Then on May 25 of that year, while coming home from a gig in nearby Reading, PA, they were involved in a horrendous automobile accident. The headline in the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal the following morning told the story; "7 In Rock & Roll Combo Catapulted From Car By Crash." An explosive crash on the Oregon Pike in Manheim Township shortly after midnight killed three members of a teenage rock-and-roll band when they were catapulted from one of the cars. Four other members of the band were seriously hurt. The dead were identified as: Kenneth Gray, about 15; Louis Wilson, 19; and Lawrence Speller, 17. All three suffered fractured skulls and died instantly. Those injured were Harold Keys, 17; Lewis Burross, 16; Robert Ray; and Ralph Speller, 19. The driver of the other vehicle, Logan Carpenter 49, had serious lacerations to the head and face. The boys were driving south on Oregon Road to Lancaster when it went off the side of the road and while the driver was trying to gain control of the car, it went across the road and hit an oncoming car. Speed was to blame in the accident. The car exploded and burst into flames. The promising career of these seven musicians ended in a ball of flames. The Crystalaires were members of the local Crispus Attucks Recreation Center. A short time before the accident they had taken first place in the Hempfield Sertoma Club amateur contest. The manager of the combo was William Zimmerman of 414 N. Queen St. The evening before the crash they had held a rehearsal at the rear of his home. They were planning on a benefit dance the following month at the Stahr Armory with the proceeds going to the Lancaster County Society for Crippled Children and Adults. Kenneth Gray, the youngest member of the band, had recently joined as a vocalist. 19 year old Lewis Wilson was married with three children ages 24 months, 11 months and one week. Lewis was also a member of the Hamboners which made four appearances on the national amateur television show, The Ted Mack Amateur Hour, in 1953 and 1954. Ralph Speller would have been eighteen the next month. On May 29th another headline read "Driver Is 4th To Succumb in Rt. 222 Crash". Harold Keys, 17, died at 5:30 pm. The fourth death made the accident the worst traffic accident in the past four years in Lancaster County. Harold was not a member of the Crystalaires, but had volunteered to drive the band to Reading for an audition and to arrange for future bookings. Harold was a sophomore at Lancaster McCaskey High School and worked part-time at a shoe-shine parlor and sang in the Bethel AME Church choir.
The Crystalaires |
Stan's Record Bar in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania |
I am the youngest daughter of Edward Speller and niece of the late Lawrence Speller. Although I was not born at the time of the original group. I was blessed for the 25th Anniversary. I Believe I was around 6 or 7 years of age. Many nights of rehearsals at our home. A moment I will never forget.
ReplyDeleteEddie was one of the best vocalists I every remember. We all just loved listening to him parading down the church aisle, giving his rendition of his part in the "We Three Kings Of Orient". Something I will never forget. Thanks for you comment!
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