lead Guitar Influences: Young Rascals (obviously). Setlist Sample: Time Won't Let Me, 96 Tears, Louie Louie, House of the Rising Sun. Equipment: Hammond organ, Fender Jaguar, Fender Jazz Bass, Fender Stratocaster, Fender amps, Sunn Bass amp with 4 JBL 15s. Rehearsal Space: House trailer in Piazza's backyard. Band Vehicles: 1953 Cadillac Ambulance. Fashion Statement: Knickers and knee socks. Best Gig: Difficult to say, we played at the Varsity Grill in Bloomsburg, West Side Ballroom in Berwick, Sans Souci Park near Wilkes Barre, Purple Haze in Wilkes Barre, and high school and college dances and frat parties around Central Pennsylvania. Gig from Hell!: Would have to have been at the Grotto in Williamsport. We left the guitars at a bar near Sunbury where we played the night before. Last Gig: Though maybe not the last gig for the band, we were the last gig for Berwick's West Side. Comments: As the band kind of disolved around 1970 Jack Edwards turned to country music and began playing bass for Tommy Roinick and The Country Travelers in the Berwick area. He moved to Florida in 1971 and played bass in several country and western bands in the Ocala area, including Tommy Collins (Merle Haggard's Leonard Sipes). Jack moved to California in 1973 and, with Tommy's recommendation, went to see Buck Owens about a job. Jack setteled in Los Angeles near the Palomino Club and at the age of 23 never played music on stage again.        Where are they now? Winter, 2004 Julie Muldowney - unknown, Kim Rescorla - Ph.D. Math Professor East Michigan, Mark Piazza - still in Berwick/Bloomsburg area, Fred Bird - Dover Delaware, Jack Edwards - printing & graphic design Houston Texas, Mike Coons - unknown.    Information contributed by Jack Edwards jack@printzilla.net

Check Out The Bands	Your First Band	Links	Fan's Page	Home

 
All materials © copyright 1998 - 2004 Keith Buckley and Dan Angott.
All Rights Reserved

This site sponsored by The Unicom Group, L.L.C.
and featured at www.Directmart.com
Website design by Union Street Graphics