In 1968 Brookside gave birth to another great band. The members were mostly from Brookside and in the 10th grade: Jimmy Mooney, Dave Midash, and Steve McDowell. Max Mathis and John Jenson were a year older, and Wayne Beardwood was a 9th grader (age 15). By the Fall, they had achieved enough success to get into the Ogeltown Jr. High School Battle of the Bands.” When I first joined the band, they were rehearsing on Steve’s patio. We needed a name for the battle of the bands, and we came up with The Outside Lights! Ha! Loved the 60’s. We bought Nehru jackets and big medallions, white shoes, and belts. I made $5 a night and felt like a pro at 15.” -Wayne Beardwood
But in time, they felt they needed to change their name to better reflect the music they played. And so they became:
- Max Mathis: Lead Vocals
- Jimmy Mooney: Guitar
- Steve McDowell: Organ & Trumpet
- Wayne Beardwood: Saxophone
- John Jenson: Bass
- Dave Midash: Drums
Their short-lived career (1968-1970) was jam-packed with gigs at local community dances, restaurants, and parties. They were regulars at Brookside’s TABS (Teenage Brookside Society) Summer dances 1969-1970, The Surf Club at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and Wesley’s in nearby Elkton, MD.
After The Soulful Six, Wayne Beardwood joined the Army Band. In 1975, he replaced Hank Carter on tenor sax in another area band, Scoop (See Legends Of Newark Rock: Scoop).
Wayne then moved to Boston to study at Berklee College Of Music. Upon his return to Newark, he played on and off with Rocket 88, The Johnny Neel Band, & The Bluerocks. During those years, Wayne won Best Saxophone Player multiple times in the Fine Times Readers Poll. After moving to St. Petersburg, Florida in 1998, he joined the Dan McMillion Big Band as an arranger and Musical Archaeologist and played the 2nd Alto book. The band was Grammy-nominated in 2002. Wayne stayed with McMillion until 2009, until he developed issues with his heart and hearing.
Since then, he has been building a catalog of brass arrangements of classical tunes and retired his saxophones. Recently he’s been teaching himself to play the Scottish Smallpipes (Smaller cousin to bagpipes). “The greatest thing that happened in my life was being raised in Brookside during the greatest musical explosion ever!” –Wayne Beardwood
Little is known as to the destinies of the other five members. Long may they run wherever they are.