The Ramblers - a Massachusetts High School rock'n roll group - played from Sept 1958 til summer of 1961. They recorded several acetates, but none of their recordings have been released. The Ramblers were Ben Cobb of Newton Centre, pianist, Browne and Nichols student; Steve Berman of Newton Centre, guitarist and calypso singer, and Eddie Jones of Newton Highlands, drummer, both Newton High School students and Brehon Herlihy of Arlington, vocalist.
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| Brehon Herlihy |
According to a Boston Herald article from 2015 Brehon Herlihy played drums on Freddie Cannon's "Tallahassee Lassie"
January 1959, just shy of his 16th birthday Arlington-native Brehon Herlihy got tipped off by his pal Myles Connor, (yes, that Myles Connor, art thief extraordinaire), about an upcoming recording session at Ace Studios that required backing singers. Getting access to Ace studio meant connections to record hops and radio play much sought after by the aspiring young rock 'n' rollers. Connors had convinced Milton Yakus, Ace studio owner that his pal could sing both low and high (like the Alvin & the Chipmunks record that had just dropped).
Arriving at the studio they are disappointed to learn that the backing tracks will be "overdubbed" and their services won't be needed. The session is being cut by North Shore native Freddy Picariello who had made a name for himself fronting Freddy Karmon & the Hurricanes and had caught the eye of local DJ Jack McDermott. Originally titled "Rock & Roll Baby," Freddy's song had now morphed into an ode to a gal from Tallahassee who had a "hi-fi chassis."
After several takes the song seems to be going nowhere and the session drummer known as Carlos informs everyone he has a dentist appointment and has to split. Connor pipes up and says not a problem, Brehon is a great drummer and he can handle it. Sensing the kids are taking over the guitarist too slips out and local kid Kenny Paulson who had been hanging around the studio looking for a break grabs a guitar and the magic happens.
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