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Post by kit on Oct 14, 2008 20:38:23 GMT -5
butchd,
Is your uncle the same Joe Perry who worked at the tile and rug place on Commercial Drive near Henderson Street? And was his wife named Iris?
kit
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Post by kit on Oct 14, 2008 20:41:43 GMT -5
On top of my Mac having the hiccups, my phone was shut off this morning. With a dial-up modem, you can’t connect without a phone, so I was up the proverbial creek with a broken paddle. But hopefully everything is okay now.
I’ve downloaded 21 pages of Clipper’s Clever and Contagious Busy Corner and will just start blabbing about whatever I remember as I read them. So if this is going to bore you to tears, just skip to the next reply. I won’t mind.
Page 1:
The Bel Aires: Didn’t Jimmy Hanna play with them for a while? I have a record (45 rpm of course) of The Bel Aires on the Aegis Record label. Both sides vocal with Gates Intino. “You’re The Greatest” and “You Left Me for Somebody New.”
Value of old guitars: Can someone tell me what a 1959 Les Paul Special with factory installed Bigsby tailpiece is worth today? It’s cherry red wood grain, with double cutaway. Has 2 humbucking pickups. 4 knobs - 2 each for volume and tone of each pickup, and a 3-way switch for selecting the pickup(s). It even has the double serial number stamp on the back of the head that Les Paul required that Gibson do because he decided he didn’t want his name associated with a solid body guitar. Then the lacquer was applied. There was a flaw in the lacquer mix at Gibson that year that caused it to crack when a fast temperature change occurred (like from -10 degrees to being put on top of an indoor radiator). Naturally, mine has the cracked lacquer to prove the guitar is original. Also have the original cardboard, alligator-like, flimsy case. I just wondered how much it was worth now. (It sounds and plays, by the way, just like it did when I picked it up from George O’Dell 48 years ago)
Tiny URLs: Have the photos that were put on the tinyurl site been put on this thread?
Eric and The Chessmen and Jim Gaylord: This is a puzzle to me. I’m not sure of the date of The Chessmen’s accident, but I assume it was some time around 1963. Jim Gaylord was playing on location with me in Ogdensburg with The Nitecaps at that time. I’ve spoken with Jim in Georgia a couple of times about the old days, but we’re all getting older and the details are fuzzy. Maybe Jim left to play with The Chessmen just to get away from ME and didn’t go into the Air Force at all. Yeah, that’s it! Boy! I didn’t realize I was such an SOB as a band leader.
Page 2:
Photo of The Capri 3: Frannie Loucks, Bill LaPera and Tony Caro. Not sure if this photo was just before or just after their Ogdensburg location gig. The Nitecaps took over the gig right after them. I hadn’t met any of them until 1963. Frannie (as only Frannie could be) was the ultimate jester. He also thought he was Mel Torme when he sang, but that’s another story. (It must have been Frannie’s locks of hair that floated bobbbiez boat, huh?) Tony was one hell of a drummer and had his head screwed on straight. He married a local and lived in Rome for many years. Bill could play anything with strings on it, and well. His son, young Billy, is also a guitarist and last I knew played in a country group called the Skyliners (or something like that). A guy I know, Terry Grimes, has a great voice, plays left-handed bass, and was with the group for quite some time. Sadly, Bill LaPera passed away in March of 2007 at age 78.
The Chessmen: John, I have a few pictures of The Chessmen from the 60s. One is a composite I did for Gene Kipper before Eric was associated with them. Tommy Acee was the drummer and there were a few other guys from other groups who were in the group also. Another is the studio shot I did of them just before the Peppermint Lounge gig which was a couple of years after the accident. It’s with Eric, Dale Ryder, Chuck Schoenley and I don’t know the drummer’s name but I’ll be having photos uploaded soon. I’m hoping that you, or somebody, can identify some of these musical rascals for me.
So that’s the end of Page 2. Whew! I have a lot of catching up to do and that’s not easy for an old fart.
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Post by butchd on Oct 14, 2008 20:54:21 GMT -5
Joe Perry's wife was Ann Perry. Their son Andy Perry is the steel guitar player.
I have not seen Bob in a long time.
I do know Andy continues to play with various artists, recently Vince Gill at differnt venues in
New York State.
Joe was a great fiddler.
The Chessmen accident was October 9, 1964.
butchd
I do not beleive he worked in tile and carpet.
He did work at CP for awhile.
