The Elegants

The founding and early years of The Elegants, as recalled by Tom Thompson ...

It started in my basement during high school and we went through various players, as best I can remember:

• Henry Orpin - guitar
• Reds Orpin, then Charlie Baum - bass
• Wally Grondzik – drums
• Barry Hart – guitar
• Joe Luppold – keys
• Me- tenor
• Luther Jennings – tenor
• Mary Kay,  then Danny Shaw – singer

Various others passed through during the early years but I can’t remember them all.

As the band evolved in the years that followed, as recalled by Sam Towers ...

I joined the band first as the bass player. When I joined it was Henry Orpin on guitar, Luppold on keys, Tommy on tenor, Danny on trumpet and singing, and Wally on Drums. Treffinger replaced Luppold and that's how we started at Hollywood Park. Shortly after, Wally quit to go to college and was replaced by Buddy Novac. A little later Henry quit, and after that Mike (Jones) Hodgeman replaced Danny Shaw on vocals. (Ed.Note: Mike was singing with the Majestics and the bands essentially swapped singers, with Danny going to the Majestics.)

The Elegants,
taken on the stage at Hollywood Park. (circa 1965)
Left to Rght: Top level - Buddy Novac (drums), Henry Orpin (guitar), Sam Towers (guitar and bass). Lower level - Jerry Treffinger (piano and vocals), Danny Shaw (vocals and trumpet), Tommy Thompson (sax and bass).

The Elegants,
Sam Towers and Tommy Thompson at Hollywood Park. (circa 1965)

The Elegants,
on stage at Hollywood park. (circa 1965)
(L to R: Gerald Treffinger, Buddy Novac, Sam Towers, Tommy Thompson, Henry Orpin , Danny Shaw)

The Elegants,
on stage at Hollywood park. (circa 1965)
(L to R: Gerald Treffinger, Buddy Novac, Sam Towers, Tommy Thompson, Henry Orpin , Danny Shaw)

Ad
for Hollywood Park entertainment (1966)