Richie’s Renegades came from Lynn, Massachusetts. After winning a state-wide battle of the bands in May, 1966, the group cut a fine single on the Polaris Records label, “Don’t Cry” / “Baby It’s Me” released in August.
Members included:
Richie Reynolds – lead vocals
William Dunn – guitar
Robert Leger – guitar
Robert Peck – organ
Brian Michaels – bass
Kevin Robichaud – drums
Erik Lindgren’s notes to The Polaris Story CD note that they cut the single at Fleetwood, while alternate versions of the single and a Pepsi commercial “Come Alive” featured on the CD were done at Ace.
The Lynn Daily Item ran photos of the group on April 26 and May 13, 1966:
Richie’s Renegades, a Lynn band, will be one of 18 competing for sate-wide honors tomorrow at Boston Gardens. They are on of a group of winners selected from more than 600 band taking part in local and regional contests, sponsored by the Jaycees.
The accompanying article noted that “Plans are now underway for a national competition next year, the Jaycees said.”
The May 16 Daily Item noted that the band won the final competition “which brings with it a $500 cash award, new musical instruments, recording contracts and other awards.
I found a copy of their record inscribed to Edlita, with four signatures: Bob Leger, Bob Reader [surname correct?], Ken Robichaud, and Billy Duran. Bob Reader isn’t in the lineups I’ve found online, and I read Robichaud’s as Kevin instead of Kenneth.
Kevin Robichaud is the correct spelling, as Lou Ames Music Store ran ads in September and October, 1968 with Kevin’s photo as a drum instructor, “featured with ‘The Playn Jane” and formerly with ‘Richie’s Renegades.'”
I found a notice in the Daily Item on August 25, 1966:
Richie and the Renegades of Lynn … will give two performances at the Pepsi booth as a highlight of the Family Day program at Topsfield Fair on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
The group will autograph their just released recordings “Baby, It’s Me” and “Don’t Cry” and, in addition, will offer autographed photographs.
One of the judges of [the Boston Garden battle] was Miss Edlita Adams, 19, of Lynn, reigning “Miss Essex County.”
That notice, and a couple others I found, list Robert Teck instead of Robert Peck.
The Boston Globe ran a brief item in April, 1967 about the group going to Worcester for the national competition with the same lineup listed as in 1966.
A December 20, 1966 notice in the Daily Item ran:
The Lynn Young Democrats held a Christmas party for needy children, highlighted by the appearance of a local band, Richie’s Renegades …
Members of the Renegades, donating their services for the occasion, were Brian Michaels, Bob Leger, Bill Dunn, Bob Peck, Kevin Robichaud, Dick Tarnborini, Bill Barry and Richie Reynolds.
The inclusion of Bill Barry is interesting, as he is also known as William the Wild One, who cut a great 45 on Festival in 1966, supposedly with Richie’s Renegades providing backing. A Fitchburg Sentinal notice mentions the Renegades playing a show with William the Wild One at Appleton Academy in December, 1966, noting that William “toured the country with the Dave Clark Five. He and Reynolds are cousins of Dave Barry, a student at the academy.”
By 1968, Richie’s Renegades became Playn Jane, mentioned in the February 29, 1968 Daily Item:
The third annual Battle of the Bands sponsored by the Lynn Jaycees will be held Saturday night at Classical High.
The competing teenage bands are Danny and the Dreamers, Passing Times, Playn Jane, Psychedelic Innovation, Satisfaction and the Sinders …
Dancing will be allowed during the competition.
Robert Leger passed away on January 7, 2020.
The Bugs had a reputation as jokers, but are solid professionals on their excellent first single. “Pretty Girl” is a fine British-influenced pop number that apparently hit the charts of local radio stations from Maine to Chicago to Florida. The flip is the raucous “Slide”, supposedly written in the studio but the band sounds too rehearsed for it to be a spontaneous performance. It must have been a staple of their live sets.