About The Teemates

The Teemates, four young boys who started a band, became locally famous, appeared on TV shows, made records and an album, had songs on the charts, played all over New York and Jersey, were scheduled to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show and may have made it except Uncle Sam thought he needed some of us more in Vietnam !

The Teemates had never performed in public until their appearance at the 1964 World’s Fair, and their uncanny ability to sound like The Beatles, opened many doors for them. Best known for their Jet Set Dance Disco LP, The Teemates also attracted the attention of Scott Muni and became the house band at his “Rolling Stone” Disco in New York.

The Teemates’ popularity 40 years later still provides rhythm guitarist Bobby Calumet (nee Pulhemus) plenty of opportunities to perform, while bassist Rich Staff has happily settled into a life away from the music scene.

As Bobby tells us in his own words:

“One extremely Hot day in August around 1953( Or it may have been 1954) I was just getting through a Summer Cold and still felt miserable. I was sitting in the long forgotten Flower Garden in front of our 4 Room house, which had no heat, toilet, and water was gathered from a cistern (well) Ma and Pop had gone shopping leaving my older Sister Jean in charge of us Nine Kids. She had the radio blaring (which she usually did when the folks were away0 Suddenly this Song came blasting through the Open Window and blasted me from Unconsciousness into full throttle Living being. It was called “Rock around the Clock” by Bill Haley and The Comets.

From that moment on I was gone-a literal demon in search of anything Rock N Roll and it came fast and furious. Buddy Holly ,Elvis,Big Bopper, but the song that literally turned my Old Broom into a Guitar was the sensational Rock N Roll issued by Billy Parsons entitled “The All American Boy” followed close beging by Jerry Lee Lewis Rockin Pnumonia.I got my first Guitar from Mom (A Gene Autry Plastic Chord Guitar) and within months had learned all the doo-wop chords as well as basic four Bar Blues.

Time went on. I formed a Band in 1963 (after paling around with another guy whos Band I played in Called Sonny and The Sunliners) My new Band took on and WON-A Battle of The Bands contest. A guy heard us-gave me a call and before long the other band was out while I helped this guy put together a new Band. They would become known as The Teemates. Better still-because we were in the right time and Place after The Beatles hit our shores-we became New Yorks answer to them.

The Teemates were a huge Hit on the East Coast especially New York City competing with other new Bands arriving on the Scene. The Young Rascals, The Rich Kids, Mitch Rider and The Detroit Wheels. We became the House Band for legendary Rock DeeJay Scot Muni’s new Nightclub called ‘The Rolling Stone” Then became the first Rock Act ever to sign a Recording Contract with the huge Jazz and Big Band Label “Audio Fidelity Records”. There were 14 tracks on the Lp with 4 of our originals and the rest Covers of everyone including The Beatles.

We were then the first Band of our kind ever to play the famed Big Band Dixieland Nightclub “The Metropole Cafe” on Broadway. In summary the band broke up in 1965 due to Vietnam and I went it alone and have been ever since. I backed up many famous Acts as a Sideman over the years (Just as the Teemates backed up almost every legendary Rock N Roll Act when we were together) Today I am now 68 years yound and just recorded and released a 4 track EP of tunes I wrote and composed. The tunes are Songs of Experience. And they are fundamental Get Down Rock N Roll. Thats what I do. I am also the lead vocalist on the tunes.

My Intent today, wherever I may be is to reunited folks with memories. And to introduce to the younger Generation of Rock all of that which now makes them possible to thrive on whatever Genre they perform. Thrash Rock Acid Rock Heavy Metal-whatever-. A lot of us Sixties Rockers may be ole men but-I want everyone who hears my songs to reflect back on that poor dirty scruffy little kid sitting in that flower Garden in the Fifties.

