Mt. Airy native's band still rocking after 42 years

by Len Lear
Posted 8/13/21

The Real Fugitives, who have a dynamite sound, have a legion of loyal fans who go nuts at their local haunts when their high-octane sound gets in gear.

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Mt. Airy native's band still rocking after 42 years

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According to a Google search, Rolling Stone magazine recently reported that the rock 'n' roll band that has been together the longest with no lineup changes is U2, which was formed 43 years ago by the same four Dubliners who are still in the band today. The magazine reports that the longest tenure of any band that has had lineup changes is The Rolling Stones, which has been together for 59 years.

What the magazine does not say is that a Philadelphia area band, The Real Fugitives, started by Mt. Airy native Larry Feldman, 62, guitar player and gravelly-voiced lead singer, have been together continuously for 42 years, as rare a phenomenon as tulips in December. Of course, they did not make the magazine because they are basically a weekend band that has not played in big arenas or had hit records, but if you see them play or listen to their CDs, you would wonder why they haven't.

Feldman lived on Wadsworth Avenue with his family in East Mt. Airy and went to the Houston School in Mt. Airy until age 14. He was a freshman at Central High School but left “because there were no girls there, and it was a long bus ride after we moved to Northeast Philly. So I went to Washington High School instead.”

Dave A. Kennedy, 64, a drummer and vocalist, grew up in Northeast Philly and attended Archbishop Ryan High School, where girls and boys were kept in separate parts of the building. “It was very exciting when we were allowed to cross over to the girls' side,” he recalls. Larry is also a motivational speaker and owner of Career Changers USA, a business recruiting firm. He previously sold cars for Colonial Cadillac in Trenton, NJ, for over 20 years and was one of the top Cadillac salespeople in the country.

Dave and Larry, self-taught musicians, started the band in 1979. (Today Dave is also the director of the New Hope Academy, grades 6 to 12, where he teaches Spanish and English. He has an MA from Holy Family University in Northeast Philly but did not start his teaching/administrative career until age 42. “I like what I do, and I do need the money,” he said. “When you put those two things together, why stop?”

The Real Fugitives, who have a dynamite sound (you can check out some of their live performances on YouTube), have a legion of loyal fans who go nuts at their local haunts when their high-octane sound gets in gear. They do about 80 percent original material (Feldman has written over 100 songs, and many of the lyrics and “hooks” are really quite impressive) and the rest “covers” of songs by The Beatles, Ray Charles, Chuck Berry, etc.

“We have a ridiculously good band,” Larry insists. “Really tight. We have an incredible rhythm section. I like to heckle the audience. For example, one night a mob guy came in. I said 'Do you know why Italians don't like the Jehovah's Witnesses? It's because they don't like ANY witnesses!” I thought the guy might be angry, but he came over, smiled and gave me $50. He loved it. At Grendel's Lair (a popular center city club many years ago) sailors from another country were throwing money at me. Dave said, 'Keep on going.' I said, 'That's all the songs we know.' So we sang the same songs over again with nonsense words, and they did not know the difference … Rock 'n' roll is all about the feel, and nobody plays with more passion than we do!

“I have a tenuous grip on reality. I realize I am going to die, and life is short, so I want to have as much fun as I can while I'm here. I'm not technically a good singer; in fact, I suck, but I have a distinctive voice that is good for an original band.”

According to Kennedy, “On 'Fugitized,' our 2019 CD, we do 'To Love Somebody' true to the original, but we made it ours. I say that Larry is a better talker and singer than Bruce Springsteen.” (Author's note: I cannot disagree with that assessment.) “The Bee Gees are great singers,” added Larry, “but we blow them out of the waters. I am not innately musical, but Dave is. The reason why we are not big stars is that I am the worst promoter who ever lived. We are too nice.”

What is the smallest crowd the band ever played for? “It was a club in Fairless Hills in 1999. We played four sets for one person in audience. Yes; ONE PERSON! We were afraid the owner would not pay us, but he said, 'Not only am I paying you, but I'm bringing you back' … Where else are you gonna find a Jewish car salesman who fronts an R & R band and tortures his audience with stories about Ben Franklin, the most extraordinary person who ever lived?” 

Other members of the band are El Fairworth, lead guitar; Eric Tarr, alto and baritone sax; Larry Beaner, bass player (retired but sits in on occasion); David C. Kennedy, bass; Sam Murray, tenor sax, and Al Tolz, keyboards.

The band has several upcoming dates at John & Peter's in New Hope and other area clubs. For details, visit their Facebook page, call 215-407-5174 or visit therealfugitivesband.com. Len Lear can be reached at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com