Ray "El Rey" Ojeda

Saxophone, Percussion and Vocals

El Rey got a late start in life by learning to play both the saxophone and clarinet at the ripe old age of twelve. At the age of fourteen he played his first professional job with the Latin group Cinto Burretto Groupo playing for Latin weddings, parties and festivals in the Milwaukee and Chicago areas. It was from these humble beginnings that the Legend on Caroline Street first began his musical journey. During the 1950’s, El Rey performed and recorded with some of the biggest regional rock and roll acts in the Midwest playing at teen dances, parties and television shows with The Roulettes, The Nobleman eventually forming The Midnighters who in 1958 became El Rey and the Nightbeats. El Rey and Night Beats moved on to be one of the first Rock and Roll bands to play in night clubs in the Milwaukee area and hold the distinction of being the oldest Rock and Roll band still playing continuously since 1958. Marty Zivko’s Ballroom in Hartford, Wisconsin and George Devine’s Million Dollar Ballroom in Milwaukee were the venues that El  Rey opened for or played with a whose who’s list of nationally known recording artists including The New Colony Six, The Buckinghams, The Turtles, The Champs, The Ideals, Frankie Avalon, Gary Pucket, The Legends, Tommy James and The Everly Brothers.  El-Rey Also Enjoyed Regional Success With The Record " La Bamba "  With The Night Beats.  Although there have been many in his illustrious career, El Rey contents his most memorable job was winning second place in the first “ Battle of the Bands” for Wisconsin in 1960 at the Riverside Ballroom in Green Bay, Wisconsin competing over six months with 40 outstanding Rock and Roll groups from the Midwest. Musically influenced by many, he singles out the early Rock and Roll acts such as Bill Haley, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Terry Thuemling

Guitar and Vocals

 Terry first started playing the guitar at the tender age of five and learned to sing Country songs by duplicating what he heard on his older brother’s records. Musically, he played his first professional job at the age of thirteen with El Rey and the Night Beats at Teen Haven in Sussex, Wisconsin. For over forty years, Terry has played a special brand of Rock and Roll, El Rey and the Night Beats during the 60’s and 70’s, Replay during the 80’s and during the 90’s, played contemporary Christian music for the accredited Christian group, Won by One. As a member of El Rey and the Night Beats at Marty Zivko’s Million Dollar Ballroom in Hartford, Wisconsin, The Night Beats opened for the Grass Roots, Gary Puckett, The Ideals, Tommy James, The Castaways, The Vacels, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. As a member of the Night Beats, Terry enjoyed regional success with the record, “My Secret” as well as recording a full CD titled “The Rock(N’Roll) of our Salvation” with Won by One. When asked what were his most memorable jobs over his professional career, he points to the evening at Sunset Bowl in Waukesha when the Night Beats opened for Tommy James and the “America, Rusty Pipes, Motown and the “Raisin Dance” show sets at the Waukesha Olde Car Club events at the Waukesha Expo Center and the many Ministry concerts at prisons with Won By One. Musically, he feels that he was most influenced by the late Ricky Nelson and gives special credit to his mentors, Gary “Rusty” Bartlemas and Ray “El Rey”Ojeda.

Steve  Gunther

Guitar and Vocals 

   Had it not been for his lack of talent, Steve G might have been a drummer instead of a guitar player. After receiving his first guitar at the age of eight, an unplayable plastic model affectionately known as “ Tiger”, Steve gravitated to a Gene Krupa Drum Set. At the age of thirteen, after much encouragement from friends and neighbors, Steve  gave up on the drums and settled for a new playable box guitar. His first paying gig came after auditioning for a job where the bartender held up a phone behind the bar so a booker could hear the band over the phone. Steve went on to play with the groups Borrowed Time, Night Hawk, Back to Back, Night Shift, The Jitters, Hollywood Nights and since 1980, has been a member of El Rey and the Nightbeats.  Steve gives recognition to two individuals for influencing him musically as a youngster, Larry Maddison of Nostalgia who brought his blue sparkle Goya guitar and Gibson Amp to his house and laid some Ventures chord progressions on him and to El Rey( Ray Ojeda) who he use to watch through the split wood doors at Sunset Bowl making music while he was there bowling with his family.

Mike Price

Drums and Vocals

Mike first learned to play the piano at the age of nine, but quickly changed his musical allegiance to the drums and various percussion instruments. His initial brush of musical notoriety came as a Bass Drum Player for the Waukesha Music Center Marching Band. Changing musical directions to Rock and Roll, he played his first professional job at the age of thirteen, when 1961 Chevrolets were new and JFK was our President. The venue,The Corner Tap in Ixonia, Wisconsin. Mike supplied the smooth driving beat during the 60’s for the Cresents, Cresendos, Impalas, Nightshift and the VSQ’s, El Rey and the Night Beats during the 70’s and Replay during the 80’s. A crowd favorite with his quick wit and pleasant speaking voice fondly remembers the evenings with the Night Beats when he helped open for Tommy James at Waukesha’s Sunset Bowl and The Legends at Milwaukee’s Eagles Club. Musically, Mike feels he was most influenced by long time friend, class mate and former Night Beat drummer, Jack Staufenbeil. It was Jack or the man we called “Sludge Foot” who got Mike started in the business.

