The Woolies

A popular band on the Michigan rock & roll scene in the mid- to late-'60s, the Woolies played tough, lively rock music with a strong blues and R&B influence. Their first single, a cover of Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love," became a minor national hit and a major radio success in the Midwest, and they went on to a long career as a successful journeyman rock combo as well as frequently backing Chuck Berry on-stage. "Who Do You Love" has popped up on a number of collections of '60s hits, most notably the 1998 box set Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era (1965-1968); it's also included on 2006's Ride Ride Ride, a collection of Woolies' material recorded from 1965 to 1974 that's a good introduction to their body of work. The Woolies were formed in 1965; while the members originally came from the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, the group came together in East Lansing, home to Michigan State University. The group's initial lineup was Jeff Baldori on guitar, "Boogie" Bob Baldori on keyboards and harmonica, Stormy Rice on guitar and vocals, and Bill "Bee" Metros on drums. East Lansing's large student population made it possible for the Woolies to get steady work playing frat parties and off-campus hangouts, as well as teen clubs throughout the state. In mid-1966, the Woolies were booked to appear on the opening night of a new Detroit venue, the Grande Ballroom, which would become Michigan's best-known rock showcase in the psychedelic era. The same summer, Vox, a company that marketed guitars, organs, and other music gear, sponsored a "Best Band in the Land" contest held at the Michigan State Fairgrounds. The Woolies won the grand prize, which was supposed to include a recording contract, new equipment, and a trip to Los Angeles. When the sponsors never produced the prizes, the Woolies threatened a lawsuit, and Vox finally paid for the group to fly to California, with friend and guitarist Ron English in tow. The band made the rounds of Los Angeles record companies; Lou Adler at Dunhill Records signed the Woolies, and they released their debut single, "Who Do You Love" b/w "Hey Girl," in early 1967. While Dunhill tried to promote the folk-rock tune "Hey Girl" to radio, "Who Do You Love" connected with listeners in the Midwest, and despite the label and band being at cross-purposes over which song would be the plug side, the single made the national singles charts, peaking at number 95. By the time the record charted, Adler had sold Dunhill, and the Woolies found themselves at odds with the label's new management. After a follow-up single, "Love Words" b/w "Duncan & Brady," failed to chart, Dunhill dropped the Woolies and they became free agents. The Woolies returned to Lansing and Stormy Rice dropped out of the group, with Jack "Zocko" Groendal taking over on guitar and bass. In 1968, Chuck Berry was booked to play in the Lansing area at a venue called the Dells. At the time, Berry traveled solo and required promoters to provide him with a backing band. The Dells brought in the Woolies to accompany Berry, and the rock & roll pioneer hit it off with the band. From that point on, Berry routinely asked for the Woolies to be his backing band for his Midwest concerts, appearing with him hundreds of times, and he would continue to perform with members of the group well into the 2000s. Wary after their experiences with Dunhill, the Woolies launched their own label, Spirit Records, to release their material and that of other Michigan acts; their first album, Basic Rock, appeared in 1970. Bob Baldori had also opened his own recording studio, Lansing Sound, and Berry traveled to Lansing to record with the Woolies. The result was the album San Francisco Dues, released by Chess in 1971. Between backing up Berry on-stage, performing similar duties for Bo Diddley, and playing regularly in Michigan and the surrounding states, the Woolies remained busy until they broke up in 1975. Bob Baldori would become a fixture on the Lansing music scene, performing regularly and releasing several solo albums as well as working with Chuck Berry and performing and recording with fellow pianist Bob Seeley; the two appeared together in the 2012 documentary Boogie Stomp. (He also performs in a double piano act with Arthur Migliazza.) Jeff Baldori went on to form the blues-rock outfit the Blue Money Band and recorded extensively as a solo artist, distinguishing himself on both guitar and keyboards. The Woolies occasionally reunited for live work, including a 50th anniversary show in 2015. ~ Mark Deming