Catonsville History Captured In Song Recorded By Baltimore County Band

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — A group of Baltimore County musicians have pulled information from an historic book highlighting the African American community of Winters Lane in Catonsville and turned those written words into a song they recently recorded.

Baltimore author Louis Diggs penned the book 26 years ago titled "It all started on Winters Lane: A history of the Black community in Catonsville, Maryland." Musician Joe DeFilippo, who was an American history teacher with Baltimore County Public Schools for almost 40 years, enjoys writing songs relating to history.

"I have known about Louis Diggs and his historical interests for some time. The story of Winters Lane is most fascinating," DeFilippo said.

DeFilippo belongs to the R.J. Phillips Band and includes DeFilippo on vocals, piano and bass guitar; Ron DeFilippo on the Wurlitzer; Sue Tice on the fiddle; Bill Phelan on the electric guitar; Bill Pratt on the drums and with background vocals. The song was produced and recorded by Pratt at the Bratt Studio in Baltimore. You can hear their new song here: https://soundcloud.com/hillipsand/winters-lane

Check out Diggs' book on Amazon at It all started on Winters Lane: A history of the Black community in Catonsville, Maryland: Diggs, Louis S.: Amazon.com: Books.