The Del Notes came from Newport News, Virginia. Danny O’Brien attended Newport News High School and formed the group at school.
Early members included:
Danny O’Brien – vocals and keyboards
Tom Clark – guitar
Earl Howard – guitar and vocals
Ronny Methany (also written as Ronnie Matheny) – bass guitar
Dickey Moore – drums
The first included two original songs, “Don’t Leave Me Girl” by Danny O’Brien b/w “I Been Thinking Lately” by Earl Howard, released on Top Cat 968. Twenty Grand Music registered copyright on “Don’t Leave Me Girl” in April of 1968 along with 20 other songs. The single likely was released earlier than that date.
Twenty Grand Music BMI published their original songs.
Danny O’Brien periodically revived the Del-Notes over the next few decades. Later members included bassist Garland Reece, guitarist Fred Ordonio and drummer Randy Jackson.
Earl Howard was killed in an auto accident on May 16, 1991. Dan O’Brien passed away on December 4, 2003.
The photos seen here Tom Hudgins submitted to the Peninsula Garage yahoo group some years back.
An article in the Daily Press from November 1991 was a good source of information for this post.
I don’t know of any other releases on this Top Cat label, but D’Arcy Sound Studios and Twenty Grande Music publishing show up on many releases on the Sounds International label.
An early photo shows Earl Howard and Ronny Methany jamming with members of the Nite Liters, including Steve Keith on rhythm guitar, Harrell Baker on lead guitar and sax and Donny Falk [Faulk] on bass guitar. The Nite Liters had their own single on Sounds International, “Set Me Free” / “Harlem Shuffle”.
This is randy Jackson drummer from the delnotes living in Lynchburg va you can call me at 434 660 2023 still playing blue mist band.
Hi Randy im Gina Howard Earls daughter this website warms my heart , yall made a permanent mark here, folks still talking about the delnotes after all these years. Gone too soon , but he distilled his talent in me and he was my idol , if you ever want to talk , i would love that, Gina Howard
Hi Gina. This is Steve Keith of the Nite-Liters band. I knew your Dad very well. He was an excellent guitar player. Many of us miss him. I can be reached at niteliters01@verizon.net. I still live in Hampton.
Steve hope you are doing ok do you have any cassette of yall live.
Hey Randy !!!!!!!!!! Harvey Peck here brother….. I hope you’re doing well, I know this post is better than a year old but I hope my reply reaches you still giving em hell
434 660 2023
Hay harvey whats up
Hay harvey still kicking
Hey harvey whats up
Hey Harvey my number is 434 660 2023
Hey Randy, this is Lil’ Danny. I would love any pictures you have of Dad! And, I’d love to talk to you sometime when you got the time!!!
This is randy jackson of danny and the delnotes band drummer call me we can talk 434 660 2023
I met Danny in the mid 60’s and he was my inspiration to pursue music. What with life and such getting in the way it wasn’t until the early 90’s that it became a possibility. All of Virginia loved him.
Randy Jackson or anyone else out there that sees this that was part of “our crowd” please reach out to me. I have lost my only copy of “Don’t Leave Me Girl” anyone know where I can find one? I am willing to pay for it.
Ron Matheny
757-608-8709
Pls leave a voicemail w/ phone #
Hey Ron you have my number 434 660 2023
Danny call me 434 660 2023
Little danny whats up
Hey Danny, you don’t know me but I knew of your dad. We need to talk, can you call or text me at 434-446-2284, please
Hey! Remember Stephanie Gooding? If you’re the right man, I believe I am your daughter. I am now 15 years old. My birthday is September 19,2003. Please contact me, it would really mean the absolute world to me. -Victoria
Danny my number 434 660 2033
Hey, Lil, Danny I used to live in N.N. I remember your Dad well, he used to hang out with my cousin Wayne Morton. After living in N.N. from 1951- 1968 we moved down to WPB Fla where I still live. Your dad was a good person, I sadden to hear of his passing! I also remember his brother Tim.
Do you have any music of them if so call me i played drums for danny for years 434 660 2023
Hey Randy, it’s Ron Matheny, the only “original” Del-Note” left since Tommy Clark passed a few months ago. If you still monitor this site, give me a call! I don’t think o have seen you in 40 years.
Ron
Love to talk to you ron
Hey ron 434 660 2023 call me sometime long time.
Hey ron did you ever find any music of yall playing live hope you are doing ok 434 660 2023 or band pitchers
Ron, used to listen you guys at a bar in Buckroe Beach with PBR cans stacked on Danny’s organ and all of us barefooted!
Also saw you several times at American Legion Post 35 in Newmarket!
Do you remember any of this?
Hi Randy
Didn’t the Del Notes play at a bar in Buckroe Beach? I think the name might have been The Broken Egg?
The “other band” with which the Del Notes are jamming is the Nite Liters, with members Steve Keith and Donnie Falk shown in the photo.
Harrell Baker of the Nite Liters is also in the photo, along with Donny falk and Steve Keith.
Hey ron did you ever find any music of yall playing live hope you are doing ok 434 660 2023 or band pitchers
Been a long time ago…..but still remember it all
Hey my girlfriend! Please get in touch with me!