And the me who is here today. A man who has known the top of the top-had many fifteen minutes of fame and wishes only to do now what comes natural. Play and sing Rock N Roll. “

The Teemates support and performed with notable top 40 artists including:

  • Chubby Checker
  • The Ronettes
  • Jackie Wilson
  • The Shangra-Las
  • Jerry Lee Lewis
  • The Flamingos
  • Little Anthony and the Imperials
  • Otis Redding

The Teemates artists friends included a dynamic lot when playing at the “Metropole Cafe on Broadway” Some of the more famous friends included:

  • Gene Krupa
  • Lionel Hampton
  • Eric Burdon and the Animals
  • The Angels
  • Scott Muni- WABC DJ and club owner
  • Bruce Morrow “Cousin Bruce”- The most Famous WABC DJ
  • Dino Danneli from the Rascals. Note that when Bryan broke his hand Dino played drums for us until Bryan could play while his own record, Good Lovin, was #1 on the charts

The Teemates First Gig:

The Teemates first gig was at The Metropole Cafe on Broadway, the right after their debut album was released.

An update from Bobby | November 2023.

At 82 years of age Bobby no longer performs. Physically disabled with chronis issues he said he had to hang the guitars on the wall. “It the newcomers and the kids time now” I will still enjoy what my music plays in today’s world all these years later.” he added. During one of his last live shows after being in the music business for almost 5 decades, it was absolutely amazing to see Bobby put on his own visceral live performance. He moved seamlessly through his sets naturally and with minimal effort, at first playing a hard rock number followed promptly by a quiet folk melody and to end his performance an old school Doowop number from Johnny Maestro and the Crests.

Bobby, despite his status as an old school rock icon, still remains down to earth after all these years as a rock star. He still maintains his unique 60’s twang and his relaxed and casual demeanor, always wanting to be involved with the real people of the world.

Bobby’s biggest contribution to music was when he co-founded The Teemates after he had won a Battle of the Bands Contest in Rockland Country New York. With his new fellow band members Bryan Post, Ritchie Staff and Robbie Lundius. In 1963, aspiring songwriter Joseph Shefsky thought it would be beneficial to get Bobby and a few members of his band involved in a creative aspect for an Off Broadway Show he was producing. Instead of writing songs for Shefsky and his productions, Bobby turned some of his songs into Rock N Roll numbers and the Teemates were born, releasing an under the radar gem called “She’s so alone”.

Upon settling a number of lineup changes internally in the band, they officially debuted their live show at the New York State Pavilion at the World’s Fair in 1964.

With many comparisons to the look, style and sound of The Beatles who had just made their American debut earlier in the same year, The Teemates were wildly hyped as the next big thing, even covering some The Beatles songs during their performance. Their appearance at the World’s Fair caught the attention of Spin DJ Cousin Brucie and Scot Muni, both popular rock DJs at the time.

After receiving high praise and kudos from their DJ counterparts, Bobby and The Teemates were set to take on the world, opening and backing some of the greatest artists of all time including Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Chubby Checker, The Ronettes and Chubby Checker. The Teemates quickly developed a reputation for high-energy octane appearances and after their performances at the famed Disc Jockey Scot Munis Rolling Stone Nightclub in NYC as the regular house band, every credible rock act in the world came to know the theatrics and musical styling of The Teemates.

Today, various reissues of the tracks off the Teemates LP, has generated an entire new generation of fans. His 2012 release of “530 East 87 Street” is a four song EP with the focus on the Singles Bad Business or Dem Codependence Blues.

Maar of 2023 presented a a entire new start after the discovery of a long-lost cassette tape from a 1988 recording. Bobby sent it down to his label Blue Pie Records, who then used a team of strident experts headed up by Gabe Rizza www.gaberizza.com to restore and remaster the tracks which included Bad Business, Everywhere and Tom Catz, a song he wrote concerning the drug use epidemic that was happening at the time.

The EP features a number he performed live at the Famed “Bitter End Cafe” where nearly every legend of Rock performed at one time or another over the past 60 years.

Bobby and the Teemates are a Blue Pie Records USA artist and published by Blue Pie Publishing USA (ASCAP)

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© The Teemates and Blue Pie Records USA 2024