HISTORY OF SYRACUSE MUSIC- "OFFICIAL SITE"- CHAPTER 181- MORE FAMOUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE PERFORMED OR SPOKE IN CNY - 1984

Jan 4, 1984       Todd Hobin Band                                    USA Sams

Jan 7, 1984       Out of the Blue                                        Beginnings Club

Jan 13, 1984     Dinah Shore                                            Civic Center

Jan 13, 1984     Tony Bennett                                           Landmark Theater

Jan 25, 1984      Stray Cats w/ Brian Setzer                     Landmark Theater
                           Fabulous Thunderbirds

Feb 4, 1984        String     (attn 40,575)                            Carrier Dome

Feb 24-Mar 4     Lena Horn                                             Landmark Theater

Mar 4, 1984       Ricky Skaggs                                        Landmark Theater

Mar 5, 1984       New York Flyers                                   Lost Horizon

Mar 10, 1984     Miss Syracuse Pagent- Vanessa Williams

Mar 24, 1984     Roger McGuinn                                      USA Sams

Mar 25, 1984     Sergio Franchi                                         Landmark Theater

Mar 30, 1984     Tammy Wynette                                      Landmark Theater

Apr 1+ 1984       Jesus Christ Superstar w/ Bob Brown   Salt City Center

Apr 4, 1984       Judas Priest                                               War Memorial
                          w/ Great White

Apr 13, 1984     Conway Twitty                                         War Memorial

Apr 13-14          Gap Mangione                                          Landmark Theater

May 1, 1984      Ozzy Osborne                                           War Menorial

May 17, 1984    Pink Floyd                                                 Landmark Theater

May 30, 1984    Motley Crue                                              Landmark Theater
                           Ratt

June 1, 1984      The Works                                                Poorhouse North                                              
June 2, 1984      Screen Test                                               Lost Horizon

June 27, 1984    Aerosmith                                              Weedsport Fairgrounds

July, 1984          Pete Seegar                                               Long Branch Park

July 5, 1984       805                                                            City Limits

July 13, 1984     Alecstar                                                     Lost Horizon

July 29, 1984     Joe Whiting                                               Lost Horizon

July 30, 1984     Kingsnakes                                                Jabberwocky

Aug 22, 1984     Scorpions                                                  War Memorial

Aug 25, 1984     Everly Brothers                                         NYS Fair

Aug 26, 1984     Yes                                                             NYS Fair

Aug 27, 1984     Frank Zappa                                               NYS Fair

Aug 27, 1984     Orleans                                                        NYS Fair

Aug 29, 1984     Julio Iglesias                                               NYS Fair

Aug 30, 1984    Willie Nelson                                               NYS Fair

Aug 31, 1984     Beach Boys                                                 NYS Fair

Sept 1-2             Temptations                                                 NYS Fair

Oct 8-9               Louis Jourdon                                             Landmark Theater

Oct 10, 1984       Diana Ross                                                 War Memorial

Oct 23-24            Freda Payne                                               Landmark Theater

Nov 18, 1984     Culture Club w/ Boy George                      War Memorial

Nov 23-24          Anna Marie Alberghetti                              Civic Center

Nov 27, 1984     Kiss                                                              War Memorial
                           Queensryche

Dec 1, 1984        Molly Hatchett                                             USA Sams

Dec 4-5               Bill Doggett                                               Dinkler Motor Inn

Dec 12, 1984      Kinks                                                           War Memorial
                            Tommy Shaw

Dec 16, 1984      Bill Cosby                                                    Landmark Theater

Dec 26, 1984      Benny Mardones                                          USA Sams

Dec 30, 1984      Monterays                                                    Beginnings Club

Dec 30, 1984      805                                                               Tip Redux Club

Dec 31, 1984     Atlas Linen Company                                   Lost Horizon  

HISTORY OF SYRACUSE MUSIC "OFFICIAL SITE'- CHAPTER 180 - MORE FAMOUS PEOPLE WHO PERFORMED or SPOKE IN CNY - 1983

Jan 2, 1983      Atlas Linen Co                                     Copperfields

Jan 7, 1983     Monterays                                             Beginings Club

Jan 7, 1983     Velcros                                                   Old Mug- Bv

Jan 18, 1983    Kiss                                                       War Memorial
                        Night Ranger

Jan 23, 1983    805                                                        Lost Horizon