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Post by Clipper on Oct 14, 2008 21:01:56 GMT -5
Kit, I am not sure about my uncle Jim playing with the chessmen, but I was pretty sure that he had told me at some point that he had sat in with the chessmen after the accident. Their drummer was killed in the accident right? I could be wrong, and maybe he had been asked and turned them down because he was with you at the McConnville. My memory isn't what it used to be either, LOL
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Post by dgriffin on Oct 14, 2008 22:30:25 GMT -5
Kit, yes, Jimmy Hanna played with the BelAirs and actually started the group. He and I, Hank Bowman and Mike Motto were the original band in 1959. We played as the Rhythm Kings, a name given us (if I remember correctly) by Gates Intino, because he was no longer using the name for his band. Jimmy played lead guitar, Mike played rhythm, Hank on drums and myself on piano. We wore white shirts, khakis and bright red "Perry Como" sweaters. We had two sax players, one at a time, Lowell Sick and I forget the name of the other guy. When the Plaids broke up, Guy Vivenzo came over to play sax with us and also Ralph Malozzi on bass. Mike and Lowell left the group at that time. We renamed ourselves the BelAirs after Guy's favorite car, a Chevy BelAir. The BelAirs sort of broke up in 1961 for a short time, with Guy and Ralph and I doing pick up work in a variety of places I would rather forget. Jimmy went off for a semester at RIT. We reformed a few months later with Jon Hynes on bass and Dick Laurey on drums. I left the group in late 62 or early '63 and went to New York, but Jimmy, Guy, Jon and Dick continued on. Jon will have to take the history from here. By the way, photos, discussion, history and some of the musicians are at the CNYForum on a thread I began there by the same title. Actually, there's also another similar thread there called "Seeds of Utica's bands" or something like that and also Jon's thread, "Utica's Bands of the Fifties." I think you can click on this to get there: www.cnyforum.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1661By the way, the record you mentioned ... we recorded that with Gates in one of UFA's auditoriums. |
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Post by jon hynes on Oct 15, 2008 0:02:14 GMT -5
The Chessmen accident was October 9, 1964. glad to see you found us. Real good people on this Forum. Wilum47 was in Tony Frontera's class at the time of the accident. (posted on page 8) You were in the Original Chessmen and an excellent Drummer. You were a student of George Cleasgens weren't you? Doesn't get much better than that. You were a good student and learned well. Never skipped a beat as long I played with you in the group. You put your whole heart and soul into your drums After the accident while you were in the process of a slow heal, Eric and I started up the Chessmen again, with Wayne Bowling as our drummer and Norm Knapp playing guitar. I wasn't happy with the way the group was going at that point and joined the Bay IV or V whatever it was called, and Dale Rider switched places with me and joined with the Chessmen with Eric. Wayne is the drummer that played in the Chessmen that died. That would be when Jim Gaylord, would have played with Eric before he used Slivers as his drummer. |
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Post by jon hynes on Oct 15, 2008 0:33:55 GMT -5
Bob Perry has always been one of my favorite local musicians. The last time I saw Bob he was playing at the Moose Club in Marcy before it closed up. Mine too. First time I heard him he was playing at the Club Royal in Frankfort with the Playboys: Eddie Arcuri, Tony Schaldone, Ed Elly, Ronny Cardillo and Bob Perry. At the Moose Bob played one-man and Tony Schaldone at that time President of the Moose spent a lot of time with him figuring out his new equipment and learning new songs. John Duda's band played at the Moose quite a bit, also Scott Campbell 'Double Image' too. On different nights Bob would play at the Music Man and held his own. Paul took over the business but wanted the younger crowd and his steady money makers: Jeff Glatt, Bob Perry and Paul's father Mike and other 'old people bands' fell by the wayside. Bob was going to Florida for part of the year. I went to see him at the Elks one night but his gig had ended so I missed him. I worked with one of his brothers or cousins remodeling South Lewis High in Turin. Same thing the 'ole Sheetrock trick. |
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Post by jon hynes on Oct 15, 2008 1:18:11 GMT -5
