Rambler Reunion Band

When Eddie Terrell received a tennis scholarship and headed to The University of Alabama, The Ramblers had no trouble in convincing Chris Convey to take over on the bass. Chris was nicknamed "The Spook," for some long forgotten reason and now resides in Treasure Island, Florida.

By mid-1962, The Ramblers were playing weekends regularly in and around Birmingham and cut their first record, A 100 Miles Away,

at Boutwell Recording Studio in Birmingham.

Shortly thereafter, guitar player Van Veenschoten met Chip Sanders, a junior at neighboring Shades Valley High School, who was a piano player.

The Ramblers auditioned Chip on a Sunday afternoon at Van's parents home in Mountain Brook, and the nucleus of the group, that would become synonymous with PARTY BAND was established.

An important early performance by The Ramblers at a state-wide Alabama high school Key Club Convention gave the group name recognition throughout the state, and soon The Ramblers Of Birmingham were playing in Alabama cities and towns from Huntsville to Mobile. Practicing in a store room in the back of Johnny Robinson's garage in Mountain Brook, Alabama, or in the basement of the Sanders' home in Vestavia, The Ramblers were truly the proverbial garage band.

By fall of 1963 , it was time for more of The Ramblers to make a decision--music or college! They decided on both, and as Tommy and Spook headed off to the University of Alabama and Johnny and Chip still in high school, the group began playing college fraternity parties at the University of Alabama.

By 1965-1966, The Ramblers were working regularly, primarily at Fraternity Parties around the southeast. Eddie, Tommy, Spook, and Chip had all become members of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at The University of Alabama, while Van was at Samford University and Johnny at the University of Montevallo. No longer rehearsing on a regular basis, the guys would meet up whenever and and wherever

Click for Pledge Class of '64 Pi Kappa Alpha "Hell Week" photo.