Tuesday, July 31, 2012

ISREAL HAGAN & JACK PENETRATOR TEAM WITH HALL OF FAME PRODUCER MARK DOYLE

 Isreal Hagan & Jack Penetrator have teamed to release song  "Broke Down Piece of Man" (Time 3:34) on Rockinn Records. This great session was produced by SAMMY Hall of Famer Mark Doyle and is available...now... though Cd Baby (MP3). You may remember this song as it was performed by Hall of Famers, Sam & Dave.

Monday, July 30, 2012

BURNS SISTER'S NEW CD HIGHLIGHTED BY GUTHRIE'S "HILLS OF ITHACA".

The fantastic Burn Sisters have released their newest Cd "The Hill of Ithaca". It opened with the great Derek and the Dominoes (Clapton) song "Tell the Truth" and included the Woody Guthrie tune "The Hills of Ithaca" a song written by Guthrie traveling home from a performance at Cornell in 1947.. This is another in a long line of great Cds from the Burns Sisters who we remember from releases on Columbia & Philo Records (Rounder).

SYRACUSE MUSIC HALL OF FAMER "ISREAL HAGAN" RELEASES NEW CD

SAMMY's Hall of Famer Isreal Hagan has just released a new Cd "Balance". It is avalaible on Cd Baby or if in Central New York at Sound Garden &  Barnes & Noble (Dewitt).

Thursday, July 19, 2012

HISTORY OF SYRACUSE MUSIC - CHAPTER 47 - JIMMY VAN HEUSEN

Edward Chester Babcock was born in Syracuse on January 26, 1913. His mother May (Foster) Babcock was a decedent of Stephen Foster. His mother taught Jimmy to play piano at an early age. Babcock wrote songs while still attending Central High School and has his own show on a small Syracuse radio station. He once was kicked out of high school when instead of completing a science project he wrote the song "My Canary Had Circles Under His Eyes".

After his years at Central High, Jimmy attended Cazenovia Seminary and Syracuse University. At SU he became friends with Jerry Arlen, the brother of songwriter Harold Arlen. With Harold's help he started writing songs for the famed Cotton Club in New York City. By now, Jimmy was working at Syracuse radio stations WSYR and later WFBL. He picked his professional name off a Van Heusen Shirt billboard sign that looked over downtown Syracuse. He was now Jimmy Van Heusen.

Van Heusen became a staff songwriter for a number of Tin Pan Alley publishers and in 1938 was employed by the Remick Music Company. Jimmy penned the music for "It's The Dreamer In Me", to lyrics written by Tommy Dorsey. In 1939, Jimmy and Eddie DeLange wrote all the songs for the Broadway show "Swingin the Dream".

The Syracuse native and world famous songwriter penned songs for sixteen Bing Crosby films as well as songs like "High Hopes", "My Kind of Town" (Chicago is), "Come Fly With Me". "All The Way", "Call Me Irresponsible", "Imagination". and hundreds more. His songs have been a favorite of both Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. Sinatra went on to record over 75 songs written by Van Heusen & Sammy Cahn, who became a songwriting team in 1955.

In 1948, Jimmy Van Heusen started the music publishing firm of BurVan Inc. and though the years his publishing investment included Burke-Van Heusen and Famous Music. Jimmy released his own vinyl album "Jimmy Van Heusen plays Jimmy Van Heusen" in 1961. Jimmy was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame when it was established in 1971,

Jimmy Van Heusen passed away of a heart attack at his Palm Springs, California home on February 6, 1990. In 1994, the Smithsonian Collections of recording called American Songbook Series released the Cd "James Van Heusen". Twenty-one of Jimmy's songs have been performed and recorded by various national artists. In 2001, Syracuse Music Hall of Famer- Mark Doyle released a CNY Tribute Cd to Jimmy Van Heusen called " High Hopes"

Story in progress

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

HISTORY OF SYRACUSE MUSIC- CHAPTER 46 - THE VIKINGS (1962) TO CARMAN LICITRA AND THE VIKINGS (1963-67)... UPDATED


The Vikings formed back in 1962 by Dave Pasternack (former Knights guitarist) along with Bill Huber (drums) and Pete Pellinz (bass). Guitarist Joe Sawmiller was added a short time later. The band appeared playing live on WNDR's Dick Snyder radio show perfoming "Love Potion #9". Snyder featured some of Central New York's greatest talent playing live at the WNDR studio in Dewitt

The band's second version started in 1963 and included Dave Pasternack (guitar) with Dave Novak (guitar), Howie Castle (drums) WOLF Radio's Fred Winston (bass) and Carman Licitra (lead vocals). Joe Sawmiller went on the join Don Barber and the Dukes.


With their popularity a name change to Carman Licitra and the Vikings Mainstays Pasternack, Novak & Licitra were joined by Mike Adanato (drums) and Chuck DiCosmo (bass- joined in 1964.). This lineup opened for the Beach Boys (with Brian Wilson) in a rain shortened event at MacArthur Stadium on September 3, 1964.

