The Pandoras

From 1964-1968 The Pandoras was an all-girl band (one of the first!) playing a few original tunes and a bunch of popular covers at concerts and dances throughout New England. They started out as a trio, with Simmons College students Kathy Kinsella and Pinky Keehner on rhythm guitar and lead guitar, and Sally Levy on drums. Elysee Thierry eventually came in on bass, but personnel changes also followed. Levy left and was replaced by drummer Nanci DiMuro; Keehner left and was replaced by guitarist Michelle Marquis. Much later, Thierry split and was replaced by bassist Kelly Gifford. In the middle of all that, under the management guidance of Peter Bonfils and the booking expertise of David LaCamera, the band had some success, including a recording contract and a couple of singles with Liberty Records (“About My Baby”, b/w “New Day,” “Games” b/w “Don’t Bother”), and gigs that brought them from the Surf in Nantasket, the Rathskeller in Kenmore Square and the Boston Garden, to shows all around the U.S. as well as in Newfoundland and Puerto Rico, opening for acts including The Kingsmen, Dionne Warwick, the Byrds and Gary Lewis & the Playboys. Songs the band covered included “Kind of a Drag,” “Hang on Sloopy,” “Happy Together,” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You.”  There have been a couple of informal living room reunions over the past few years, and band members still talk about the possibility of getting together again to play a few songs.
(by Ed Symkus)