About Duke Jupiter
1973: Original Members:
Marshall Styler: keys/vocals/songwriter
Greg Walker: guitar/vocals/songwriter
George Barajas: bass/vocals/songwriter
Earl Jetty: drums
The Early Years
In their early days, Duke carved out a unique niche with original Rock and R&B instrumentals, distinguished by their signature dual lead-guitar sound—a defining element introduced when Don Maracle joined the band in 1974. Performing in clubs throughout Upstate New York, the band steadily grew its regional following.
Their momentum surged with the release of Sweet Cheeks in 1978, their debut album, which opened the door to national touring alongside major acts. Over their 13-year run, Duke shared the stage with a powerhouse lineup that included ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughan, David Bowie, Bob Seger, Robert Palmer, B.B. King, Toto, Sea Level, Huey Lewis and the News, REO Speedwagon, Foreigner, Blue Öyster Cult, The Charlie Daniels Band, The Outlaws, John Lee Hooker, Cheap Trick, and many more.
Duke went on to release two more albums under Mercury Records: Taste the Night (1979) and Band in Blue (1980). In 1977, original drummer Earl Jetty departed and was succeeded by Dave Hanlon. Tragically, Earl passed away three years later following a serious illness.
The Middle Years
The first major change occurred in 1980 when the band left Mercury Records after three albums and sought a more streamlined rock style. Dave Hanlon (Duke's 2nd drummer) and Don Maracle (guitar) went on to other ventures, and drummer Dave Corcoran joined the band.
Marshall, Dave Corcoran, George, Greg
Duke Jupiter signed with CBS affiliate Coast to Coast Records, releasing two standout albums: the intriguingly titled Duke Jupiter 1—a bit of a misnomer, as it was actually their fourth release—and You Make It Look Easy.
In early 1981, tragedy struck the band when bassist George Barajas was diagnosed with a brain tumor. After a long and difficult battle, George passed away in August 1982. At the time, the band was deep into arranging and recording what would become their next album. George was more than a bandmate—he was a brother in both spirit and sound, and a key force behind Duke Jupiter's evolving, more stripped-down musical direction. His loss was profound. Rickey Ellis later stepped in as the new bassist.
By June 1982, Duke Jupiter's popularity in their hometown of Rochester, NY had reached new heights. A free concert at Ontario Beach Park drew an overwhelming crowd—what was expected to be an audience of 5,000 ballooned to over 25,000 fans. The turnout caused massive gridlock, prompting local police and fire departments to declare the event a public hazard. As a result, the city banned the band from performing at future city-sponsored events. The incident made headlines on local news and even MTV, ironically serving as some of the best publicity the band ever received.
End of the Road...
After Coast to Coast Records folded, Duke Jupiter’s manager, Peter Morticelli, secured the band a two-album deal with Morocco Records, a subsidiary of Motown. Their first release under the new label, White Knuckle Ride (1984), featured the breakout single Little Lady. The track gained national attention with a performance on Solid Gold, heavy rotation on MTV, and a steady climb up the Billboard charts. But just as momentum was building, Morocco Records collapsed. Duke Jupiter was moved to the main Motown roster for their final album, The Line of Your Fire (1985)—unfortunately, at a time when the label had little interest in promoting rock music.
After 13 relentless years on the road, worn out by the grind of the industry, Duke Jupiter played their farewell show in Rochester in 1986. But the music didn’t end there. Fueled by the passion of a loyal fan base, the band has reunited for several unforgettable performances over the years. In 2010, a staggering 10,000 fans showed up to see them rock the stage once more—24 years after their official goodbye. Today, the legend of Duke Jupiter still echoes through Rochester, inspiring new generations of musicians to play with heart, stay true to their roots, and celebrate what it means to be in a rock ’n’ roll band.
So sad to say that our drummer, Dave Corcoran, lost his battle with cancer on June 21st, 2018. He's been our brother for all these years. We miss him!