Bill Davids' Rockets

Struthers/Youngstown, late 1950s-early 1950s

Bill Davids' Rockets were an early local rock-n-roll band. They started as high school students from Struthers and played into the early 1960s.

The band was led by Bill Davids (the s is part of his name). He was the drummer and known as Wild Bill Davids...we wish we knew why! He graduated from Struthers HS in 1960. The sax player was Rich Valley, 1957 SHS grad. 

The only pic we could find on them shows five members. The other three are unknown to us for now.

The band played around the area often, listed as Bill Davids Rockets, or Bill Davids and his Rockets.

They recorded a 45 on Tammy, credited to Tony March and Bill Davids Rockets. The A side is Show Down, It's a great loud instro with the sax as a lead instrument. The flip side is a vocal featuring Tony. The A side is probably all the Rockets, unless Tony played guitar. The record has two pressings, the first original pressing with no silver rim on the label edge, and a later pressing made in the early or mid 1960s for the Pittsburgh market.

Bill Davids went to play in a band named the Chessmen, and later became a representative for Rogers Drums, travelling around the US. He moved back to Struthers and played in jazz bands later in life.

Bill Davids and Rich Valley are deceased.

Discography:
Show Down / It's Never Too Late - Tammy 1003, Oct 1958