Category Archives: Hyde Park

Categories: Dutchess County, Giantstar, Hyde Park, New York, Poughkeepsie

The Mark IV on Giantstar

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Mark IV, December 1965 from left: John Ackert, Emery Ruger, Eddie Gilroy and JJ Marino. All photos courtesy of Edward Gilroy

The Mark IV came from Hyde Park and Poughkeepsie, New York. The Mark IV released three 45s on the Giantstar label out of Mahopac, in Putnam County.

Eddie Gilroy on bass with his father and band manager Bob Gilroy. Likely taken at Papa Joe’s in Honesdale, PA

Members were:

John Ackert – lead guitar and keyboards
James Marino – guitar (known as JJ, and Jay on the photo card)
Conrad “Butch” Loreto – guitar (joined in 1966)
Edward Gilroy – bass
Emery Ruger – drums

Rae Ann Panzera – vocals at some live shows and on “Hey Girl”

Mark IV Giantstar 45 Don't Want Your Lovin'Their first single was “Hey Girl (Won’t You Listen)”, a good folk-garage song written by John Ackert, b/w the instrumental “Sleepy”, written by Ed Gilroy and Jim Marino, released on Giantstar 404 in May, 1966.

“Don’t Want Your Lovin'” is the toughest song they cut, a crazed rave-up with plenty of furious strumming. Songwriting credits go to John Ackert, Butch Loreto, Emery Ruger and Ed Gilroy. The A-side, “Would You Believe Me” is fine too, written by Gilroy and Ackert, and released in October 1966 on Giantstar 405.

The Mark IV’s last single was “Churches and Houses”, written by Ed Gilroy and Donnie Herring, backed with “Please Don’t Go”, on Giantstar 406, from March, 1967.

All the singles list publishing by Jemel Publications, and a Product of Jemel Music Corp and “A JNR Production” – all owned by Raymond Meltzer.

On the Chuck McCann Show, from left: Emery, unknown girl, Chuck McCann (in back), Rae Ann Panzera, JJ Marino, Eddie, and John

Mark IV photo card

In 2020 James Marino answered some of my questions about the Mark IV:

In 1964 John Ackert and I were classmates at Haviland Jr High in Hyde Park NY. Eddie Gilroy was attending FDR High in Hyde Park.

I had played with Ron Piccolo in the Revells. I also played in the Royal Coachman with Bobby Germano and William Paroli, both now passed. So at age 14 or so I was a seasoned vet.

Eddie with fans at Captain’s Cove in Carbondale, PA (Bob Gilroy’s hometown)

Ed Gilroy and I would hang out after school, trying to learn chords and songs on the guitar. I knew John but soon leaned of his music abilities. John and I sort of morphed into Lennon and McCartney right away. It just clicked and we fed off each other. Ed learned bass and we were off.

Next, drummer showman Emory Ruger from Poughkeepsie rounded out the group. The Mark IV was born. An older group of musicians named the Dirty Elbows were trying to court me away. We had such a good sound vocally I wouldn’t leave.

We started playing small venues, YMCA / CYO, firehouses etc. Bob Gilroy, Eddie’s father became our manager. Began to play larger venues with larger crowds both locally and out of town.

From left: Eddie, JJ Marino, John and Emery. Location possibly the LaGrange, NY firehouse. Photos courtesy of Edward Gilroy
Donnie Herring with Ed Gilroy's mother
Donnie Herring with Ed Gilroy’s mother

Some of these little towns in Connecticut and Pennsylvania, 800 to 900 kids would come to dance and listen. Strange as it may sound, it was like these kids were on delay. They had never seen anything like us. It sounds unbelievable they were wanting our autographs and trying to take pieces of our clothes. We were on cloud nine.

Mark IV and the Revells ad for What's It To Ya? Poughkeepsie
Mark IV and the Revells ad for What’s It To Ya? in Poughkeepsie

We appeared on a show called Teenage Dance Barn, what was then Channel 6 in Scehnectedy. We then appeared on Chuck McCann’s Puppet Show Channel 5 WNEW in NYC.

Some time later in ’65 our manager approached us with cutting a record, a little unknown record company in Mahopach, NY named Giant Star Records.

We found ourselves in the studio unprepared and with no material. So we proceeded to write “Hey Girl” in the studio and I played lead guitar on side b an instrumental called “Sleepy”, that I made up on the spot. It was very off-the-cuff and we should not have done it. We were sort of pushed before we were ready.

circa 1967: Butch Loreto kneeling on left, above him George Whitsell, then Emery Ruger, John Ackert and Ed Gilroy

Our manager billed us as “Giant Star Recording Artists” etc. Gigs were getting pretty good, $200 / $300 / even $400 each per gig. I left in 1966 for awhile, came back in late ’66 or early ’67, and left again. Came back in ’68, all the while personnel changed. Just wasn’t the same for me. I was a bit of a free spirit and a hard ass all in one. A great experience all in all, great friends.

After the original Mark IV broke up my brother Mike Gilroy (drums), Donnie Herring (singer, percussion), John Lockwood (guitar) and I (bass) started a new version of the Mark IV.

John Ackert passed at least 20 years ago. What great talent: great vocals / killer guitar / killer keys made the rest of us look good.

Emery Ruger drummer extraordinaire, killer showman, and a great guy passed over a year now [July 18, 2017]. Glad to have had them as band mates.

Eddie and I are still hangin’ in.

Love all, Jimmy “JJ” Marino

Mark IV, from left: JJ Marino, Emery, Rae Ann Panzera, John and Eddie
The first gig we ever played, the Friday dance at the local YMCA. From left: John, JJ Marino, Emery and Ed. Photo courtesy of Edward Gilroy
The Mark IV on stage, from left: Eddie, Emery, John and JJ Marino
Mark IV photo John Ackert and Butch Loreto
Later version of the Mark IV with George Whitsell and Butch Loreto