Biography
In the mid- to late-1960s Michigan rock circuit, the Woolies built a reputation for delivering robust, energetic performances steeped in blues and R&B. Their opening release, a version of Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love,” registered modest national chart action while dominating airplay across the Midwest, paving the way for decades of steady work as a versatile road band that also served frequently as Chuck Berry’s concert support. That same track later surfaced on various 1960s anthologies, notably the 1998 box set Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era (1965-1968), and appears on the 2006 compilation Ride Ride Ride, which gathers Woolies recordings spanning 1965 to 1974.
The group formed in 1965 after members originally from the Detroit suburb of Dearborn converged in East Lansing near Michigan State University. Jeff Baldori handled guitar, “Boogie” Bob Baldori played keyboards and harmonica, Stormy Rice covered guitar and vocals, and Bill “Bee” Metros sat behind the drums. Abundant college audiences allowed regular bookings at fraternity parties, local clubs, and teen venues throughout Michigan. In mid-1966 the band performed on opening night at Detroit’s Grande Ballroom, soon to become a key psychedelic-era showcase, and that summer won Vox’s “Best Band in the Land” contest at the Michigan State Fairgrounds. Promised prizes never materialized, prompting legal threats that ultimately secured an airline trip to Los Angeles accompanied by guitarist Ron English.
While shopping the city, the Woolies attracted Lou Adler’s attention at Dunhill Records and issued their debut single, “Who Do You Love” backed with “Hey Girl,” in early 1967. Although the label pushed the folk-rock B-side, listeners embraced the A-side regionally; the single nevertheless reached number 95 on the national charts. After Adler sold the company, friction with new executives intensified. A follow-up, “Love Words” b/w “Duncan & Brady,” stalled, leading Dunhill to drop the act. The Woolies returned to Lansing, where Stormy Rice departed and Jack “Zocko” Groendal assumed guitar and bass duties.
In 1968 Chuck Berry played the Dells near Lansing and needed a pickup band; the Woolies filled the role and quickly earned Berry’s approval. From then on he regularly enlisted them for Midwest dates, sharing stages hundreds of times, and continued collaborating with various members well into the 2000s. Cautious after the Dunhill experience, the Woolies started their own Spirit Records imprint, releasing the 1970 album Basic Rock and material by other local artists. Bob Baldori also founded Lansing Sound studio, where Berry recorded the 1971 Chess album San Francisco Dues. The Woolies stayed active backing both Berry and Bo Diddley until disbanding in 1975.
Bob Baldori remained a Lansing mainstay, issuing solo albums, performing with Berry and pianist Bob Seeley (including their appearance in the 2012 documentary Boogie Stomp), and maintaining a double-piano partnership with Arthur Migliazza. Jeff Baldori formed the blues-rock group the Blue Money Band and pursued an extensive solo career on guitar and keyboards. The Woolies have reconvened periodically, including a 50th-anniversary concert in 2015.
The group formed in 1965 after members originally from the Detroit suburb of Dearborn converged in East Lansing near Michigan State University. Jeff Baldori handled guitar, “Boogie” Bob Baldori played keyboards and harmonica, Stormy Rice covered guitar and vocals, and Bill “Bee” Metros sat behind the drums. Abundant college audiences allowed regular bookings at fraternity parties, local clubs, and teen venues throughout Michigan. In mid-1966 the band performed on opening night at Detroit’s Grande Ballroom, soon to become a key psychedelic-era showcase, and that summer won Vox’s “Best Band in the Land” contest at the Michigan State Fairgrounds. Promised prizes never materialized, prompting legal threats that ultimately secured an airline trip to Los Angeles accompanied by guitarist Ron English.
While shopping the city, the Woolies attracted Lou Adler’s attention at Dunhill Records and issued their debut single, “Who Do You Love” backed with “Hey Girl,” in early 1967. Although the label pushed the folk-rock B-side, listeners embraced the A-side regionally; the single nevertheless reached number 95 on the national charts. After Adler sold the company, friction with new executives intensified. A follow-up, “Love Words” b/w “Duncan & Brady,” stalled, leading Dunhill to drop the act. The Woolies returned to Lansing, where Stormy Rice departed and Jack “Zocko” Groendal assumed guitar and bass duties.
In 1968 Chuck Berry played the Dells near Lansing and needed a pickup band; the Woolies filled the role and quickly earned Berry’s approval. From then on he regularly enlisted them for Midwest dates, sharing stages hundreds of times, and continued collaborating with various members well into the 2000s. Cautious after the Dunhill experience, the Woolies started their own Spirit Records imprint, releasing the 1970 album Basic Rock and material by other local artists. Bob Baldori also founded Lansing Sound studio, where Berry recorded the 1971 Chess album San Francisco Dues. The Woolies stayed active backing both Berry and Bo Diddley until disbanding in 1975.
Bob Baldori remained a Lansing mainstay, issuing solo albums, performing with Berry and pianist Bob Seeley (including their appearance in the 2012 documentary Boogie Stomp), and maintaining a double-piano partnership with Arthur Migliazza. Jeff Baldori formed the blues-rock group the Blue Money Band and pursued an extensive solo career on guitar and keyboards. The Woolies have reconvened periodically, including a 50th-anniversary concert in 2015.
Singles
