The Point Boys

 It all began in the summer of 1987 when a mutual friend introduced Al Darago & Jimmy Hammonds for the first time. Both being musicians and living in Fells Point Al playing guitar and singing since his teen years & Jimmy playing drums since he was about 10 years old.The two instantly clicked and decided to get a band together so a ad was placed in Maryland Musician paper looking for a guitar or bass player (Al played bass guitar as well) Mic Ayres answered the add. He came and jammed maybe 2-3 times & that was it.. the 3 Known as triple xXx played a open stage night at the 8x10 club. After playing maybe a handful of the open stage nights it just faded out.{Now for the story everyone knows so well}  Al & Jimmy got together in Jimmys's basement one evening during the winter of 1987 to jam, knowing about maybe 10-12 mutual songs that they had been playing with Mic & jamming for awhile they headed to Fells Point (Bar area) and booked a show to happen in just 30 days. With no band & not nearly enough music to play a full show the job of finding musicians to form a band had begun. Al remembered a Keyboard player from high school Mark Rybczynski  so the call was made & there was a third member in place... Mic was then approached about joining & agreed.. ok now with about 2 1/2 - 3 weeks to learn atleast 40 songs The Point Boys Were Complete. The first show was played on a cold Thursday night in October/November 1987 at The Omega Inn (a country/western bar) After playing the first night They were then asked to play every Thursday night & agreed. After playing the following Thursday They were asked if they would like to play every Friday & Saturday night. The currant house band High Noon was then let go & replaced by The Point Boys. Then playing 168 shows in the first 18 months at places such as The Omega Inn, E.J. Buggs, The Spectrum Lounge, Jans Bar, The Old Mill, Lorenzos, Harold's. Then slowing down a little in 1989-1990 playing a little less often. Changes came in 1990-1991 when the bands lineup had changed guitar player Mic Ayres & keyboardist Mark Rybczynski left the band. But Al & jimmy had decided to keep it going adding bass player Doug Ulrich. Through the years members have joined/left/re joined the band. But here it is almost 30 years later & it is still going... just when it begins to die... somehow they breathe life back into it. I myself personally am very proud to have been & still continue to be a part of this almost 30 year old union. The Point Boys  are more then just friends & fellow musicians.. They are Family.
I now give you you the currant lineup
THE POINT BOYS ARE: -Al Darago - Guitar, Keyboards,Vocals.~ ~ ~ Jimmy Hammonds - Drums, Vocals.  ~ ~ ~ Doug Ulrich - Bass, Vocals. ~ ~ ~  Jeff Witte - Guitar, Vocals