Next they shared the War Memorial stage with the Four Seasons (Frankie Valli) and The Animals (Eric Burdon) before 2,500 screaming fans on October 12, 1964. They also played a four month engagement at the Fayetteville Inn and made regular stops at Colgate & Cornell Universities. In September 1965, Carmen & The Vikings recorded more than a half dozen demo recordings for RCA Records (I Do, Bye Bye Baby, Mary Sue Ellen & others), but never signed to a official contract. They next played at the famed Grossinger's Resort (Nov 18, 1965) in the Catskill Mountains located near Liberty, NY with Neil Sedaka. Then it was to the War Memorial stage opening once again for the Beach Boys before 4,500 on July 22, 1966.

Various Vikings and Carman & The Vikings recordings can be heard on the History of Syracuse Music album series. Carman Licitra after heading the band for three years departed in 1967 and spent the next two-years in the military service. At this point Dave Novak departed to join "The Nightcaps" (replacing Don Shoudy). Dave  Pasternack left  to team with ex-Sam & the Twisters members Mickey Palumbo, Jan Fetterly & Al Wolf to former the "Livin Ennd." Upon his return to Central New York,  Carman Licitra joined the group "The Night Magic" playing many evenings at the 4 Choices Restaurant in 1980.

Note- Carman Licitra donated his guitar, photo and vest top to the Onondaga Historical Association in Syracuse. They are currently on display.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

MARK DOYLE & THE MANIACS, THE RODS, CAFFERTY BAND, CHARLIE BERTINI , BLIND SPOTS & OTHERS ARE "FANTASTIC" AT DIO DAY CORTLAND 2012

It was another great event as musical lineup for Dio Day Cortland 2012  hit the stage of the J.M. McDonald Sports Complete in Cortland Saturday July 7 starting at 1 PM in honor of the great Cortland native the legendary  Ronnie James Dio.

Mark Doyle & the Maniacs, The Rods, Cafferty Band, Charlie Bertini Band, Hurtin Units, Blind Spots, Steve Southworth & Rockabilly Rays, Hangmans Heart, Wreckly J's and others showcase their FANTASTIC musical talent. Classic Rock I-100's Kat Walters did a super job as the events mc..

It was especially nice see old and new friends- Dick Bottoff, Tommy Rogers, Joe Leo, Dave Porter, Mark Doyle, Dave Hanlon, Charlie Bertini, Rock Feinstein, Garry Bordonaro, Carl Canedy, Harold Hyde, Joel Kane, Brian Miles, Vince Faraoni to name just a few in attendance.

 

Friday, July 6, 2012

RONNIE JAMES DIO - DIO DAY CORTLAND 2012 TRIBUTE CONCERT - JULY 7

DIO DAY CORTLAND 2012  -* Saturday - July 7, 2012,  at J.M. McDonald Sports Complex, Cortland, NY.  Doors open at 12 noon,  Music starts at 1 PM.

Tickets $15 were  avaliable in Cortland, NY at The Hollywood Restaurant, Hyde's Dinner, Sheridan's Jewelry, Jim Vandeuson Music, The Haunt (Ithaca) and at the door. MC is- I-100 FM Classic Rock's Kat Walters (Cayuga Radio Group)

MISSION STATEMENT
To foster an interest in Cortland's rich musical heritage by uniting generations through the music of Ronnie James Dio; as well as to support musical enrichment in the community, and provide funding for cancer research for generations to come via an annual event held in Ronnie's name.

Band's who performed


THE RODS    (7 PM)
(Rock Feinstein, Carl Canedy, Garry Bordinaro)

MARK DOYLE AND THE MANIACS   (6 PM)
(Mark Doyle,  Frank DeFonda, Phil Broikues, Joel Kane) 

THE CAFFERTY BAND    (5 PM)
 (Joe Leo, Steve Cory, Bill Strong, Jim Reagan, Dan Austin, Danielle Rausa,  other special guest included Charlie Bertini, Brian Miles, Steve Daniels, Steve Shiffman)

CHARLIE BERTINI BAND  (3 PM)
(Charlie Bertini, Dave Hanlon, Tom Taylor & Dave Solazzo)

STEVE SOUTHWORTH and  ROCKABILLY RAYS   (1 PM)
(Steve Southworth, Fluffy Saccucci, Bob Southworth, Jay Crapo)

THE WRECKLY  J's   (2 PM)
(Neno LaRocca, Steve Romanowski, Dickie Chelekis, Wreckly Lamarm, Denny D

THE HURTIN UNITS  (4 PM)
(Robby Petrella, Bobcat Rawks, Marc Ryan & Joey)

BLIND SPOTS   (8 PM)
(Maddy Walsh, Mike Suave, Captain Doobie Zuben, Francois Dillinger, Jeff Turback)

HANGMAN'S HEART   (9 PM)
(Rob White, Aaron Craig, Mike Marcy,  Rocco Rich)

Others who performed included-Bill Golicki, Steve Daniels,  Jim VanDeuson, Steve Romer


DIO DAY 2012 COMMITTEE MEMBERS

David "Rock" Feinstein (chairman),  Dick Bottoff, Vince Faraoni, Mimi Griswold, Harold "Butch" Hyde, Terry Mingle, Michael Sheppard, Kat Walters, Ron Wray