Harry Traynham

In 1964, Harry Traynham was 14 and living in Bedford, PA., a kid who liked to sing but hadn’t really found his outlet for his interest.

The Beatles and other groups like them soon came along and changed everything for all of us, but especially for Harry  and a few other soon to be musicians in the small rural area in Pennsylvania..

Within a few months, Traynham was playing guitar with Johnny and the Contenders. They played the AM radio rock hits of the mid-‘60s at sock hops and high school dances and wherever else they could find jobs.  Too young to play clubs they would lie about their ages and eventually make their way into the club scene. (as if noone knew they were only 15)

Four decades later, the sock hops are a distant memory, but Traynham is still playing guitar, still in a band, still cranking out music that has never left his soul for a moment and continues to grow with each passing day.

Over those years , Harry’s primary work has been in nightclubs throughout the DC Tristate area and  beyond. He has performed for numerous concert/festival venues on the east coast opening shows for notable performers like The Little River Band, Allman Brothers, Dickey Betts and Great Southern, John Prine, Roy Buchanan and many others.  He has averaged 250 shows a year since 1971.

About 20 years ago Harry turned his interest  to the York, Pa. Area, mostly because his family (mom, Dad & 5 siblings) lived there and he saw it as an opportunity to see them often, but also saw a great opportunity to sing and play to a new audience. York seemed to have an unusually enthusiastic attitude towards his music and it was, and still is, a great fit.   He quickly became well established in the York region as a singer/guitarist of quality and the crowds are still growing.

A lot of folks in York, Pa. first heard about Traynham from his packed shows at Alberto’s Pizza in York Township. It was highly unlikely music venue that turned into something huge. He had gigs there every month for a half-dozen years starting in the late 1980’s.   Harry regularly performs at Fat Daddy’s, The Hop, Tailgator’s and other nightclubs in the York area.

But it was in Washington  D. C. and places like Ocean City, Md., where Traynham first developed a reputation as a crowd-pleasing singer.

For a brief time before that, music took a back seat, first to the military (he spent three years in the Marine Corp beginning in 1968) and then in 1971 Harry entered Allegeny College and then Frosburg State and studied psychology  and partying for a few years.  He performed  in various clubs in Western Maryland 5 nights a week while in college.

After College Harry and his family moved to the DC area where he quickly became established as a hard working artist in dozens of regional venues that have continued till today to provide him with the outlet that he needs.  He has a tremendously wide range of fans both in age and tastes of music based on his variety of  styles and personal selection of music.

A particularly strong period for Harry was when he established Harry Traynham & Pylot in 1980. This band was five members all multitalented and eager to play together. A very freelance, versatile and fun band that could play any kind of show. Also, during this time, Harry and his band became locked into one of the best gigs of his career at Fager’s Island in Ocean City, Maryland.  This was one of the highest profile restaurant/nightclubs on the east coast and soon he was performing here to great exposure as much as ten nights a month.  This helped spread his fan base tremendously throughout the region since his shows were seen by people all over the east coast.  Harry’s band Pylot lasted till mid 1986 and Harry still plays in the Ocean City area regularly.

Harry performs solo as much as with his band and enjoys all of the versatility that comes with it.

His band now includes Alan Cornett on drums, Topher Sisson on lead guitar and Jimmy Conklin on bass.

He cut an album of originals over ten years ago, called “Traynham, Goddard, Cornett,” with Alan Cornett and longtime friend and bass man, Brian Goddard. Many of the cuts were written by Traynham and Goddard.  The project was recorded in Boston and the stress of travel and deadlines was too much to handle.  At this point, no followup recordings have been planned.  The stage is where the magic is for Harry and that's the way it's always been. 

Harry and his wife, Ann, currently enjoy life on Kent Island (on Maryland’s Eastern Shore)  It’s a slower pace there—a lot like where his music career started.

He is happy with his life. He’s had a few ups and downs, like everybody else.. He has a grown son, Todd,  two young girls, Hanna and Lena, and one awesome 13 year old step son, Austin.

He gets to pamper his inborn passions for outdoor things (Fishing, golf, windsurfing and more) anytime he wants.  His family is nearby and he makes a living doing what he has loved to do since he was a kid.  They say life isn’t perfect, but contentment sure is nice!