the Majestics

Washington Court House, 1964-6

The Majestics! We had fun, made enough money to buy our instruments, gas and date money. We were Sophomores at Washington High School. Our love of music brought us together.  What a great time to be in a band.  Our humble beginnings started in John Hyer's parents upstairs family room, because it had a piano.  Roger didn't have an even cheap set of drums.  It was hilarious, he used different size boxes for his drum set, however he did have a nice pair of drum sticks!  I borrowed guitar from someone and the 3 of us started.The small town of Washington Court House already had 2 rock bands, The Cavaliers and The Duprays, however the Majestics managed to get play dates in and around that area as well.

They played all the popular songs of the time from the Kingsmen, Rolling Stones, Beatles to the Kinks.  

Founding members were 16 years olds Bob Miller (lead guitar, vocals) Bill Baxter (bass guitar), Johnny Hyer
(electric piano), Mike Smith (rhythm guitar, vocals), Roger Taylor (drums) and Phil Alkire (lead vocals).  They played mostly in Washington Court House at the American Legion, Elks and the Fayette County Fairgrounds.  However, they also played in bowling alleys, a grade school cafeteria, the high school gymnasium, charity events, fraternity partys, Lockbourne AFB, and in other surrounding towns.  Mike Smith unfortunately left the group late summer of 65 and Vernon Myers (rhythm guitar) joined.  Phil Alkire also left around the same time and Dave Matson came on as lead vocalist.  Joe Geibelhouse also joined the group for a short time on Sax. 

After graduation in 1966 the band continued to play until the members joined the military or went on to college later that fall. Roger Taylor, our drummer, after the service and finishing college he was the drummer for Ralph and the MGs, a band out of Greenfield, Ohio

Bill Baxter, Phil Alkire, and Dave Matson are deceased.

Thanks to Bob Miller for the story