The Chessmen: John, I have a few pictures of The Chessmen from the 60s. One is a composite I did for Gene Kipper before Eric was associated with them. Tommy Acee was the drummer and there were a few other guys from other groups who were in the group also. Butch DeAngelo, Joe LoConti and Eric Thorngren started as the Rockin' Robins. I was playing with the BelAires at that time and used to walk home with Joe LoConti and Joe Majka most every day. I told Joe if I ever had my own group I would call it "The Chessmen". Some time later Dick Laurey went to California. Jimmy Hanna disbanded the group to start up the Windgate Singers. I reluctantly went with the Wingates but quit them after a short time. Joe LoConti decided to join the Air Force. Eric and Joe called, and asked me to join the group with Eric, Butch and Tony Frontera. I agreed. Eric was in the Chessmen from the beginning. If Tom Acey ever played with the group it would have been much later. The Name continued due to Gene Kipper taking the name with None of the original members. I seem to remember hearing that the group got in an accident but I don't believe I knew any of the members. |
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Post by jon hynes on Oct 15, 2008 1:41:49 GMT -5
I heard Frannie had switched to the drums. Any idea what's going on with him lately? Frannie played Drums back in '63 with Tony Madonia and the Madmen. Jimmie Hanna played guitar and I played bass. Last one that said anything to me about Frannie was Dick Laurey. He said he had gone to see him some place, but that was when Dick was here visiting quite a few years ago. |
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Post by jon hynes on Oct 15, 2008 2:26:24 GMT -5
By the way, the record you mentioned ... we recorded that with Gates in one of UFA's auditoriums. Pete Narkon recorded us in the Ball Room of the Hotel Hamilton not UFA but that wasn't for the record. Just for testing out his equipment. Pete was in the process of constructing a recording studio in the cellar of his house on Euclid Road. I helped him do some drywall to finish up. That's where the record was actually recorded. "Oh yes I remember it well" as the song goes. |
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Post by jon hynes on Oct 15, 2008 2:48:37 GMT -5
Frannie was a sketch and his bass is the exact sister to my Gibson 6 string. Frannie sold me the Gibson bass that he had used before he bought the one you are talking about. It's the one you can see elsewhere with the BelAires in the Red Tuxes. One night Frannie borrowed it back for a job at Charlie's on the Square. Darryl Crouse was there and started a fight that ended with him being thrown through the front window, but first landing on my bass breaking the neck off the body. Non repairable. |
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Post by Clipper on Oct 15, 2008 7:13:09 GMT -5
I remember "Double Image" well. They were great to dance to, and had a large repertoire of music that was wonderful to listen to.
I was only in the Music Man a few times. We always joked that they checked ID at the door and no man was allowed in under the age of 50, and no woman over the age of 25. It was also said that there was always an EMT on duty to do CPR on the middle aged studs when they got carried away dancing. We joked about it because on one occasion while we were there we happened to notice that there was nobody but middle aged men with their trophy class arm candy sitting all around us. ( We figured that their wives were probably at the bingo hall, and didn't want to come out and dance that night)
I loved the music there, but just didn't happen to land there often because I was a moose member and spent most of my Friday or Saturday nights dancing at the moose. Heck, the moose had dinner for about $10 0r $12 bucks for two, and dancing and inexpensive beverages. You could even play the pull tab tickets and maybe win a hundred or so, haha.
My ex-wife and I were married in Las Vegas while there for national moose convention. The crooked administrator that robbed the moose blind and basically signed the clubs death warrant, stood up with us. We had no idea at the time what a crook he was. He had promoted the club in an extraordinary manner and had it going great until they found that the mortgage was not paid and Niagara Mohawk was going to shut off the lights. Investigation showed that he had absconded with several hundred thousand dollars over a period of time. I may be wrong but I think that was the beginning of the end for a great area nightspot and a wonderful fraternal organization lodge. Tony did his best along with the club's other officers to bring it back, but the money wasn't there and they didn't get the help they should have from the Moose Headquarters. Mr. Fortier walked away without paying a dime back, and without being prosecuted because the Moose Organization decided it best to keep it low profile and bite the bullet. The national organization bit the bullet, but the local lodge got hit with the schrapnel and it mortally wounded a great club and disappointed some great people and loyal members.
Did anyone else ever play there? How about the Rome Moose? That was also a great place to go on a weekend evening to dance to good music by local bands.
