.			_______________ ____	.
.				.
.				.
ll ll ll ll				lll ll ll ll

The Viking Story----circa 1959

Inspired by Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson and Roy Orbison just to name a few, I realized at an early age that I wanted to learn to play the guitar. My mother agreed to pay for guitar lessons if I would promise to keep up with the lessons and to keep the passion for the instrument. That was fifty years ago, and Mom, I kept that promise. I took lessons from Leroy Barlag at Keeney's Music on West street in Annapolis. After about a year, Mr. Barlag introduced me to another of his students (Tiger Petrini). Meeting Tiger was what started my life long involvement in music.

My 1st band was the Golden Notes. We were three boys (just barely in our teens) with stars in our eyes. Two guitar players and a drummer. Tiger and I played guitar and Gary Ellinger, an Annapolis High School snare drummer, joined us on drums. Check out the picture of Gary with the marching bass drum. We would take over the Petrini rec room at Petrini Ship Yard on Walton Lane and play, play, play. We were there most everyday. I mean MOST EVERY DAY! Tiger's Dad (Ed Petrini) and Gary's dad (Carman Ellinger) were both horn players, so we got a lot of moral support from them.

After a couple of months we changed the band's name (thank God) to The Vikings and we started to add members and set off to conquer the world. Bob O'Day actually played the bass parts on a telecaster until he got his first bass guitar. Allan Fowler joined us on saxaphone. Vince Burns played trumpet. And, Mike Long played piano. Mike could really tickle the ivories and had a cool honky tonk style. Finally, along came 10 year old John Petrini who joined us on Organ. Not only did John play great keyboards he but became our mascot of sorts. The Petrini's brother Tom joined us on sax for a short while. And last but not least, a great friend, and not really a member was Chuck Satterfield. Chuck had a Bb fog horn and would blast it for the bari sax stops in (hmmm, what was the name of that song?).

Lots of doo wop going on back then. We played at the local hops and teen centers for a couple of years which gave us experience and a little cash to invest back into the group. Check out the uniforms. I wish I had a string tie like that today.

I found the sound I'd always wanted when I heard Phil Flowers and the T&T trebles at a gig in Wayson's Corner and I left The Vikings to form another band. Bob O’day (bass), Allen Fowler (sax), and I brought on Judson Martin (drums), to form the band that became well known as “The Fabulous Avalons”.

Now, I would be remiss not to mention that The Vikings continued on with Barry Gregory, who took his band to greater heights and even recorded a record that received lots of air time. Anyone remember “I love you…yes I do”? I think I still have that record…..can’t find my 45rpm record player though.

Now, I did mention that there was another band. Check out the Avalons Story. Man what a ride!