tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706502966606578575.post5997438004067011229..comments2023-12-01T20:33:23.237-05:00Comments on History of Syracuse Music - Official Site - Ron Wray: HISTORY OF SYRACUSE MUSIC - CHAPTER 18 - BOBBY COMSTOCK & THE COUNTS, - w/ ALAN FREED, AMERICAN BANDSTAND, RECORD RELEASES, MOVIES & ROCK REVIVAL SHOWS (Updated)History of Syracuse Music- Ron Wrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12577983963723952255noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706502966606578575.post-59075365871580039562021-09-10T01:11:54.076-04:002021-09-10T01:11:54.076-04:00Bobby Jr here ... yes I played bass and also guita...Bobby Jr here ... yes I played bass and also guitar with dad in the early to mid 80's. But Steve it was actually YOU that exposed me to my career of choice ... radio ... by playing for your tapes of the CBS Radio Mystery theater, which was a nightly feature when I was young. Then I got on the air myself in 1981 ... and that won out eventually. But I have fond memories of those days ... and those people I met while traveling to New York and other spots for those Richard Nadar gigs, were guests on my radio shows over the next 20-25 years. It was a blast ... and it all came full circle.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00452989819917021311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706502966606578575.post-24755054558611023612020-03-08T12:56:43.967-04:002020-03-08T12:56:43.967-04:00I offer the following, improved with regard to acc...I offer the following, improved with regard to accuracy of the timeline of the personnel mentioned, about The Bobby Comstock Band - earlier a.k.a. Bobby Comstock and the Counts. I was with BC 1973-1980 full time, and occasionally in 1982-1983-ish, and also was in The Comstock-Miles Band (1980-1981)<br /><br />For the years listed, I did bass, lead and harmony vocals. Main Comstock Band PERSONNEL configurations during my tenure: Initially, Bobby Comstock (front vocal, rhythm and lead guitar), Larry Crowder (lead and rhythm guitar, vocals), Allen Vanderberg (drums). After a year or so, Auburn NY's Anne Serafin was added, singing front lead on 'girl songs' plus adding that higher harmony voice elsewhere. After another year, there was a VERY short-lived country version with Donnie Harding on guitar and vocals replacing Crowder. (This was possibly the briefest Bobby Comstock band ever: one gig.)<br /><br />Then the band shifted - again: add Skaneatles' own skinny atlas Joe Whiting, front man from Jukin' Bone. Joe joined the fun, sharing lead and harmony vocal chores with Bobby and me. Sometime during this run, Vanderberg left and was replaced by Al Hartland on drums. This hand eventually played out, and soon the Comstock-Miles Band was created, adding Raw Meat's singer and guitarist from Cortland NY. PERSONNEL: Bobby Comstock, Brian Miles (rhythm guitar, lead and harmony vocals), Sara Magladery (lead and harmony vocals), Rick Pallatto (lead guitar), Al Hartland (drums), and SHS. This band existed later without Sara.<br /><br />By the early-mid '80s, there was no set band any more; Bob and I would put something together to fit the upcoming gig(s), and he continued to do this for some time after I moved on. Notable additions in this vein were keyboard players JonJon McDuffy, and later Chip Smith (mostly for the big venue old R&R concerts), and Duke Shanahan, guitarist, mostly for the bar and club scene. Also, Bobby Comstock Jr. tried his hand at playing bass in dad's band for a few gigs after I left.Steve Stewardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03835145935650048309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1706502966606578575.post-20848708221727459092020-02-29T14:17:15.265-05:002020-02-29T14:17:15.265-05:00I was with The Comstock Band a.k.a. Bobby Comstock...I was with The Comstock Band a.k.a. Bobby Comstock and the Counts (1973-1980 full time, and occasionally in 1982-1983). Also: The Comstock-Miles Band (1980-1981), doing bass, lead and harmony vocals, and "driver of the Winnebago". Kidding, it was a ’68 Dodge 4x6 cab-over. (“We’ll talk to Bab…” – Elwood Blues) Late in my tenure I also selected and directed much of BC's then-new cover material for live play such as Loggins & Messina and Little Feat stuff, and took a major hand in arranging it. When I joined, I was a 20-year-old, the 'young pup' (drummer Vanderberg's words), who had been raised on vintage rock, knew who Buddy Holly was, and had mourned his loss and the Big Bopper's as a little kid. When Bob put a new band together in early '73, he wanted me, remembering an impromptu Wed. night jam with them at the Salty Dog in Ithaca in late '72. Main Comstock Band PERSONNEL configurations during my tenure: Initially, Bobby Comstock (front vocal, rhythm and lead guitar), me, Larry Crowder (lead and rhythm guitar, vocals), Allen Vanderberg (drums, vocal on Blueberry Hill!); later additions included: Anne Serafin (front lead and harmony vocals), and Joe Whiting (front lead and harmony vocals), with Al Hartland eventually replacing ‘Berg on drums. There was a short-lived country version with Donnie Harding (guitar, vocals) replacing Crowder, but with ‘Berg still on drums. Comstock-Miles Band PERSONNEL: Bobby Comstock, Brian Miles (rhythm guitar, lead and harmony vocals), Sara Magladery (lead and harmony vocals), Rick Pallatto (lead guitar), Al Hartland (drums), and me. A later version of this band existed without Sara. After this, Bob and I put together various temporary configurations, Duke Shanahan et al, many of them just to fit the upcoming date. I put together a small farmhouse studio, and we even did some radio jingles, although it was too, too ridiculous for vintage rockers, and we both moved on. <br /><br />Thanks, Ron Wray for your excellent work.<br /><br />More info about playing with Mr. Berry and others on my site stewardsongs.comSteve Stewardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03835145935650048309noreply@blogger.com