Bonnie Bridger Mittelmaier
Just saw this site for the first time a few weeks ago! Francine and I are still together and live in Williamsburg. Hope all is well with you. Miss those days!
Ron Matheny
Nacey do you have any music of the delnotes i played drums for them after dickey. Or old band pitchers of them
My older sister turned me on to this band in the late 60’s. I lived very close to the south Hampton shopping center and used to go see Danny and the Del Notes at the Cage Club. I remember how good their sound was.. Loved their music… Great memories…
Tom do you have any old music of danny live or old band pitchers i played drums for the as well
I was a friend of Danny,s in High school. He was a good guy. I got to know the band, and they were all good guys too. They had a great sound. I used
to play their songs when I was a DJ in the early 70,s. Great memories !
Hey jack do you have any music of danny live or band pitchers i played drums for them as well
I’m Tracy Doug ward Sr. I played bass with Danny And Delnotes Band in the late 70s have pic if interested
Hey Tracy, I would love to see any pictures of my father that you have. Thank you for this post!
Danny call me sometime randy jackson 434 660 2023
Danny Jr. this s is Ronnie Matheny. Call me
757-608-8709
Hey ron hope you are doing ok these days did you ever find any music of yall early years live or band pitchers. Just found out i might have throgh cancer not sure yet got to do bio.
Hope you recover quickly. I will keep you in my prayers. Garlands last name was Reece not Reese as listed. If you have any photos with you and Garland in them I would love a copy. Garland is no longer with us. I miss him every day.
I use to go to the dances down from the boys club in Newport News, off Jefferson Avee and Danny would come with he’s guys it was fun,back in the (60’s)
Does anyone have any pictures from late 60’s? I played sax in the band but have no pictures
I wish I did. I remember you from Denbigh High School and hanging out with Lisa Wortman Harris. I was married to Danny O’Brien for a few years and actually have very few pictures from that time. I wish you well and hope you still play the sax. Miss Shockley would be proud.
Rise? from Red’s pier? Terry Roberts here.
Hi Rise. You probably don’t remember me but I use to see you at the Stoneybrook pool and some times at the dances at Newport News High School when Danny would play there. I even had a music appreciation class with Danny! Hope all is well.
Hey one other comment. If you have any old pictures, playbills, programs or anything else from The Del Notes send it to the Library of Virginia or contact me and I will bring up the mementos up myself; as I go up there every so often 757-875-1395
I don’t see anything cataloged in the library yet. Did you come across anything? I am also looking for pictures or posters. I played sax in the band
It’s been some time but Danny and I was very close friends I played drums with the delnotes for years. From the 70 to 80 90 yea long time little Danny calls me up sometimes.hope you are well I have lots of pitchers of Danny and the band.
This is randy Jackson do you have any ceseete tapes of the band. 434 660 2023
I played with three versions of the band on the trumpet. we recorded two different songs together.
We also played on the Dick Lamb tv show 3 times.
This is randy jackson of danny and the delnotes band drummer call me we can talk 434 660 2023 kenny morris this is your old drummer randy yep we did the dick lamb show take to the sky on a natural high are new hit single
Call me
Kenny call me sometime 434 660 2023
My name is Danny Kelly and for the last year or so ,as a member of the Nite Liters I played trumpet along with George Resto as the band introduced more horns. Anyway,I never had the chance to rock with the Del Notes of Newport News. I missed out on “battle of the bands” at the P A. It sort of makes me feel like I missed the real good times of the Nite Liters and Danny and the DelNotes.
Danny do you have any live music of your old bands i played drums for the delnotes as well.
Oh wow! I remember my dad Andy Heath played with the band. Hey Randy Jackson.
How is andy
I have pitchers of us
Randy, call me!! Ron Matheny….
Ronnie my number is 434 660 2023
Call me
hi what happend to the frist drumer dickey moore. he and i were friends back in school, boys club
I remember them at American Legion Post 35 on Sunday afternoons AND at the Broken Egg(hope that’s right) in Buckroe Beach when the Black Label cans were stacked on Danny’s organ !
What a great time that was!!!
Hey mickey do you have any music or band pitchers of them live gigs i played drums for danny as well.
My name was Vonnie Larmore I was a Del Notes groupie and friends with Danny we all use to pile in the car and go to the Drive inn also a girl named Shirley Dial we put people in the trunk so we didn’t have to pay. Danny was the sweetest guy ever. Many good memories of all the original members.
Vonnie, if you knew Danny, would you please contact me through text at 434-446-2284
Vonnie do you have any live music of danny and band pitchers of them. I played drums with danny for years.
Vonnie ,
Did you by chance go to Warwick HS?
I played with Danny as well do you have any cesette tapes of the band 434 ,660 2023
Hey harvey hope u are doing ok
Hey Randy. This is Amy. Danny’s Daughter. I know my son contacted you recently, desperate to get any of his Grandfather’s music. I would love to have some too. Can you please contact me? My email is Islandgirl73@me.com. Thank you so much!
Amy whats your number my. Musicjackson62@gmail.com