The Crows Run Band Story, The Early Days: John Roebuck, Bill Watson, Nudist Colonies and Rock & Roll

One of the first Crows Run Band gigs. left to right: Bill Watson (guitar/vocals) Joe Patrick (bass) Bob Jay (drums) John Roebuck (guitar/vocals)

Crows’ Run Band, began performing with four pieces in the Pittsburgh, PA area during the 1970’s. The group typically played five to seven nights each week, but after only 15 months into Bill Watson’s first stint as lead guitarist with the group, and with plenty of work on the schedule, they disbanded for a period due to personal reasons.

A few years later guitarist/singer, John Roebuck, reformed CRB in a three piece drums, guitar and bass guitar configuration that eventually saw Bill Watson return playing bass rather than lead guitar. Watson, who now produces music and plays on sessions for his Nashville, Tennessee based music recording business, Nashville Trax, soon began alternating between guitar and bass with lead singer/guitarist John Roebuck. Watson, predominately on bass, would sing 3 or 4 songs per set, switching briefly from bass to play guitar while singing.

CRB achieved a degree of local notoriety during the 1980’s. With Paul Dennis in the drum chair, they won a local band contest in spite of competing against bands as large as six pieces. They also released

One of the first Crows Run Band gigs. left to right: Bill Watson (guitar/vocals) Joe Patrick (bass) Bob Jay (drums) John Roebuck (guitar/vocals)

Crows’ Run Band, began performing with four pieces in the Pittsburgh, PA area during the 1970’s. The group typically played five to seven nights each week, but after only 15 months into Bill Watson’s first stint as lead guitarist with the group, and with plenty of work on the schedule, they disbanded for a period due to personal reasons.

A few years later guitarist/singer, John Roebuck, reformed CRB in a three piece drums, guitar and bass guitar configuration that eventually saw Bill Watson return playing bass rather than lead guitar. Watson, who now produces music and plays on sessions for his Nashville, Tennessee based music recording business, Nashville Trax, soon began alternating between guitar and bass with lead singer/guitarist John Roebuck. Watson, predominately on bass, would sing 3 or 4 songs per set, switching briefly from bass to play guitar while singing.

CRB achieved a degree of local notoriety during the 1980’s. With Paul Dennis in the drum chair, they won a local band contest in spite of competing against bands as large as six pieces. They also released Watson’s first producing effort, a cassette album mix of originals and cover songs that garnered some local attention and airplay. After five years with that configuration, Watson left the group, forming The Billy Elroy Band with Watson on lead vocals and guitar, Don Plum on bass guitar and vocals and “Stitz” (Forrest Stolz) on drums. The Billy Elroy Band went on to moderate success, working steadily for four years, developing a sound that featured intricate vocal harmony, but it was without Plum, who dropped out early, replaced by Butch Curry on bass and harmony vocals. Plum wouldn’t work with Watson again until the band Sidewinder was formed by Watson and drummer, Jimi Miller, in the early 90’s.

In 1991 Bill Watson returned to The Crows’ Run band for the third and final time with Watson on bass guitar and the talented Mike Thellman playing drums, creating a thunderous rhythm section to complement John Roebuck’s powerful vocals and unique guitar playing. the band recorded a single Watson wrote, “Turn Up he Radio.” But after a little over a year into the third go-round of performing repeatedly in small bars, clubs and the local nudist colony, Watson, desiring via his songwriting/producing/management efforts to focus on propelling CRB to a higher level, discovered not everyone was on that page with him and lost interest.

Eventually Watson and Roebuck parted ways, opening the space for Watson and drummer Jimi Miller to form the highly successful and exciting five piece concert band, Sidewinder, with Julie Peterson on bass/vocals, radio celebrity Jimi Miller on drums, Watson’s girlfriend (later his wife) Rhonda Watson, a recording artist in her own right, who would later tour overseas, on keyboards and lead vocals.

Sidewinder was high energy, modern country, served up concert style, just as country rock was replacing traditional country music on radio stations.

Don Plum initially joined Sidewinder on acoustic guitar, but later took Peterson’s spot on bass.

Watson and Plum both continued with Sidewinder, riding the wave of success through various configurations, one with Watson’s cousin David Watson. on drums, until Bill Watson moved permanently to Nashville in 2004 to pursue music producing.

Both The Crows’ Run Band and Sidewinder are still intact and performing in clubs in the Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio area.

a cassette album mix of originals and cover songs that garnered some local attention and airplay. After five years with that configuration, Watson left the group, forming The Billy Elroy Band with Watson on lead vocals and guitar, Don Plum on bass guitar and vocals and “Stitz” (Forrest Stolz) on drums. The Billy Elroy Band went on to moderate success, working steadily for four years, developing a sound that featured intricate vocal harmony, but it was without Plum, who dropped out early, replaced by Butch Curry on bass and harmony vocals. Plum wouldn’t work with Watson again until the band Sidewinder was formed by Watson and drummer, Jimi Miller, in the early 90’s.

In 1991 Bill Watson returned to The Crows’ Run band for the third and final time with Watson on bass guitar and the talented Mike Thellman playing drums, creating a thunderous rhythm section to complement John Roebuck’s powerful vocals and unique guitar playing. But after only a little over a year into the third go-round of performing repeatedly in small bars, clubs and the local nudist colony, Watson, desiring via his songwriting/producing/management efforts to focus on propelling CRB to a level beyond the small bar scene, discovered not everyone was on that page with him and lost interest.

Eventually Watson and Roebuck parted ways, opening the space for Watson and drummer Jimi Miller to form the highly successful and exciting five piece concert band, Sidewinder, with Julie Peterson on bass/vocals, radio celebrity Jimi Miller on drums, Watson’s girlfriend (later his wife) Rhonda Watson, a recording artist in her own right, who would later tour overseas, on keyboards and lead vocals.

Sidewinder was high energy, modern country, served up concert style, just as country rock was replacing traditional country music on radio stations.

Don Plum initially joined Sidewinder on acoustic guitar, but later took Peterson’s spot on bass.

Watson and Plum both continued with Sidewinder, riding the wave of success through various configurations, one with Watson’s cousin David Watson. on drums, until Bill Watson moved permanently to Nashville in 2004 to pursue music producing.

Both The Crows’ Run Band and Sidewinder are still intact and performing in clubs in the Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio area.