IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N' ROLL

Many of the rock 'n' roll bands that formed in Cape Girardeau in the 1960s and 1970s had one thing in common: Chuck McGinty. Beginning in 1964 at 15 with his first band, the Werewolves, and continuing to the late 1970s with the wildly popular band Fletcher, McGinty was associated with a who's who of Southeast Missouri rock musicians and bands (see list). He had a versatile voice and could play both guitar and keyboards.

In 1978, McGinty quit music completely. "I was disillusioned with the future and wanted a regular job," he said.

He remarried, began raising a family and established his jewelry business in downtown Cape Girardeau.

But now his sons, Charles and Samuel, are well into their teens themselves and business is good. And McGinty has returned to the stage, playing his vintage Stratocaster guitar for the St. Louis-based R&B band The Contors.

"If you have done it before, you want to do it again," he says. "That same old feeling is back."

The Contors performed in January at Broussard's and last month at the River City Yacht Club, both times filling the house. People reserved tables, unusual at the Yacht Club. Mayor Al Spradling III and his wife, Pam, attended the most recent performance.

As two tenor saxes and a baritone sax bulldozed a path, the Contors' charismatic three lead singers -- Curtis Blackstone, Carthan Ward and Dave Williams -- took turns soloing and then joined voices on "Mr. Pitiful." They peeled off Wilson Pickett's "634-5789" and "Under the Boardwalk," music intended to make people feel good enough to get up and dance.

Larry Lynch, the bass player, is known for being the only white musician ever to tour with Ike and Tina Turner. Rich Kerry and Bob Bierman are the saxophonists. Tom Goodwin brought his baritone sax to sit in at the recent gig at the Yacht Club.

The band rehearses every Monday night in St. Louis, whether they're playing the following weekend or not. They played Saturday at the Amazon Club in St. Louis.

The Contors originally formed in 1963 and were as popular around St. Louis as the Bob Kuban and Walter Scott. They were the city's first integrated soul band. The band broke up in 1967 when Kerry, the leader, decided to go to dental school.

Like McGinty, they decided to start playing again now that their children are getting grown. Tom Mogelnicki, a Cape Girardeau contractor, has been playing drums in the band. He told them about McGinty when the Contors' guitarist quit.

When the Contors called, McGinty had to learn 47 songs in two weeks. "My wife almost left me," he said. "But it took that kind of dedication." McGinty's bands had always been rock-oriented. "Motown and soul were kind of new to me," he says.

During the period he wasn't playing music, McGinty missed it. "I missed it to the point I started buying tons of CDs and hoarding sound equipment."

Now that he needs it, he has the largest portable sound system around.

McGinty first returned to music playing bass in the band at LaCroix United Methodist Church. When his son, Charles, was in a band, he'd jam with them in the family basement.

He recognizes that resuming the life of a musician, even if only part-time, means changes and sacrifices.

"My business is doing fabulous. Our kids are extremely independent. But I still regret the time taken away from home," he says.

His wife, Laura, is not completely comfortable with the effect music will have on their lives now, McGinty says. "She is 85 percent on board. Fifteen percent is gray area she doesn't know about yet."

McGinty's bands

Werewolves

Mustangs

The Groupe

The Groupe II

Orange Wedge

Haymaker's Riot

Andromeda Strain

Small Society

Connestoga

Big Muddy

Fletcher I

Fletcher II

Fletcher III

Under the Influence

The Contors