Cleveland, 1958-1971, 1984 - 2000s
Lorain is the land of 1000 dances with Dave C and the Sharptones!
Dave C is singer Dave Cox, an African-American who was backed by the white rock-n-roll combo the Sharptones. Dave Cox goes back to the early days of Cleveland rock and continued into the 60s, maintaining a big draw in the area nightclubs. The group recorded three 45s on Golden Leaf, Dollie, and Whirl. The Sharptones personnel changed often. Cox continued to peform into the 2000s with backing band the New Sharptones.
Dave started performing as a student at John Marshall High School, singing in vocal groups. He evetually formed a band in which he sang and played drums. According to a Youtube post the original band included Harry Willis (guitar), Bob Evetts (guitar), Ron Lissinger (bass), Rudy Perino (or Purino) (tenor sax), and Gene Schokowski (sax). This lineup is likely playing on their first 45, "Skateland Bounce". Skateland was a roller rink and dancehall where the band played when they started out. Unfortunately the Skateland closed about the same time the record was released.The original band had Dave playing drums, but like one of his main influences, James Brown, he left the drums to be a singing front man.
The band's second 45 was the "Dolly Waddle" written by Cox and backed with an instrumental "Black Pepper", written by Bob Evitts so he was still in the band at the time. The record was released in 1962 on thr Dollie label. The significance of the name Dolly/Dollie is lost to time,
The band is best rememberd for their year or so role as the house band on the Big 5 (later Upbeat) show. They were played at a club when Walt Masky caught them and arranged the gig. Masky became their manager. The time was roughly from the shows beginnings in August 1964 until spring 1966, about the same time the show changed the name to Upbeat.
The band members in December 1964 were Rudy Perino (sax), Ron Lissinger (bass), Bill Morris (guitar), and Bob Pricing (drums). This is the band that played in the Diane/Hi Spy 45. In January of 1967 his band included Dave Smierciak on sax, Don Gillespie on drums, Greg Matthei on guitar, and Ludwig Hrovat on bass. They played almost every Monday at the Virginian from 1960-66. The band went through a lot of members. Ron Lee - possible Ron Lissinger - was listed as a member in a Plain Dealer story from the 1970s. Bill Morris from the 1964 lineup was later in the Morris Brothers/Rapid Transit.
According to his obituary, the band ended in 1971, although there is only one mention in the local papers of them playing after 1967, 1970 gig at the Encore Room in Shaker Heights.
Dave assembled a new band that began playing out in January 1984 as Dave C and the New Sharptones. They were off and on into the 2000s. He passed away in 2011.
Discography
Skateland Bounce / Silly Tillie - Golden Leaf 105, 1960
The Dolly Waddle / Black Pepper - Dollee 2615, 1962
Diane / Hi Spy - Whirl no #, 1964