Poor Girls

Akron, 1965-9

The Poor Girls were the first all girl band in the Akron area. The group started in 1965 when they were students at Litchfield Jumior High School. The band included  Susan Schmidt (guitar), Pam Johnson (guitar), Debbie Smith (bass), and Esta Kerr (drums). 

The group started playing teen parties and school dances but by mid 1966 they were playing teen clubs, including the Hullabaloo circuit in NE Ohio and places along Lake Erie.

The band continued as they attended Firestone HS and ended when they graduated. The Poor Girls' biggest shows were opening (along with James Gang) for Steppenwolf and Cream in 1968 at the Akron Civic Theatre.

The band recorded a few songs (covers of other recordings) but never released anything.

Susan Schmidt and Debbie Smith continued to play together in 1970s, most notably in Chi-Pig. They were also in Cinderella's Revenge.