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Post by Clipper on Dec 2, 2012 21:43:54 GMT -5
Dale, I was with my uncle Jim two weeks ago for a wedding in Atlanta. He is doing well. I will tell him you said hi. I remember when you played at Lou's. I also remember Kenny Aiken's guitar playing style. I am only two years younger than Jim, and I loved going to band jam sessions and rehearsals with him. I was with him once at your house in Chadwicks. I also remember you had a roadster that I thought was cool as hell. Just think how much that car would be worth today.
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Post by kit on Dec 4, 2012 6:51:10 GMT -5
Dale, I remember first meeting Kenny Aikin when I replaced you on bass with the new Nitecaps. We were the house band at Massoud's and Dick Stone played the organ at that time. Dick eventully left the group and we became a trio. Kenny worked at Glista Bros Shell gas station on Oriskany Blvd. His specialty was washing cars. He was, and still is, one hell of a guitar player.
I remember now that the name of the band with Fran Loucks (bass) , Bill LaPera (guitar)and Tony Caro (drums) in 1963 was "The Capri Three." They did a few weeks at the Hotel McConville in Ogdensburg but the locals weren't really into commercial music so they left and we replaced them and because we did some country tunes (thanks to Kenny) and some 'naughty' tunes the crowd loved us and we were there for a year and a half until Urban Renewal decided to tear the hotel down. Ogdensburg had a strange draw for drummers... both our drummer (Jim Gaylord) and the Capri's drummer (Tony Caro) married local gals. Jim eventually divorced Peg but last I knew, Tony and Kathy are still happily married (but that was a few years ago).
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Post by kit on Feb 10, 2013 11:34:15 GMT -5
I saw a recent obituary for an Ed Rutkoff. Does anybody know if this is the same Eddie Rutkoff who was a musician in a rock band in the 60s? If so, can anybody share any details of his life as a musician?
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Post by kit on May 22, 2014 9:49:15 GMT -5
I need help.
Can anyone fill-in the blank? "Madman Tony Madonia and the _________"
I remember Tony but can't remember the name of this group that played at Sylvan Beach several times. (Actually, it could have been just 'Madman Tony Madonia' but I can't remember)
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Post by dicklaurey on May 29, 2014 18:52:44 GMT -5
Kit- It was "Tony Madonia and the Madmen".
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Post by kit on May 30, 2014 8:09:37 GMT -5
Ah, yes! The Madmen. Thanks, Dick. Glad you're still a kid and can remember. ;o)
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Post by kit on May 30, 2014 12:33:42 GMT -5
Just got word that friend and fellow musician Tom Acey has passed away. No details other than he'd been ill for quite a while. Obituary in the Utica Observer Dispatch is expected to follow soon.
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Post by popsmatic on Sept 24, 2014 15:12:12 GMT -5
I saw a recent obituary for an Ed Rutkoff. Does anybody know if this is the same Eddie Rutkoff who was a musician in a rock band in the 60s? If so, can anybody share any details of his life as a musician? Yes, He's the same one. I was stationed with Ed in the USAF at Travis AFB from 1968 - 1972. He was a great guy who always loved to play and sing. We wrote a few songs back then and had a group on base. Always the gentleman and loved to have a good time. Never messed his hair up either. Ha! We lost contact in 1972 when we both got out, but never stopped remembering him. The last time was during Project Transition, when the USAF paid for you to work at a civilian job while still on active duty to help with job training after Vietnam. He was thinking of doing work on the County Sewer program...hated the stink, but was good training. We lost touch after that. I went back in the USAF and retired in 1990. I still think of him often and was saddened by hearing of his passing when I found this post yesterday on google search. He haunted me in my mind all afternoon and night with that big smile and memories of 40 years ago. Glad I had the opportunity to know him. God bless him and his family. Jim |
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Post by kit on Sept 25, 2014 15:27:37 GMT -5
Thanks for the info, Pops. Yes, as I remember, Eddie was a very nice guy and I happened to meet his mom several years ago. She's from Utica NY. Here is a photo of "The Bards" that I took for their agent, Gene Kipper, back in the 1960s with Eddie.  Did you know any other musicians from this area? |
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Post by kit on Jan 13, 2015 13:18:08 GMT -5
I'm having a mental block... a senior moment... a brain f...
Years ago our group, The Nitecaps, played a few weekends at "Pfeiffer's" on Floyd Ave in Rome covering for the "Dynamic Casuals' who were away on other engagements. Pfeiffer's eventually went out of business and became a popular seafood restaurant apparently owned by "your captain Steve Hayes" who appeared in the TV ads wearing a yellow rain slicker and hat.
Because I'm getting old and therefore a bit 'drifty' I can't for the life of me remember the name of that Restaurant. Someone please refresh my memory.
