The Trojans of Evol came out of the Gary, Indiana area, and cut one amazing single in early 1967. The band members were:
Ted Zale – lead singer and keyboards
Steve Polomchak – lead guitar and keyboards
Chuck Kukelka – rhythm guitar
Barry Ardell – bass guitar
Curt Burgess – drums
Carlo Espero contacted one of the members and received this short history of the Trojans of Evol:
Songs were recorded at Columbia Studios in Chicago. Ted wrote the lyrics and Ted and Steve wrote the music [for “Why Girl”]. They were just a garage band that played at parties and small events in the area. The record got a lot of airplay on the local radio station in Gary, Indiana and jukeboxes across the area (where we all grew up) and made it to the top of the chart. Steve was invited to play with the Buckinghams when they were looking for a new guitar player. We have no pictures but I can try to find some for you.
Ted Zale wrote “Why Girl”, arranged by Steve Polomchak. The label credits Barry Ardell and Steve Polomchak as writers of “Through the Night”, arranged by Curt Burgess and Barry Ardell.
Released on their own T.O.E. label with a Columbia custom pressing code of ZTSC-125969/70.
If anyone has photos or more info on the band, please contact me!
It was a fun and uncomplicated time for us. I was pleasantly surprised when we were told that Columbia was anticipating us coming back to do an album but by then we all were off to college and totally different directions. It was a great experience and one I’ll never forget. We are all friends but were never inclined to put it back together.
Why girl was a tribute to an x girlfriend who reminds me of “Jenny” in Forrest Gump. Not nearly as dramatic but definitely in the same vain.
After all these years, I’m glad we did something memorable. It was humbling and fun and our overseas market interest still surprises me. For TOE it is beyond our dreams.