Jack “B.J.” Gebhardt

Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards and Vocals

Jack, known to all as “B.J”, starting playing an old six string Stella flat top guitar given to him by family friends at the age of eleven. He learned his first chords by looking at pictures of people playing guitars in magazines. “ B.J.’s” first professional job was with The Impalas at the age of seventeen playing at the Elkhorn County Fair Grounds for Record Bandstand. During the middle 1960’s, B.J played at many venues throughout Wisconsin and Illinois with The Impalas with the assistance of booking agent, Ken Adamany, who later became instrumental in the success of national recording artists, Cheap Trick. In 1967, B.J joined El Rey and the Night Beats and played the club circuit in the Waukesha and Milwaukee area sometimes sharing the stage with The New Colony Six, Tommy James, Gary Pucket. His most memorable night with El Rey and the Night Beats was the evening they shared the stage at the Eagles Ballroom in Milwaukee with The Legends. Billed as a reunion appearance for The Legends, the night was truly electric, filled with excitement. B.J has been part of two recording projects, in 1966, recorded the old Muddy Water’s song Spoonful with The Impalas with Sam McCue as producer and in 1993, recorded La Bamba with members of EL Rey and the Night Beats for a CD sponsored by the Waukesha Training Center featuring musicians from the Milwaukee area including the old master, Les Paul. During the 1980’s and 90’s, B.J continued to demonstrate his immense talent with groups such as Replay and Borrowed Time. His musical influences number many, including Felix Cavaliere, Bob Seeger, Cory Wells, Chuck Negron, Danny Hutton, Otis Redding and Joe Cocker. On a more personal level, gives credit to his fellow musicians and more importantly, good friends, Gene Schiller, Mike Price, Ray Ojeda, Terry Thuemling and Rusty Bartlemas.

Gene Schiller

Bass Guitar, Keyboards and Vocals 

    Thanks to the efforts of a musically gifted Uncle, Gene first learned to play the accordion at the age of eight. Soon he switched his interest to the Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums and Keyboards. His first professional job was playing the accordion as a ten year old on a Milwaukee Television Show called Joe Shot and the Hot Shots. As a twelve years old, he joined his first Rock and Roll group playing bass guitar for a group called Rick and Rivals. Rick was a saxophone playing cousin of El Rey Ojeda. As time progressed, Gene worked with Milwaukee area groups such as The Impalas, Big Louie and the Renegades, El Rey and the Night Beats, Nostalgia and Replay playing at venues such as Muskego Beach, State Fair Park, Marty Zivko’s, The Scene, The Attic and Sunset Bowl. His most memorable job was competing with seven other groups for a recording contract with Mecury Records at the Dane County Coliseum in Madison, Wisconsin. Musically influenced by many such as Buddy Holly, Bob Seeger, Bruce Springsteen , Vince Gill, Keith Urban, he gives special recognition to a man personally responsible for encouraging many Milwaukee area musicians to follow their musical dreams, guitar teacher, Floyd Jester.  

Larry Price

Saxophone, Percussion and Keyboards

Larry being a late bloomer in life took up the saxophone at the age of twenty-four. One short year later, “Lips” was playing saxophone with the well respected Waukesha group, Replay, at the Jolly Fisherman in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. During his five year tenure with Replay, he played at venues and festivals throughout southeastern Wisconsin. During the 1990’s, Larry continued to develop his musical skills by contributing his talents to the musical group, Borrowed Time, eventually finding a musical home with El Rey and the Night Beats. When asked what was his most memorable job, without hesitation, he singles out a performance for the Waukesha Olde Car Club at the County Exposition Center when his alter ego, Lenny Saint Lawrence Seaway III did a guest appearance with Rusty Pipe and the Glass Packs. Larry acknowledges the members of Replay, Lance Koehler, Rusty Bartelmas, Terry Thuemling, Mike Price and Gene Schiller for most influencing his musical career.

Jim Cappozzo

Trumpet and Percussion

Jim began his musical career when he first took trumpet lessons from the well known and respected music teacher and store owner, Harlow Kneser, while in the 5^th Grade at St Joseph’s School in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Although he continued to develop his skills on trumpet, he first began his musical involvement as a soundman for El Rey and the Night Beats in 1992, eventually allowing him some stage time on trumpet for a few songs throughout the evening. It didn’t take long to recognize that the baby of the group was a diamond in the rough leading to an offer of full time status as a trumpet player. Jim’s brush with greatness came as a soundman while at the Kewaunee County Fair in Manitowoc, Wisconsin supporting musical acts that included The Bo Deans. His most memorable performance was as a member of El Rey and the Night Beats for the Waukesha Olde Car Club at the Exposition Center. After twenty-two years as a member of the Waukesha Olde Car Club and promotion of this annual event, he was now part of the entertainment. The person who most influenced him in his musical career was his uncle, Angelo Schiavetti, who with a Master’s Degree, taught music on a High School level, played saxophone and clarinet big band, swing music beginning in the 1940’s. Played with the Army Air Force Band and Henry Mancini Orchestra. Jim’s earliest recollections are those with his family going to see his Uncle Angelo playing with his group, The Godfathers.