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Post by Clipper on Jan 13, 2015 13:47:52 GMT -5
The name of his restaurant was the Unwind Inn. He ended up playing hide the weenie with a waitress, ruined his marriage, and lost it all. It is now the home of Aquino's Italian Restaurant. We often eat there when we are home on vacation. I loved their pizza when the "old couple' ran the original restaurant on North James Street. Like so many other such restaurants, having the younger generation take the helm, along with moving and expanding, the food suffered. It is still quite good, but not like it was when the parents ran the old place and the old couple was in the kitchen. Without Nofri's and Tony Sparagna's, we have resorted to Aquino's in Rome and The Spaghetti Factory in Verona Beach for our Italian fix while there. I was never a Cavallo's fan and Chesterfield is simply overpriced as far as I am concerned.
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Post by kit on Jan 13, 2015 15:32:48 GMT -5
Of course... the Unwind Inn. Thanks, Clipper. As I recall their food was quite good the couple of times I went there.
I've been to Aquino's only once and it was great, and I used to take my 3 daughters to Tony Sparagna's often as well as Joey's on the corner of Mohawk and Lansing. All had good grub. Being from New Hartford, I also used to frequent Cavallo's. It was a Village tradition and judging from its continued popularity the food and atmosphere is still very good. There are some quite smaller Italian restaurants in the Utica area which, although not as high profile as some, have outstanding food. My ex-girlfriend took a course in the Italian language several years ago and they held meetings in various restaurants. We went to some and they were great. (And I agree... Chesterfields, as good as their food is, is very overpriced).
But getting back to the topic of this thread, playing at Pfeiffers was quite interesting. Many of the patrons were from the School for the Deaf in Rome. They couldn't hear our music but they could 'feel' it and their dancing was exceptional... usually as good or better than the hearing patrons. I enjoyed playing there and our agent (Gene Kipper) as well as many of the patrons wanted to get us in there as the house band, but the 'Dynamic Casuals' agent (Jim Solon) wouldn't hear of it and they remained.
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Post by Clipper on Jan 13, 2015 17:02:49 GMT -5
I always liked Cavallo's back when it was the OLD Cavallo's and Tom Senior was the bartender. We used to go there for linguini with white clams sauce about once a week. That was when they had the small dining room in the back before they expanded. Somewhere along the line, their sauce either changed or my taste changed. I am no longer a fan of their food. The last time Kathy and I were there it was so damned loud that we could not hear each other across the table. As for Chesterfield's, I don't think anyone can complain about the quality of the food. I absolutely love their greens and their sauce is good. We end up there once in a while with Kathy's nephew when he takes us out to dinner. Great place as long as someone else is picking up the check, haha.  We miss all the family run Italian restaurants since moving South. You simply cannot find a good Italian restaurant here. These people think Olive Garden is to die for. Yuk! I loved living up North because Utica and Rome were equally convenient to where we lived. There are many great restaurant choices in Rome, Italian and otherwise. When we want riggies, we go to Teddy's in Rome simply because I always thought McGills was less than clean. I looked down at the carpet the last time we ate there and I almost threw up. I imagine the grease in the carpet kept the fire burning hot for an extra hour or two. I am getting old and fussy I guess, because that place was always packed and was very popular. |
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Post by satchmo100 on Jan 18, 2015 12:10:02 GMT -5
:)The pictures are great. Bob Perry is in one of those pics. He played music on up into the late 90's or so. The last time I heard him play and sing was at the moose club in Marcy. He was a "one man" act, with the exception of the periodic accompaniment by a lady I assume was his wife or girlfriend (I don't know his marital status) I followed Bob Perry for years when he was singing and playing country. His dad was a world class fiddler, and Bob sang and played with his dad's band for years. They played such places as the Black Dahlia in Poland NY and Partners Choice in Marcy. the last time I listened to Bob at the moose, he was starting to lose his vocal ability to cigarettes and age. It was sad to listen to him and recall his earlier popularity. Age catches up to us all. Another great local country talent from the Partner's Choice days is Bob Lynn, the guy that owns the septic tank outfit. Did he have a history back into the 60's and early rock and roll, Dave? He also went by the wayside with throat trouble and loss of vocal ability. I am enjoying the threads and photos. Thanks for bringing them to us. |
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Post by satchmo100 on Jan 18, 2015 12:31:15 GMT -5
:)The pictures are great. Bob Perry is in one of those pics. He played music on up into the late 90's or so. The last time I heard him play and sing was at the moose club in Marcy. He was a "one man" act, with the exception of the periodic accompaniment by a lady I assume was his wife or girlfriend (I don't know his marital status) I followed Bob Perry for years when he was singing and playing country. His dad was a world class fiddler, and Bob sang and played with his dad's band for years. They played such places as the Black Dahlia in Poland NY and Partners Choice in Marcy. the last time I listened to Bob at the moose, he was starting to lose his vocal ability to cigarettes and age. It was sad to listen to him and recall his earlier popularity. Age catches up to us all. Another great local country talent from the Partner's Choice days is Bob Lynn, the guy that owns the septic tank outfit. Did he have a history back into the 60's and early rock and roll, Dave? He also went by the wayside with throat trouble and loss of vocal ability. I am enjoying the threads and photos. Thanks for bringing them to us. |
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