The Dignitaries cut a fine r&b instrumental, “Steppin’ Out” on Darec VSS 81943. They recorded at Vibra Sound Studio in Schenectady in early 1969.
The group came from North Adams, Massachusetts. Members on the record were:
Dick Gigliotti – Cordovox and leader of the group
Chuck Sweeney – bass
“Doc” Everett Rivers – drums
Robert Trottier – drums
Andy Durocher – vocals
Darec is their own label, made of the first letter of their first names. Richard Gigliotti wrote “Steppin’ Out”. The flip is a ballad, “You Want to Be Free” by J.C. Thompson. Robert Barry Music has publishing credit on both songs, as it did on most of the Vibra Sound studio output, but does not seem to have registered them with the Library of Congress.
‘Dignitaries’, New Band, Cuts First Record
The five men, Richard “Dick” Gigliotti, 23 (he’s single girls), is the group’s leader and emits on the Cordovox; Charles “Chuck” Sweeney, 24 is a master of the bass guitar. Robert “Bob” Trottier, 22, on drums; Everett “Doc” Rivers, 27 on another set of drums; and Andrew “Andy” Duroucher, the “old man” of the group at 35, is its outstanding vocalist.
They have worked as a group for the past six months, and prior to that as a four-man group for six months and in the very beginning as a trio.
The original trio, Dick, Chuck and Bob, was first known as the Taconic Trio and played most of their engagements at the Taconic Park Restaurant in Williamstown. The name was changed to the Dignitaries eight months ago when they began to branch out and played various supper-clubs in the area.
It also notes that Chuck Sweeney had been in the Four Knights. Everett “Doc” Rivers had been in the Electros, Doc and the Interns, and the Other Guys. The article includes extensive information on their backgrounds and education.
The Troy Record and the Times Record ran nearly identical profiles of the Dignitaries on May 6, 1969 for their opening at Mario’s Theater Restaurant on Campbell Ave in Troy, NY:
Dignitaries Provide Potpourri at Mario’s
“Dick, Chuck and Bob started as the Taconic Trio. Six months ago they spread to a quintet and got down to the serious business of seeing what they can do in musical circles …
The music offered by the Dignitaries is not saturated with rock, nor is it steeped in psychedelic; rather it is a meshing of listenable, melodious tunes on the one hand, driving, vibrant beat on the other. They can go both ways, and do.
“We’re making the big effort now,” Sweeney, a darkly handsome young man, admitted with a grin. “I know, home in North Adams isn’t all that far away, but Troy at least affords a real springboard for us.”
Their top thrills to date probably are two in number – appearing on stage with the Irish Rovers and cutting their first record, Stepping Out.
On August 30, 1969 there was a notice of the Dignitaries appearing on Dialing For Dollars on TV Channel 10.
On April 16, 1970, the North Adams Transcript ran an item for their May 2nd show for a Lebanese Social Club dance at the Armory on Park Street. It looks like the group was down to a quartet, without Bob Trottier. The Dignitaries also had an upcoming engagement at the Cloud 9 Lounge of Bradley International Airport.
On August 28, 1971, the North Adams Transcript ran a photo of Charles Sweeney signing a contract for the Dignitaries to play the Fall Foliage Festival Dance. Bernard Robinson is mentioned as a member of the group, and co-owner, with Sweeney, of the Mountainview Restaurant in Clarksburg.