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Post by kit on Oct 15, 2008 8:14:02 GMT -5
 Page 3: Clipper, Jim Gaylord’s father, Lew Gaylord, worked for Brayton & Co. (restaurant/bar supplies). Wasn’t that on Hotel St.? Page 7: Jon, in the photos of The Jaguars (Replies #102 and #104) isn’t that a Fender Jazz Bass you’re playing? It looks a lot like the red one I had. And, golly! You sure are a tall drink of water. The air must smell different up there. Do you remember where you were playing when the photo was taken? You look familiar from back then. We’ve probably met before, somewhere, in those old days of the very slim necktie. Rewinding a little to Reply #75 and the photo of The Contracts. In the back row, all the way to the right... isn’t that Doug LaVigne? If not, it sure looks like him. See if I have the right Nicoteras (wilum47 might know as well). Didn’t Phil have sisters Ginny (the dancer), Paula (the singer) and a brother Patrick (the actor)? Wilum 47, in the old CB radio days, “Sgt. Snorkle” had a friend named John Mudge who lived not far away in east Utica. John and his wife Roberta used to live in the apartment I’ve been in for the past 40+ years. They had 2 kids (little squirts at the time). John Jr. and a sister Lynnie. Did you know John and can you tell me anything about what happened to him? Page 9: Clipper, was the Central NY Coach lines the one in Clinton, across from the arena?
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Post by Clipper on Oct 15, 2008 9:03:51 GMT -5
Yes Kit, Braytons was on Hotel St. I worked there my first summer out of high school. My grandfather, Lewis Gaylord was the store manager. I worked in the stock room and shipping and receiving. I was a gopher and helped with deliveries, picked orders from stock and prepared them for delivery etc. I made $35 a week gross, and could not spend it all, even after giving my mom and dad $15 a week board to help them out. Haha. Hell, it would cost me more than that to buy the gas to get to work for a week now, haha.
Central NY Coach Lines was in Yorkville on Calder Ave. It was in the old drop forge building, and the garage portions faced Oriskany St and Meyers Ave. The company you are thinking of in Clinton was Utica Rome Bus Company. That was owned by the Marsh family. I drove for them part time also, as I did for Birnie Bus Company in Rome. I worked for CNY Coach before going to the base to work, and then worked there part time for 23 years until they closed the doors over a union dispute. Birnie Bus in Rome was a small company with one used greyhound bus for charters and a few school buses. Utica Rome had about 4 or 5 buses at the time and ran the Utica to Rome line. Central Coach was the largest in the area, and had about 15 or 20 buses, running from to Little Falls and Syracuse out of the Utica Greyhound terminal. Their charter business was the largest in the area also and we were the only ones with mulitiple modern and new coaches. I used to make two trips to Syracuse a day, and would run Charters to NYC on weekends. When I had gained a little seniority, I got to do Myrtle Beach and Florida in the winter, and Canada and Nova Scotia in the summer among other places.
Birnie Bus Company in Rome now has the Syracuse and Little Falls line runs, and has grown to be huge. They have hundreds of school buses contracted all over NY state, and have a yard full of modern charter coaches, along with the line buses. It is now run by Bud's son Tim Birnie. Utica Rome was run by George Marsh senior until his retirement. His son, George Jr and his wife ran it for a few years, and then sold it to Syracuse and Oswego Motor Lines. It then ended up a Coach USA franchise, and then closed down a few years ago if I am not mistaken. I could be wrong. It may still be there on a small scale.
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Post by dgriffin on Oct 15, 2008 9:24:28 GMT -5
By the way, the record you mentioned ... we recorded that with Gates in one of UFA's auditoriums. Pete Narkon recorded us in the Ball Room of the Hotel Hamilton not UFA but that wasn't for the record. Just for testing out his equipment. Pete was in the process of constructing a recording studio in the cellar of his house on Euclid Road. I helped him do some drywall to finish up. That's where the record was actually recorded. "Oh yes I remember it well" as the song goes. The recording in a real studio must have been a later and probably better version of the record. I do remember Gates was back from Boston that summer night and the guy who recorded us in the UFA auditorium was someone Jimmy knew from WTLB, who I think put up some money. (We did, too.) Damn, I had that record around the house for years, and now I can't find it. Would be interesting to compare labels. My kids .. at the time about 8 and 10 years old, became enamored of Jimmy when on vacation in Maine we took them to hear Jimmy play one night in downtown Booth Bay at the Tidewater Inn on the harbor. When we got home, I gave them the record and they played it over and over, which always amazed me, since it was of course out of sync with popular music at the time (1976). And I didn't point out that it was Gates singing on the record, not Jimmy. My son's interest in the guitar (he's pretty good) in fact dates from seeing Jimmy play in Maine. |
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