Paul Schroeder (Guitar & Vocals)
Paul is an original founding member of Bad Toupees. He plays guitar and shares vocal duties. He continues to provide direction for the band and currently procures most of the bookings. He's been rolling with the band since 1993.
Doug Searle (Bass & Vocals)
Doug joined Bad Toupees in its very early stages as a fill in bass player. In addition to his bass playing and vocal duties he lays out the set lists for most of the band's events.
Bill Wasch (Guitar & Vocals)
Bill's guitar playing and soulful vocals help take Bad Toupees into a wide range of musical genres. He is a veteran Central PA player who continues to be a student of music. When he's not playing he somehow finds time to teach his well honed crafts to others.
Ashley Butz (Vocals, Saxophone and Percussion)
Ashley carries the bulk of the lead vocal load for Bad Toupees. Additionally, she is a classically trained saxophone player and, combining with Pam, is responsible for helping the band create a full horn section sound on many classic rock and soul favorites.
Pam Searle (Keyboards & Percussion)
Pam brings years of keyboard experience to the band and rounds out the sound by providing piano, organ, horns, strings and synth accompaniment. She also extends her talents as a piano teacher and pianist at local church services when she's not playing with the band.
Sam Bolinger (Drums & Vocals)
Sam plays multiple instruments but for Bad Toupees he plays drums and adds vocals to many of the bands' tunes. You may also catch him performing with other area bands and various theatre companies across Central PA and Maryland.
APPEARING OCCASIONALLY
Craig "Tito" Wrights - Percussion
Occasionally, Craig will bring his extensive percussion section to the stage to add a special touch to the band's sound.
Founding members and other musician friends
Being together 30 years is a special feat whether it is a band, a marriage or a job. While starting with 5 original members who were together faithfully until the early 2000's the band has since had several different line ups providing the classic rock and roll dance music the "Toupheads" have come to know and love since 1993. We miss our founding brothers Toad, Bo and Kirk playing with us, but are thankful they formed the heartbeat of the Toupees that is too much fun to stop.
Ralph “Toad” Carfagno (Drums & vocals) ...don't laugh, he's serious)
Toad grew up listening to his older siblings 45’s, like Lloyd Price “Stagger Lee” and the Coasters “Yakkity Yak.” It was a short slide from those classics to the Stones, Beatles, Zeppelin and at age 12, the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
From his first drum acquired with S&H Green stamps, Toad cobbled together a complete kit and began playing in a band called Initial Command in Jr. High. Going to Milton Hershey School in 9th grade gave Toad the opportunity to be in bands like “Flashback” and "Mythical Maze", while also learning a little about jazz music in the school’s Spartan Jazz band.
Beside some fill in gigs, life, work, coaching, children and living overseas meant the drums were put on hold. Toad didn’t play seriously again until he and some friends decided to jam in the early 1990’s. So was born the “Bad Toupees”, with Toad as one of the founding members. Although truthfully, who founded the band or was there at the start is inconsequential in relation to the fact it exists...and has provided endless fun for family and friends for over 28 years.
Kirk Ward
Kirk is an original founding member of the Bad Toupees and one of the first three musicians to jam together before the group ever thought of becoming a band. Nicknamed "Smash" for his amazing solo work Kirk was the lead guitar player and specialized in playing those leads note for note, from Carlos Santana and “Soul Sacrifice” to Dire Straits and “Sultans of Swing." Kirk was the first "comptroller" of the band, but (playfully) was always evasive about how much money was in the "tut"...was it $14 dollars or $140, we never knew...or cared! Later nicknamed the “Unaware” guitarist which aligned with Kirk's easy going nature, Kirk paid little attention to band intrigue, the weather, the rotation of the earth or anything that might get in the way of the fun he had playing music...especially with the Bad Toupees. Kirk and his lovely wife Sarah retired from Hershey and moved back to their home state of Minnesota, semi-retiring from the Toupees. He makes occasional appearances for very special occasions and obviously will join the band when they are inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!
Bo Smith
Bo was the last of the original five members of the Bad Toupees. Bo may have taken longer to join because he knew that once involved the effort to deliver the keyboard sound the band needed would take a great deal of work...but he delivered! Bo provided every type of keyboard sound the music required, especially the techno sounds of the 1980's including bands like the Cars, Billy Idol, Genesis, Van Halen and others. Over the years he carried as many as four keyboards to the gigs. Bo infamously also gave the Bad Toupees our name, but was also the "soothsaying visionary" offering the band a different and enlightened view of each issue or opportunity. Over time he provided great Bad Toupee t-shirt designs and threw the best Toupee and Toupette parties. Thank you Bo, for the introduction to Opus 1! Bo and his beautiful wife Alexia retired from Hershey and took up primary residence in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Like Kirk, Bo has made occasional special appearances with the band, driving his keyboards from New Mexico to Pennsylvania...and also like Kirk, he will obviously join the band when they are inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!
Other guest appearance members through the years
Mike Gingrich Dale Wise Donny Intreri Tony Formica
Susan Bogart Betty Kovachs Chad Salvaggio Gary Emery
