Ghost Riders Will Ride Again

The following is submitted to Stoughton Patch:

On Saturday, September 22nd, the Ghost Riders will ride again, here in Stoughton.

Formed in Providence, back around 1957 with the idea of performing on the beach at Narragansett Pier, the band started with four members, current Stoughton resident Roy Cohen and Dave Katz on guitar, Richie Cohen on drums and Bobby Votta on sax. Bobby left after a while and the band became 99% vocal.

The band performed frequently for several years at various colleges, other organizations and functions. Their final performances were Friday Night Mixers held at the Ambassador Inn in North Providence. Part of our performances were Beatle sets with Beatle wigs if you can imagine that. The band had a tremendous love for performing. The mixers grew in popularity so much so that the North Providence Police were present to keep control with their K-9 dogs.

Life moved on for each of the band members around 1965. Each member married his sweetheart, went his own separate way, eventually getting together again to perform in Stoughton at the Sport Haven (now Alex's), and again, a couple of years later for the Stoughton Knights of Pythias.

Dave eventually moved to Atlanta, and Richie moved to Cranston, and Roy, to Stoughton. That was the end of the Ghost Riders, well, for the time-being.

Several years later, in 1983, Roy was able to re-assemble both Richie and Dave to perform at a celebration in the lower level of the Immaculate Conception Church. This was a packed-house celebration of the departure of the Times Square Adult Book Store which plagued the town for over a year, Roy said. Although the band hadn't performed together for almost 20 years, they played for over three hours, song after song, like they had never stopped.

Which brings us to this coming Saturday, September 22. It's been almost 30 years since the Ghost Riders last played together. A few weeks ago, Dave called Roy and said "let's do it again while we are still around."

The band will be at the SMAC studio, 421 Page Street setting up at 10 a.m. and then performing "for old time sake." Wayne Pomiansky will be hosting the performance,  talking to the band about their beginnings.

Space is limited, but if you love 50's and 60's, come on down to the studio and see the band perform in person - "you'll really enjoy this special happening," Roy says.