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Post by sonnydee on Nov 3, 2011 20:31:57 GMT -5
hey clipper, we all had to start somewhere....Not exactly what I wanted my musical career to take off from, but I learned, remembered, and strove for the finer things of being in a band, like GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS!!!! I know that place you are thinking of, it was a green building right across from GE on broad... This place was further down the street, more to the corner of broad, and culver at that time.... There was no off ramp there then, just the old route 5s..... I remember one of the waitresses took a liking to me, and bought my drinks all night long.....Ahhhh, those fringe benefits of being an italian singer...... especially in east utica....
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Post by richmc on Nov 4, 2011 8:27:32 GMT -5
I am not sure about that place but I played somewhere upstairs on Liberty Street ( I Think )
with Donny Hale, Don Taylor and (of all things) a Cordovox guy. It was also a topless bar and we got to play real some strip music just like old time Chicago. The whole thing was very ironic and soulful and required moderate alcohol consumption to maintain stability.
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Post by richmc on Nov 4, 2011 10:47:23 GMT -5
Dulan's was a good gig. Collected a dollar at the door for the band and played "Twist" type stuff. I think Frank Roberts was in that group but am hazy on the details. I also remember being with a band that rehearsed in the old Sons Of Italy hall in Utica. I made some tapes there and the stone walls made an incredible echo chamber. Long time back, of course.
Just innocent kids playing music....Ha!
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Post by Clipper on Nov 4, 2011 12:08:14 GMT -5
Dulans was a great place. I remember when Go-Go girls first became a popular thing. Dulans had some of the prettiest gals in the area dancing. That was back in the days when they wore cute little skimpy outfits and still left a little to the imagination, haha.
Used to take some of those gals to breakfast at the Jet Diner when the bars closed, back when Frankie Reille owned the diner in the 70's.
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Post by sonnydee on Nov 4, 2011 15:29:47 GMT -5
hey rich, the only cordovox player I knew real well, was a guy named don, and he was the only player in the area, I think. I played with don hale, great guy. I played at a club on bleecker street, with a guy named gary flagg, who waseither a guitar player, or played the organ, not sure as it was all so long ago. Ithink it was the "Family restuarant". The club on bleecker street by the GE, was the old "Chesterfields", I remember that because of the cigarette brand at the time. Who could forget all those wonderful after gigs breakfasts at "Uncle Henry's", the only place where you could see pimps, prostitutes, cops, and musicians all in one place.... very cool!!
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Post by bobbbiez on Nov 4, 2011 21:38:32 GMT -5
 Sonny, wasn't that place on Bleecker near GE, "Frankie Carr's?" It was Frank (Johnny Bullet) Caramadre's place and I remember he did have bands playing there for quite a while. 
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Post by bobbbiez on Nov 4, 2011 22:47:06 GMT -5
Hey everyone it's Jay's birthday today. I almost missed it myself but it's never too late to serenade him, so Jay this is just for you sweetie.....................  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, "OUR DEAR JAY," HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...................... ;D Hope you're having a great one. Love ya kiddo! 
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Post by sonnydee on Nov 4, 2011 23:00:02 GMT -5
yeah bobbie, you're right it was "Frankie Carr's" after it was the chesterfield, The bands were either local, or out of syracuse, albany area. Funny, I met a girl, that worked with my mom at GE, and when I told my mom who she was, she freaked, because I was only 17, and she was 28, and way too "Old" for me... I guess this girl thought I looked older than my age. Still trying to remember that place on Old route 5s... I remember getting into a fight outside that place, because there were some guys there, who thought we were trying to take their girls from them... I foolishly opened my mouth and said " if you paid more attention to them, instead of the beer, maybe they wouldn't be interested in us"........kind of a blur after the first punch....
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Post by jon hynes on Nov 4, 2011 23:20:55 GMT -5
hey rich, the only cordovox player I knew real well, was a guy named don, and he was the only player in the area, I think. Don Van Pelt is who you are thinking of. He played as the house band at Twin Ponds for many years and also with the Sal Alberico Trio. |
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Post by jon hynes on Nov 4, 2011 23:34:23 GMT -5
Still trying to remember that place on Old route 5s... I remember getting into a fight outside that place, because there were some guys there, who thought we were trying to take their girls from them... I foolishly opened my mouth and said " if you paid more attention to them, instead of the beer, maybe they wouldn't be interested in us"........kind of a blur after the first punch.... Any chance you're thinking of Blue Skies? |
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Post by jon hynes on Nov 4, 2011 23:58:33 GMT -5
Steve Conners (Czarnocki) and Marv Potocki used to play as the Continental Two
They played with the Dick Clark Caravan of Stars
at the Utica Memorial Auditorium in '59
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Post by bobbbiez on Nov 5, 2011 0:01:16 GMT -5
yeah bobbie, you're right it was "Frankie Carr's" after it was the chesterfield, The bands were either local, or out of syracuse, albany area. Funny, I met a girl, that worked with my mom at GE, and when I told my mom who she was, she freaked, because I was only 17, and she was 28, and way too "Old" for me... I guess this girl thought I looked older than my age. Still trying to remember that place on Old route 5s... I remember getting into a fight outside that place, because there were some guys there, who thought we were trying to take their girls from them... I foolishly opened my mouth and said " if you paid more attention to them, instead of the beer, maybe they wouldn't be interested in us"........kind of a blur after the first punch.... Yep Sonny, we all have our stories to tell about the good old days. You guys and your experiences in playing in the bands and me working behind the bar. Guess we were all playing. I always said I wanted to write a book of those times and I'm sure it would be a best seller but I'd have to move out of town before it hit the shelves. Damn if I was good at blackmailing, I'd be a rich woman now. ;D |
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Post by jon hynes on Nov 5, 2011 0:27:03 GMT -5
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tonyj
Mild Pushover
Posts: 142
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Post by tonyj on Nov 5, 2011 12:17:57 GMT -5
I believe the place on old route 5s, east broad street, was Doyle's Roadhouse. When we shut off the stage lights, the place went totally dark, except for the glow of cigarettes and other cylindrical shaped smokes.
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Post by sonnydee on Nov 5, 2011 12:44:02 GMT -5
yeah, that's the place!! A real kick-ass hole in the wall, and some real rough customers.. If bobbie was tending bar there, she would have to be wearing a reinforced bra, to hold the 45's she would need to protect herself!!! Hell, some of the women there were pretty scary... Jon, don van pelt was one of the nicest guys, and a hell of a cordovox player... We worked together at Massouds a few times for some weddings, and also at Twin ponds..... Hell, partner's choice was a twin ponds, compared to doyle's roadhouse......... Bobbie, if you wrote that book, most of us musicians would have to leave town.........FAST!!!!
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Sonny, wasn't that place on Bleecker near GE, "Frankie Carr's?" It was Frank (Johnny Bullet) Caramadre's place and I remember he did have bands playing there for quite a while. 