Jan 23, 1983    Kingston Trio                                        Civic Center
                         Tom Paxton

Feb 6, 1983      Johnny Cash                                          Landmark Theater

Feb 11, 1983    Ozzy Osborne                                        War Memorial
                         Vandenburg

Feb 12, 1983   Phil Collins                                             War Memorial

Feb 18, 1983    Tearjerkers                                              LeMoyne College

Feb 19, 1983    Grassroots                                              Beginnings Club

Feb 21, 1983    Aerosmith                                               Carrier Dome
                         Ted Nugent
                         Anvil

Mar 3-5            Bill Doggett                                             Dinkler Motel

Mar 12, 1983   Chubby Checker                                       Beginnings Club

Mar 19, 1983   New York Flyers                                       Poorhouse North

Apr 2, 1983     Rush                                                          Carrier Dome

Apr 22, 1983   Rich Little                                                  Landmark Theater

May 11, 1983    Triumpf                                                     War Memorial
                          Foghat

June 4, 1983      3 Dog Night                                              NYS Fairgrounds
                          Mark Doyle & Joe Whiting

June 19, 1983    Papa John Creach                                      Long Branch Park
                          Jonathan Edwards
                          David Bromberg

July 2, 1983      Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings,               Carrier Dome
                          Stray Cats, Linda Ronstadt,
                          Emmy Lou Harris, Mele Haggard
                          David Alan Coe

July 24, 1983    Roger McGuinn                                         Long Branch Park

Aug 23, 1983    Def Leppard                                               War Memorial
                          Uriah Heep

Aug 24, 1983    Iron Maiden                                                War Memorial
                          Loverboy

Aug 26, 1983    Jefferson Airplane                                      Weedsport

Aug 27, 1983    Air Supply,                                                 NYS Fair
                          Don McLean

Aug 28, 1983    James Taylor                                              NYS Fair
                          Del Shannon, & Marvelettes
                          Bobby Comstock Band

Aug 29, 1983    Loverboy                                                    NYS Fair

Aug 30, 1983     Neil Young                                                NYS Fair

Aug 31, 1983     Santana                                                      NYS Fair

Sept 1, 1983       Bobby Rydell                                            NYS Fair

Sept 2, 1983       Beach Boys                                               NYS Fair

Sept 3, 1983      Gary Puckett & Union Gap                       NYS Fair

Sept 6, 1983      David Bowie                                              Carrier Dome

Oct 8, 1983        Maria Muldaur                                           Landmark Theater

Oct 16, 1983      Joan Baez                                                  L andmark Theater

Oct 20, 1983     Oak Ridge Boys                                          War Memorial

Oct 22, 1983     Grateful Dead                                              Carrier Dome
                          The Band

Oct 29, 1983     Grassroots                                                   Beginnings Club

Nov 16, 1983    Huey Lewis & The News                           USA Sams

Nov 18, 1983    Twisted Sister                                              Lost Horizon

Nov 25, 1983    Righteous Brothers                                     Carrier Dome
                          Kenny Rogers
                          Helen Reddy'

Nov 29, 1983     Romantics                                                  Club 37

Dec 12, 1983     Genesis- w/ Phil Collins                             Carrier Dome

Dec 28, 1983     Todd Hobin                                                 USA Sams

Dec 31, 1983     Alecstar                                                       Poorhouse North                                      

HISTORY OF SYRACUSE MUSIC "OFFICIAL SITE"- CHAPTER 179 - GREG SPENCER'S GREAT SALT CITY BLUES CONCERT "ROCKS" THE PALACE THEATER- DEC 26, 2016

Greg Spencer with the success of his 2015 Blue Wave 30th Anniversary Concert featuring The Kingsnakes the band Greg started the Blue Wave Records label with in 1985, the idea was born of the Great Salt City Blues Concert.

On December 26, 2016 came the fruitation of the idea at the Palace Theater December 26, 2016. That evening, 22 of Central New York Best Blues Musicians took the stage in celebration of the CNY Blues Community past and present honoring  4 CNY Blues icons- Kelly James, Roosevelt Dean, Kyle Shirley and David Olson. A sell out crowd of over 700+ people witnessed a historic concert featuring the following 22 artists that still live and play in Central New York. These were the musician that Greg Spencer felt contributed most to the success to the Syracuse Blues scene. These included the following-

Colin Aberdeen, Bernie Clarke, Mark Doyle, Dan "Cato" Eaton, Todd Fitzsimmons, Mark Gibson, Mark Hoffmann, Carolyn Kelly, Pete McMahon, Ross Moe, Terry Mulhauser, Skip Murphy, Jerry Neely, Mike Petroff, Phil Petroff, Bob Purdy, Ron Spencer, Matt Tarbell, Morris Tarbell, Tom Townsley, Joe Whiting, Steven T. Winston.

