Ron Moody and the Centaurs Bio
story of Ron Moody and the Centaurs.
Story of Ron Moody and the Centaurs.
Most musical groups, if they ever get off the ground, last a few years and then fade into
obscurity. Some, if fortunate, may last several years, but only a very select few perform
for decades! Such is the story of Ron Moody and the Centaurs.
Ron Moody and the Centaurs is a Virginia Tradition with Ron being the only member
who has performed at every show since the band's inception December 26, 1964! The
group has recorded for Columbia (Sony), ABC-Dunhill, and MGM Records, as well as
their own in-house labels, Star America and Aron Music. The Centaurs are an 8-piece
Southern Soul / Beach Music band that has played countless venues over the last 6
decades. In 2008, Ron Moody and the Centaurs were inducted into The Beach Music
Hall of Fame
Their story begins in Richmond,
Their story begins in Richmond, VA with five middle school students riding the wave of
Motown, Stax, The British Invasion, Elvis, The Beach Boys, Brill Building pop, and all
the various genres which comprised the melting pot of ‘60’s American Music. In typical
garage band fashion, they learned to play and perform through many days and nights of
constant rehearsal. Next, they took their “extensive” 10 song repertoire out to the local
community center for their first taste of stardom and its accompanying $14
remuneration! It was their start, albeit a humble one, but they never looked back. Soon
they had cultivated a large teen following and began to play numerous venues
throughout the state. As their reputation grew, they decided to add horns to their lineup
and focus on the great Rhythm & Blues that was predominant during the era. This
music, now affectionately known as “Beach Music” soon became the band’s passion
and the music of choice that remains the bedrock of their repertoire today.
In 1969, The Centaurs decided to record their first single. Hot on the heels of the
success of fellow Virginians, Bill Deal and the Rhondels, the band made the trip to
Baltimore in March of that year to try their luck. The results were surprising to the entire
band. With their very first attempt, the single, “If I Didn’t Have A Dime” was purchased
within weeks of recording by Columbia Records and by May it was pressed on their
prestigious red label! It was at this time Ron Moody and the Centaurs really began to
explode. The band, now in college, performed throughout The Southeast at clubs,
fraternities, and arenas, sharing the stage with such legendary acts as The Impressions,
The Drifters. Billy Stewart, and Percy Sledge.
By the early 1970’s the band decided to follow a more contemporary road that had been
ushered in by the current psychedelic craze. Soul had now morphed into “Psychedelic
Soul” with new hits from the Temptations like “Cloud Nine” and “Runaway Child” and Sly
and the Family Stone. Ron Moody and The Centaurs became “Centaur” and it was
during this time that Ron began to take interest and begin to hone his skills as a
songwriter.
