The Buckeye Biscuit Band was one of a few in Cleveland that played country rock during the 1970s. Started in 1974 as a traditional styled band by Ron Franklin (vocals, guitar), Joel Culp (mandolin, bass), and Bruce Michael (vocals, banjo, guitar), they first played at folk club Grapes of Wrath. In 1975, they added Steve Adams (vocals, dobro, bass) and Mike Casey (drums) and recorded a self-promoted EP with Richie "Dick Whittington" Green at the controls.
Culp and Franklin left the band in January 1976 and the most well-known lineup formed with Elbert Webb on lead vocals (formerly in Greenbriar) and Ron Jarvis (bass), who wrote some of the band's original songs. The band had been playing Cleveland clubs with regularity but it wasn't until Dewey Forward opened Peabody's Cafe in 1977 that the band found a home and large fan base. Forward not only booked the band but managed them, and in 1979, put up the money to record a full LP, Fresh Candy, at the revived Audio Recording with engineers George Stage and Bill Cavanaugh. The record sold well locally and a couple songs got regional airplay.
By the end of 1979, the band's lineup had changed again, with Dave Ritter on drums, Mike Reid (guitar), and Mike Daly (pedal steel guitar) joining Michael, Jarvis, and Webb. Jarvis left in 1980. The band ended in the summer or fall of 1982. One of reasons given for their demise was the stigma, and decline, of the "Urban Cowboy" pop culture phenomenon of 1980/1. They reunited for a couple one-off shows in 1983. The band has had a few reunions over the years but this will be a big one.
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