The Kings Ransom
| Company type | Garage rock group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1965 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Defunct | 1968 |
| Headquarters | Allentown , United States |
Area served | Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia regions, United States |
Key people | Bob Dougherty, Vince Homick, Bob Werley, Scobie King, Ronnie Galland, Danny Roth, Glenn Zoski, Chuck Hoey, Mike Homick (manager) |
| Products | Music recordings (singles "Shame"/"Here Today Gone Tomorrow", "Shadows of Dawn"/"Streetcar") |
The Kings Ransom was a garage rock group originating from Allentown, Pennsylvania, active between 1965 and 1968. They gained considerable popularity within the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia regions. Their track "Shame" achieved notable regional acclaim in Milton, Pennsylvania and also received radio exposure in Michigan. Over time, their work has attracted attention from garage rock collectors through inclusion in compilations such as Allentown Anglophile and Teenage Shutdown! Teen Jangler Blowout!.
History
Formed in 1965 in Allentown, the initial lineup consisted of Bob Dougherty on lead vocals, Vince Homick on rhythm guitar, Bob Werley handling lead guitar duties, Scobie King playing bass, Ronnie Galland on keyboards, and Danny Roth on drums. Later changes saw Glenn Zoski and Chuck Hoey replacing King and Roth, respectively. The band was managed by Mike Homick, proprietor of King Arthur's Court located in Quakertown. Their musical style drew heavy inspiration from British Invasion groups like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Dougherty emphasized their dedication to performing Stones covers, highlighting Werley’s innovative guitar techniques.
The Kings Ransom regularly shared the stage with local acts such as the Hickeys and the Combenashuns at venues including King Arthur's Court and The Lord's Estate. They also played at college fraternity functions across Drexel, Lafayette, Lehigh, and Bucknell universities. Their live performances often included a memorable version of Chris Kenner's "Land of 1000 Dances". Frequent performance spots encompassed the Purple Owl, King's Court, Mod Mill, and the Mad Hatter club, known for its soul music focus.
In 1966, they recorded demo tracks at a Greek Orthodox Church with engineer Pete Helfrich; some of these recordings were privately pressed onto a 12-inch disc. Their debut official single was produced at Frank Virtue Studio for Integra Records, a label owned by local DJs Joe Mclaine and Bob Kratz. Released in July 1967, the single featured "Shame" backed with "Here Today Gone Tomorrow," distinguished by prominent 12-string guitar elements. Despite "Shame" becoming a regional success, its national exposure was limited due to distribution constraints. A second single followed in November 1967 with "Shadows of Dawn" paired with "Streetcar."
The band toured extensively within the region, performing in locations such as Milton and Sunbury as well as venues like the Four Seasons and Agricultural Hall in Allentown. After three years together, they disbanded in June 1968. Following the breakup, Dougherty served in the Navy until 1971. Subsequently, Mike Homick established a new lineup under The Kings Ransom name with different personnel.
Interest in The Kings Ransom’s music has been revived among garage rock aficionados. Four of their songs are featured on the Philadelphia-based Distortion Records compilation Allentown Anglophile (2005), while "Shame" appears on Teenage Shutdown! Teen Jangler Blowout!. Their complete works, including previously unreleased Helfrich demos, were collected in the anthology titled The Kings Ransom.
Membership
- Bob Dougherty (lead vocals)
- Vince Homick (rhythm guitar)
- Bob Werley (lead guitar)
- Scobie King (bass)
- Ronnie Galland (keyboards)
- Danny Roth (drums)
- Glenn Zoski (bass)
- Chuck Hoey (drums)
Discography
- "Shame" backed with "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" (Integra 101, July 1967)
- "Shadows of Dawn" backed with "Streetcar" (Integra 102, November 1967)