2 Guys From Parkville ...

In 2000, life-long friends Don Lehnhoff and Randy Fillmore caught up with each other after about 15 years of separation. Having played in many bands together, from classical to R&B, they thought it would be a blast to get together with the musicians they used to work with and have a “reunion” of sorts … one centered around playing music. The result was the first ’60s Baltimore R&B Jam held June 15 and 16, 2001 at Stingers Bar and the old Alcazar, respectively.

That could have been (and perhaps should have been) the end of it, but from the small circle of contacts that Don and Randy could muster the word spread. Continuing to spread after the Jam was over, there was a growing desire to do it again for the musicians who learned of it after the fact … and so there was Jam2 on June 14 and 15 of 2002.

At Stingers Bar on June 14 (Jam 2, Phase 1) Don and Randy were introduced to Joe Vaccarino who was compiling a catalog of bands and recordings from the same era. The connection and mutual goals were obvious, Joe published his book (Baltimore Sounds), and the ball keeps rolling.

The whole "BaltimoreJam" thing has evolved into a website and blog where musicians can keep in touch, and which serves as a focal point for the organization and planning of a live Jam every few years. The entire "enterprise" is all volunteer and totally non-profit. It exists strictly for the music and the fellowship, and the absence of profit precludes any doubt about that.

As time goes by we find that the information we've gathered here is somewhat unique. We have been contacted by a grad student researching information on Baltimore's legendary black radio personalities, by a drummer in England whose favorite song all his life was the Lafayette's "Life's Too Short" (and couldn't believe he found the Mp3 of it on our website), from other websites cataloging music and musicians, and on and on.

If you want to know what we're doing here, all you have to do is track down that guitar player you played with in high school and haven't seen in 40 years—then give him a call. It will take about 3 minutes for it all to become clear.

The Sound of a Jam Being Planned