The "The Fabulous Hubcaps Featuring LDub As Backup" Story

The Amphitheater at Springettsbury features the Fabulous Hubcaps.

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting on the concrete step directly in front of the stage where the Fabulous Hubcaps are performing.  Next to me sits a woman, Janie, who seems to be about my age who is holding a DSLR camera similar to the one I am holding.  I ask her if she is taking photographs for herself and she tells me she is the band's manager and is taking photos for their webpage.  

Place is packed for tonight's concert.

We strike up a conversation as the band plays another oldie and she asks if I live nearby.  Seems the band comes from Owings Mills, Maryland and tours primarily on weekends.  "This is the 43rd year for the Hubcaps," she tells me.  "Guy singing right now is the one who started it.  Most everyone is in their 60s with a couple of them in their early 70s."  Wow!  

One of many couples dancing the night away.

For the next quarter-hour I move back and forth along the step, hoping to get photographs of all of the performers.  Finally checked my results and headed back to my seat about half-way up the tiered seating at the Springettsbury Township Park Amphitheater in York, Pennsylvania.  This is our second visit to this venue this year and find it a fantastic place to watch their Sounds of Sumer Concert Series.  As I said, tonights band is known as The Fabulous Hubcaps and is listed on the program as One of the most sought after oldies Rock N' Roll groups in the country.  

Another couple dancing the night away.

Since 1974 they have set the standard for musical quality and entertainment showmanship.  In a typical Hubcaps show, you will hear the best of the "Classics" and see many of your favorite artists dressed in costume delivering a dynamic show.  Where else can you see so many of your favorite artists in a single night?!  Well, the two-hour program taking me back to when Rock N' Roll was king was unbelievable.  I wasn't even on stage and my voice was hoarse by the end of the night.  My favorite performer out of the seven on stage tonight was the fellow who sang and played the sax.  Truly amazing.  In a few weeks we will see Phil Dirt and the Dozers at Mount Gretna, PA.  The sax player in that band is a member of the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame.  He too is amazing, but the fellow tonight isn't far behind him in talent.  All seven members of the Fabulous Hubcaps are great performers as well as musicians.  Following I have included my photograph of each as well as a few words about each.  If you ever have a chance to see this group, don't pass it up.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The Origial Hubcap, Dennis Michael Cook, joined "Harvey Hubcap and the Do Ron Ron in 1974 as a bass player and later became the lead vocalist.  He now leads a band that consists of some of the greatest talent in this country.

Lorraine Allen "Lulu" began her singing career at the age of 15 when she appeared with local bands in Arlington, Virginia.  Two years later she began working the Washington, DC nightclub scene.  The Washington Star called her "A Star On The Rise."  She had left the music industry for some time, but is back strong as the lead female voice.

Jay Cleaver plays Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax and sings.  His father was a big fan of Benny Goodman and led his son into beginning the clarinet in second grade.  He began the sax in junior high school.  After majoring in music for a short time at Towson University, he became a radio announcer.  He always had his sax by his side and began playing in clubs in Baltimore.  He opened for such acts as Paul Revere & The Raiders, Herman's Hermits, Dion and the Four Tops.  Music has been a part of his life since the second grade.

Barry Holober is the bands drummer as well vocalist.  His dad was a musician and had a set of circa 1940s Slingerland Drums in their basement.  When his dad passed away he inherited the drum set.  At the age of five, while listening to his dad and his dad's friends play along to Benny Goodman songs, he sat at the drums and began playing along.  He began to perform at the age of 15, playing for Armed Forces officers and enlisted men in the Hyattsville and Riverdale areas of Maryland.  He loves to listen to Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Benny Goodman, Little Richard, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Miles Davis and Beethoven.  These influences have given him the knowledge to play with the Hubcaps.

Tommy Dildy is play keyboards and sings.  He has been playing the piano since the age of six and appreciates classical, jazz, rock, country and rhythm and blues.  He performed in Georgetown in the 1960s and has played on shows with The Coasters, The Drifters and The Platters.  He has played at venues in DC, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and the along the Jersey Shore.  

Tommy dressed the part and sang Rod Stewart's "Maggie May"

Dean Andrews is the Bassist and sings.  He taught himself piano and guitar, but it was The Beatles that inspired him.  At the age of 14 he played organ with Denny and the Hitchhikers and in high school played with a number of local Maryland groups.  He founded Good and Plenty in the early 70s and eventually played with another group who performed at Caesar's Palace in Vegas.  Dean joined the Hubcaps in the fall of 2012.

Michael Shipley who is on lead guitar and vocals.  Born in Baltimore, he began playing guitar at the age of 17.  He never took a lesson and learned to play by ear by listening to Rock N' Roll and Rhythm and Blues.  During his musical career he has met many inspiring musicians such as Lorraine Allen, Tom Dildy, Don Mark and Jan Zukowski which has led him to his part of The Fabulous Hubcaps.