Pumpkin Head Ted (PHT) was formed on a Friday in 1994 to fill in for a band that had cancelled for the next night in a downtown New Bedford, MA venue.

The band was an instant hit and became the Saturday night house band for the next several years.

During this period the band went through many changes but stayed true to an acoustic format while experimenting with many styles.

PHT was originally: Tom Short on flute, saxes and vocals; John Nieman on guitar and vocals; and Matt Ryckebusch on bass. Later it expanded to include: Jason Smith on washboard, percussion, guitar and vocals; vocalist Kathy Crowley; Doug Tuxworth on sax; and Pat Pounds on mandolin.

The Pumpkin Head Ted band was named after Ted Kennedy whose politics, drinking ability and large Jack-O-Lantern like noggin we all admire greatly!