The American Teens came from Frederick, Maryland, about an hour’s drive northwest of Washington, DC. The members were:

Bobby Stevens – guitar and vocals
Jim Stevens – guitar
Gene Ponton – saxophone
Bill Koontz – bass guitar
Ronnie Stevens – drums

Ray Vernon signed the band to Swan Records and produced this great single at his studio in Accokeek, Wray’s Shack Three Track.

“Shake Shake Baby” is a danceable original written and arranged by Ray Vernon’s brother, Link Wray (using his common pseudonym, F.L. Wray Sr). I actually prefer the flip, “A Brand New Love”, credited to Bobby Stevens.

The labels list Florentine Music and Palmina Music as publisher of both songs, but I don’t see either in the BMI database or Library of Congress registrations.

The Frederick News-Post covered the band twice. The first article on March 5, 1966 had the most extensive profile of the band:

Local Band Records First Single by Marie Howell

With the release of their first single record this week, five county youths have started keeping tabs on the national and local record ratings.

Known as “The American Teens.” the quintet includes three brothers, Bobby, Ronnie and Jim Stevens, plus Gene Ponton and Bill Koontz.

The group’s original recording, “Shake, Shake Baby,” was released on the Swan Label earlier this week. Words for the rock and roll song were written by Ray Vernon who’s managing the group and the record was taped at Vernon’s studio at Achocokee [Accokeek].

On the flip side of is “One That’s Old,” [sic] written by Bobby and Jim.

The boys, who have performed throughout the state, left Thursday night for Buffalo, N.Y., where they’re scheduled to perform tonight at a radio station’s record hop.

All but two of the youths have graduated from high school and are holding down jobs in addition to their practices and performances.

Bill is a graduate of St. John’s High School and Ronnie and Jim are graduates of Middletown High School. Bobby is a junior at Middletown and Gene’s a senior at Frederick High School.

The band, which practices about twice a week, has signed a contract which calls for them to cut four records a year.

Ronnie, who’s the drummer, admits that “I didn’t realize how much time and hard work it took to get a good recording. We worked week after week, hour upon hour with Ray Vernon to get a good tape,” he explained. “We finally made it and I hope it will go over big.”

… Bobby plays guitar and is the group’s vocalist.

And, Bobby added, “The band as a whole feels that meeting Ray Vernon was the biggest break that we’ve ever had.”

I wonder if the record made any headway in Buffalo. It’s a rare item now.

On June 30, a full page of photos from a Baker Park concert discusses teen trends of the day, with quotes from Kristina Parker, Laurencine Thomas, Mark Nelson, Buster McKenzie, Joyce Stimmel, Brenda Cregger, and also Bill Devilbiss, bassist for the Five Acts, a group I know nothing about. There is also a good photo of Ronnie Stevens on drums.

For whatever reason, the band didn’t last, but their single showed promise, and I hope there are a few unreleased recordings out there.