The Baltimore Blue Eyed Soul Of

Bob Brady & The Con Chords

One of my all time fave Northern Soul sides is the infectious ‘Everybody’s Going To The Love In’ by Bob Brady and the Con Chords. Simultaneously a storming soul dancer and a giddy slice of exploito-pop, the tune was, if not the band’s biggest record, the one for which they are best remembered.

One of the better “blue eyed soul” bands of the era, they had an ace in the hole with lead singer Brady who often sounded more like Smokey Robinson than the man himself.

I recently had a chance to speak with Larry Sprigg, trombone player in the Con Chords about his time in the band.

 F16C: When/where was the band formed?
LS: East Baltimore in 1965

F16C: Who were the band members?
The members at the time of the first two records were:
Bob Brady - lead vocals
George Layfield - lead vocals, backup vocals
Jim Samuel - piano, organ, backup vocals
Dennis Zwirlein - guitar, backup vocals
Tony Constantino - trumpet, baritone sax, tenor sax, vibes, backup vocals (although his primary instrument was drums)
Dave Wladkowski - alto sax, baritone sax
Larry Sprigg - trombone, vibes
John Drexler - drums
Vince Sansone - bass guitar

John Drexler was replaced on drums with Marty Fisher.  Vince Sansone was replaced with Tommy Thompson on bass.  Tommy was also a talented sax player.

In 1964 the band was called simply the ConChords and was playing local teen centers.  At that time Bob Brady and I were not in the group.  George Layfield was the lead singer.  (After Brady joined, George sang lead on about 1/4 of the songs, especially Steve Wonder and James Brown type stuff.)  In addition to the original members there were two additional backup singers Wayne Mattes and Bob Gehrig.  Lou Patti played trumpet. 

 Some time in late '64 or early '65 Bob Brady joined the group, and Mattes and Gehrig departed. I joined on trombone in Jan. '66 (playing trombone initially on crutches and with a broken arm in a cast from a motorcycle accident).  There was no trombonist before me.

 Shortly thereafter Lou Patti was replaced on trumpet with Tony Constantino, who played trumpet as a third instrument, but was probably the best drummer in town and a tremendous sax player and more than adequate on trumpet.  Tony had played drums and other instruments professionally all over the east coast and Italy since he was a young boy.  He was quit well known.  At this time the essential foundation was in place to go to the next level. 

 The changes (replacing John Drexler on drums with Marty Fisher and Vince Sansone on bass with Tommy Thompson) were encouraged by the record company to raise the group to yet another level as a solid performing and recording band that could hold its own with any group around the mid-Atlantic or beyond.  I believe the first three records (Bye, Bye Baby; More, More More of Your Love and I Love You Baby) were recorded with Vince and John still in the group. 

 Ironically Drexler decided to quit once we started playing more seriously because of his girl friend.  Shortly after that he changed his mind and wanted to stay.  He was replaced anyway with a much better drummer in Marty. Vince was essentially fired and replaced with a much better bass guitarist, Tommy Thompson.  John and Vince had been in the group from the beginning and this was not well received.  Fortunately Marty and Tommy fit in very well and truly completed raising the level of the group significantly.
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