The chronological history of

THE BOBBY DARLING SHOW

 

JUNE 6, 1974 - Joe Lada (Bobby Darling), guitar, vocals and Paul Hendrickson (Willy Bite), tambourine, vocals, form The Bobby Darling Show. Don Gray (Little Ricky) books them at The Broadview, in Holyoke, MA.

JAN. 1, 1976 - Ernie Dumont (The Dinsdale) joins the band on acoustic guitar and vocals.

JUNE 3, 1976 - Fred McCay on bass (see BDS bass hall of fame) and vocals.

JULY 17, 1976 - Dinsdale takes over bass.

JAN. 28, 1977 - John Houle on piano, trumpet, flute, vocals, through July 20.

DEC. 31, 1977 - Paul Hendrickson's last performance, Blue Max Casino, Worcester, MA

FEB. 2, 1978 - Don Gray (Little Ricky), drums, vocals joins.

JULY 9, 1978 - Clark Tuthill, piano, through Nov. 18.

NOV. 25, 1978 - First Killington performance at Bilbo's

AUG. 16, 1980 - Don quits. Anthony's, S. Hadley, MA

OCT. 2, 1982 - Joe and Ernie add Bill Smith, vocals, guitar, and Dave King, percussion, Keyboards.

DEC. 1983 - Bill and Dave leave. Don Gray returns.

APRIL 7, 1984 - First Pickle Barrel performance, Killington, VT

OCT. 23, 1984 - Laurie Fiorentino (Laurie Dearest), bass, vocals joins at Iron Horse, Northampton, MA.

DEC. 8, 1984 - Ernie leaves.

JUNE 28, 1986 - First wedding performance.

APRIL 30, 1988 - Don Gray quits. Steve Salvini on drums through November 4.

NOV. 25, 1988 - Don Gray returns.

MAY 24, 1989 - Don Gray quits. John McKenna on drums through November 4.

NOV. 24, 1989 - Don Gray returns.

OCT. 14, 1989 - Chris Devine (Dr. Divine) keyboards, guitar, violin, vocals joins.

APRIL 28, 1990 - Don Gray quits. Jim Broadhurst on drums.

NOV. 23, 1990 - Don Gray returns alternating dates with Jim Broadhurst.

APRIL 20, 1991 - Don Gray quits.

JUNE 16, 1991 - Last performance with L. Dearest.

JULY 6, 1991 - Jim Tognacci on bass.

JULY 13, 1991 - Jim Broadhurst replaced by Dave Peck on drums.

OCT. 12, 1991 - Headline concert w/ The Grownups at the Shea Theater.

OCT. 26, 1991 - Frank Rozelle on bass.

NOV. 23, 1991 - Don Gray returns for Pickle Barrel dates along with Dave Peck.

APRIL 25, 1992 - Don quits.

SEPT. 8, 1992 - Don returns. Dave Peck leaves.

MAY 16, 1992 - Steve Hoffman (Harpo) on bass.

NOV. 1993 - Jon McClellan (Johnny Maraschino) on bass.

DEC. 1995 - First CD, Don't Give Up The Day Job, released.

JUNE 23, 1996 - Don on sick leave. Replaced by Keith Levreault and John Kokoszyna.

AUG. 10, 1996 - Amy Fairchild on vocals through Sept. 8.

SEPT. 8, 1996 - Don returns.

JUNE 25, 1997 - Don quits. Replaced by Jim Broadhurst.

SEPT. 2, 1997 - Don returns. Jim leaves.

DEC. 1997 - Tom Read (Reado) on bass.

MAY 31, 1998 - Glenn Jubilee ( Professor) bass, vocals joins

DEC. 31, 1998 - Don quits.

FEB. 13, 1998 - Billy Klock joins on drums.

OCT. 1998 - Paul B. Morgan III (the "original" Bobby Darling) passes away.

DEC. 17, 1998 - Second CD, Touch Me, released.

DEC. 10, 1999 - Don Gray shows up to play sometimes.

MAY 2000 - Helen Arbour shows up to sing most of the time.

OCT. 18, 2000 - Dr. Divine leaves for European tour.

OCT. 20, 2000 - Joe Nerney joins.

FEB. 12, 2002 - Don Gray resigns permanently.

JUNE 8, 2002 - Dr. Divine returns.

MARCH 18, 2003 - Great Big World, first original CD released.

MAY 17, 2003 - Doug Plavin fills in for Billy the Clock on drums and never leaves.

JANUARY 31, 2004 - Don Gray shows up but refuses to play.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2004 - Glenn Jubilee on sabbatical to start new band.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2004 - Professor Jubilee returns after being sabbaticized.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2004 - Dinsdale is in the audience at Belchertown Fair. Heckles band.

APRIL 9, 2005 - Don Gray shows up at Cortina Inn, Killington, VT and demands to play.

JUNE 26, 2005 - Helen Arbour performs for the last time with the band.

JULY 4, 2005 - Llana Barron sings with the band for three months.

OCTOBER 22, 2005 - Joe Nerney quits band.

FEBRUARY 25, 2006 - Gregory the 11th (Greg Snedeker) joins on electric bass.

MAY 10, 2006 - Joe Nerney (sax, keyboards) returns.

JULY 3, 2006 - Professor Jubilee on bass.

JANUARY 27, 2007 - Don Gray reluctantly performs again.

FEBRUARY 14, 2007 - It's Just A Car, first BD music video posted.

APRIL 9, 2007 - Don Gray leaves this world (but vows to return now and then).

AUGUST 31, 2007 - The Cure Of Folly, second original CD released.

APRIL 11, 2008 - Buddy Rubbish (BDS song and comedy writer) dies. (Read Obituary.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2009 - Bobby and Doctor become international performers (Canada counts).