The Flys:
Steve Widmeyer – lead vocals, rhythm & lead guitar
Dave Reemsnyder – bass
Bill Lyons – keyboard, vocals
Randy Dunham – guitar, vocals
Jim (surname ?) – drums
The Flys were students at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, close to the Ohio border. I had no information about the band until Steve Widmeyer left a comment (see below).
In 1966 they traveled over 200 miles to McLean, VA, near Washington DC, where they settled for the summer and cut their two 45s for Myskatonic, perhaps their own label.
Their first 45 is “Reality Composition #1”, written by John Elvin and Stephen Widmeyer, backed by a fine version of the Stones’ “Got to Get Away” and released with a green label.
Then came the fantastic “Be What You Is”, one of Mort Shuman’s more obscure songwriting efforts. Shuman co-wrote it with occasional collaborator Leslie MacFarland (J. Leslie McFarland, who also co-wrote “Stuck On You” for Elvis with Aaron Schroeder). An anonymous commenter below (“The Fly”) says the band outbid the Rascals for the right to record the song.
On the flip is “The Way Things Are”, an original by Steve Widmeyer. I’ve seen both white and orange labels for this one. The records are credited as F.G.I. (Four Guys) Productions.
The band evolved into the Third Row – that band’s drummer Thomas Smith has sent the photo of that band seen above. Steve Widmeyer, Bill Lyons and Dave Reemsnyder remained from the Flys, the others were new members.
Thank you to Tom for the photo.
Love the guitar on be what you is, proper sixties fuzztone, more please
I have “Be What You Is” on a WPGC aircheck from 8-30-66. Tiger Bob Raleigh (DJ) calls it a ‘Good Guy Sure Shot’! It’s just great to hear it that way. Great Song! Steve
My nickname in college was “The Fly”. The name was named after me and I played rhythm guitar and sang back up. Just a note of curiousity…..we out bid the Rascals for Be What You Is” with there name added to the song it could have gone to number 1. After the band finished two of us became CPAs and one became a lawyer.
Can you tell us more about the band? Does anyone have photos of the group they can share?
Steve Widmeyer (that’s me)(lead vocals, rhythm/lead guitar), Dave Reemsnyder (bass), Bill Lyons (keyboard, vocals), Randy Dunham (guitar, vocals), and Jim (drums) were the original Flys who recorded the above records in the summer of 1966. We were all students at WV Wesleyan College but spent that summer in McLean, VA. At summer’s end, Randy and Jim quite the band and we got Don Ransom on 12-string/vocals and a new drummer and we changed our name to The Third Row. Stayed together for another year playing college gigs every weekend except Christmas. Then Life took over and we went our separate ways. Since then I’ve played in rock bands, country bands, and continue to this day as a solo artist. (None of the above has ever been my “day job,” which is lawyer/mediator/arbitrator. My wife and I have lived in Southwest Florida for 32 years. There’s more history if anyone is interested. widmeyer@tnh.net will reach me and my web site is http://www.widmusic.net.
Hay, remember me. I played drums with the Third Row in ’67-’68 while a student at West Virginia Wesleyan. I am now a lawyer in New Orleans (been practicing since 1975)and I have a great black and white photo of the Third Row band with Gary (previous drummer), me (Tom Smith), Steve Widmeyer, Bill Lyons, Dave Reemsnyder, and Don Ransom. I also have a record lable called Blue Viper Records which is owned by 3rd Rowe Entertainment,LLC. I’m glad that I stumbled onto your web page. Keep in touch. Tom Smith.
I scaned photo of the third row june 24,2011 and e-mailed it to to garage hangover for posting. TOM smith.
Gary Sprague was the original drummer, replaced by Jim Arnholdt when we went to D.C. Tommy Smith replaced Jim when we went back to West Virginia Wesleyan for school in the fall of 1966.
irembertheflys@thirdrowilivedinbuckhannoninthe60s
Had no idea this site existed, always wondered what became of that great bunch of guys. I stayed in journalism, wrote a few more lyrics, at least one recorded by Mike Cotter in DC. One, the hardly memorable “Outlaw Woman,” sort of a country parody, was borrowed, recorded, and appeared on Louisiana Hayride. I’ll have to check here to see if you’ve captured it, don’t have a copy or even the lyric. It was that memorable.
I’m working on a second mystery novel featuring a couple old lyrics. Here’s the first: http://www.amazon.com/Murder-Breezes-Holliday-Travel-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00MPXAZEG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1439668561&sr=8-1&keywords=murder+by+bay+breezes