After Bebop A Lula: Utica Bands 50's 60's

[lenporter]

Don't ask me what made me look at this web site today, but I an glad I did. Actually I was thinking about Tony Madonia from Rome NY for some reason. I was his drummer in the early 60s. I left in 62 to go off to CA and beyond. When I saw the post from Frannie Loucks (aka "Frannie Love" during his days with the Madmen I just had to say hello to him and Bob Perry our guitar guy in those days. Guy Vivenzo and many of the other musicians from East Utica and I go back along, long way. I have not played in many years,(dragging a drum set around the world with me for the last 40 years was a no-no), but glad to see the others are still active. I have not been back in the Utica area in a long time. My brother still lives in the area, and I am always saying I will go back for a visit but never do. Maybe next year.

Frannie it was good to hear about you, and Bob. To anyone else who may know me from this post, I hope all is well with you and yours. Best regards to all. Len

PS I hope i have done this right. I am pretty much a "digital dummy". Now that I have written it I need to figure out how to send it. Opps it may be sent twice. Sorry

[dave]

You did fine, Len. Thanks for dropping by and don't go away too fast. We have people discover us from time to time. It will probably take a while to review all the posts here anyway. Clipper's Busy Corner not only hosts threads about Utica's musical past, but a lot of other historical topics too. Some go way back into the city's past and beginnings.
Have fun,
Dave

[chrisb]

Hello,

New member here, I've written about the Rooster and Eric & the Chessmen for my website on '60s garage bands, Garagehangover.com. I notice many of the singles on the Krishna, Kama, Buddha etc labels were recorded at either a studio in Chadwicks or sometimes from an address at Hamilton College / Clinton. Does anyone have more info about the Chadwicks studio, who owned it, and who ran these labels with the Hindu and Buddhist names?

www.garagehangover.com/country/us/new-york/upstate-new-york/utica/

[dave]

Welcome, chrisb. You can see at one time we had more activity on this thread. Don't miss the Musician's Memorial thread here also, which we set up a couple of years ago to keep track of who was among us.

I like your website.

I played piano in the BelAires and knew Jon Hynes then and also here on this forum when he and I and Fiona did a lot of research on historical Utica and especially the Genesee Flats fire (later rebuilt as the Olbiston.) Jon and I enjoyed traveling together to the first Musicians Reunion in 2011 at the old DiCastro's in Sylvan Beach. - Dave Griffin

[kit]

I wonder if anyone remembers a group called "Li'l Ray and the Blazers" from the late 50s and early 60s?

Ray Armstrong was a musician from Rome NY and 'The Blazers' was the name of his group which consisted of other musicians who were stationed at Griffiss AFB. Because of this, the group changed personnel periodically as the guys got stationed elsewhere and a new musician took their place. They had a standing gig at the 'Hacienda' and also played in other venues in Syracuse and around central NY.

At one time they cut a record called 'Boom Boom' that was written by Ray Armstrong, and the flip side was called 'A-Time' that was written by the then sax player Mike Antunes. I had a 45rpm of that record back then.

Does anyone know whatever happened to Ray Armstrong?

[kit]

I'm just 'checking-in' so this thread doesn't die a slow death.

"Not for nothing" (as they say in east Utica) today is the 70th birthday of Ken Aikin who played finger-style lead guitar for The Nitecaps as well as with other groups when he was in his late teens and early 20s. He still plays today, mostly as a hobby, and is better today than he was back then, and doesn't read a note of music. Happy Birthday Ken.

[kit]

I have a request.

The drummer for my band, The Nitecaps, for a while in the mid 60s was Alan Yates (a great drummer and lots of fun). After the band broke up in 1965, Alan (who lives in Saratoga Springs) played with a group called "The King Beats" (which were originally called 'The Cruisers') from the Little Falls area, with Joe and Gary Chapadeau and a bass player named Roger McCabe. They played often at Grippe's Tavern near the border of Utica and Frankfort. I just spoke with him on the phone and Alan would like to get in contact with Roger McCabe but doesn't have any contact information.

Does anyone know anything about Roger, and how we can get in touch with him? I'm hoping someone can help us. Thanks.

[dave]

Kit, off line via email, I've sent you the address of Dick Laurey. Dick is a member of this forum and may see your post, but sending him a note might be more efficient since I'm unsure how often he checks in here.

Dave

[kit]

Thanks, Dave... I replied to Dick and he knew of the band, but didn't know Roger McCabe. I'm still hoping someone who reads this thread will know how to get in touch with him.

[johnnyrod]

Apr 26, 2008 10:21:17 GMT -5 bobbbiez said:

Dan, I remember hearing the name, "The Alligators,"but don't know a thing about them.

Dave and jonhynes would be the ones to get you info on the group. ;D They're great at that stuff.

[dicklaurey]

What would be really cool would be a "coffee table", pictorial history of rock bands, from the Utica and surrounding areas, using photos from Dave & Jon, etc., that have been posted on this website. Would only be purchased by locals, but, would probably be well received. Of course, it takes incentive, research, time and money. Good advice could be had from Malio Cardarelli, who has created many area specific publications.

[bruceb]

Hi. I'm looking for information about Dave Gray of Dave Gray & The Graytones. I know he cut an Aegis demo for a folk music album in 1964 with George Reynolds and Bob Jones, but have been unable to discover anything about what happened after that. Thanks