One-time band members never lose their teen spirit

Rodney the Band members just want people to ‘dance’

BUTLER TWP. — All of them played in bands as teenagers before going in different directions, two to dental school, one into county administration, another into radio and the fifth bought himself an antique mall he runs in nearby New Paris.

In age, they range from 54-60, and two years ago, when they came together to form their own band, they figuratively tossed away their birth certificates and named themselves Rodney the Band, or Rockin’ Old Dudes Now and Ever Young.

“Nobody in this group does bowling or golf,” said drummer Keith Kelly, the antique dealer who lives in Butler Twp.

“This is like our golf game,” said guitarist Joe Tuss, Montgomery County’s economic development director and deputy county administrator who also lives in Butler Twp.

Golf? No.

“We want people to get up an dance,” said bass player John Danewood, the former John King on WING, who continues to work in radio, only on the administrative side. “We play party rock from the ’60s and ’70s. Our niche is 40 to 50-year-olds.

“You know all the songs because they’ve been (background) on commercials.”

They have a songlist of about 40 titles and have another list of songs they’re adding to their repertoire.

The two dentists are Lee Hendricks, who plays guitar and is the lead singer, and Greg Shelhouse on the keyboard. Hendricks’ office is in Butler Twp. Shelhouse’s is in Centerville.

Hendricks even goes out on his own, playing pop acoustic guitar, and can often be found at the Cork and Vine off Miller Lane.

“If I’m not at a concert, I’ll be playing at home,” Hendricks said. “I enjoy it. I’ve been playing all my life.”

Most of the time, Rodney the Band plays for charities and just to have fun, and this Friday, June 4, will play at the Oregon Express for the Special Wish foundation. The band also has a Carillon Park concert schedule for Aug. 6 to benefit Building Bridges.

They also play at the Shiloh Club, Harrigan’s South, the Irish Club and Oscars. Most of those clubs don’t charge when Rodney plays.

They also have played for Miami Valley Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Center for Women’s Healthcare.

The band plays for private parties and soon plans its own website. For now, it can be reached through www.leehendricks music.com.

When Kelley’s son was married two years ago, the band decided to play at the reception, then performed a Building Bridges concert, which was so successful it encouraged them to stay together.

Now they hold regular practice schedules and play one or two events a month, although, “we all have regular jobs, so we can’t play as much as we’d like,” Hendricks said.

“We love doing it and try to put our personalities into it. If we didn’t, it would be a little like painting pictures, then not showing them to anybody.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com

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