These were the musicians that played in such Syracuse legendary bands as- The Kingsnakes, Built For Comfort Blues Band, Backbone Slip, Cold Shot, Ron Spencer Band, Carolyn Kelly Band, Dr. Blue, Mark Hoffmann Family Band, Phil Petrooff & Natural Fact, Bernie Clarke & Rhythm Sharks, Out Of The Blue and Los Blancos.

With the overwhelming success of this amazing concert, Greg Spencer has announced that this will become a annual event with a rotating cast of musicians in celebration of the Syracuse Blues Community. Please stay tuned for more information for next years show. To view video highlights  of last years concert please checkout the Great Salt City Blues Concert page on Facebook.

Many thanks to- Greg Spencer and all the CNY Blues Musicians that participated in this historic event.

HISTORY OF SYRACUSE MUSIC "OFFICIAL SITE" - CHAPTER 178- SYRACUSE VOCALIST DON FORBES BECOMES THE 18TH SINGING RINGMASTER FOR RINGLING BROTHERS & BARNUM BAILEY CIRCUS IN 1958. Also with Tommy Dorsey & Les Elgart Orchestras

Another in a long line of great Syracuse vocalist is Don Forbes.  Forbes a Syracuse native was born on December 4, 1929 and educated attending Central High School. He was the stepson of famed jazz singer and bandleader Johnny Kamels  John Camerota). Don Started his singing career at age 15 and became one of the areas top commercial vocalist. He would continue his education studing voice at Syracuse University.

Don fronted his his-fathers band for parts of three years (1946-48) playing weekly at Lugi's Club Flamingo and Club Rendezous before great a big break joining the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in 1952. That led Don to become narrator in the Hollywood motion picture "The Sea Around Us".

He returned to Syracuse to sing lead with his father's band the Johnny Kamels and Kamels Caravan in 1954. A year later was performing with the Johnny Francher Band. In late 1954, at age 24 he was spotted by famed bandleader Les Elgart while performing at the Hotel Syracuse. December 1954 he joined the Les Elgart Orchestra as featured vocalist.

This led Don into the recording world appearing as lead vocalist on the Elgart Bands Columbia Records albums- "For Dancers Only", "The Elgart Touch:, "More or Less", "The Happy Fella" and the 45 rpm single "Ever Since You Went Away" b/w Night Train" released January 14, 1955. The Elgart Band with Don Forbes also performed at the Hollywood Palladium (Feb 1955), the Statler Hotel in New York and back in Syracuse at the War Memorial on October 12, 1956. This event was sponsored by the Syracuse Fire Department.

Don was heard playing such Syracuse area clubs as- Lugi's, White Elephant (Canastota) , 3 Rivers Inn, Flamingo Club and Andre's Tic Toc Club,

He then became the 18th singing ringmaster for the world famous Ringling Brothers & Barnum Bailey Circus during there 1958 season. Ringling Brothers released a circus music album on Cricket Record in June 1959 with Don Forbes singing four songs (Children of All Ages, Encore, The Drums Majorette and My Heart Beats in Time To Your Music).

Don also recorded a number of 45 rpm singles for other labels including "My First Emotion" for Syracuse's Premiere Records (1959), followed by "Four Walls, No Love" on Neptune Label (1960) and "Will You Be My Only Love" for York Records (1960). He would entertain fans across the USA and in Puerto Rico playing such popular night spots as the Copacabana in New York City and the Playboy Club in Chicago (1962), During his early career Don Forbes also recorded for London and Muzico Record labels.

Forbes returned to CNY for ten days in late September 1963 showcasing his vocal talent with national recording artist Brenda Lee at Three Rivers Inn. With family still in the area Don returned again on January 19, 1966 to appear on WSYR's  Denny Sullivan Gang television program.

HISTORY OF SYRACUSE MUSIC "OFFICIAL SITE"- CHAPTER 177- 'SOLATICE AT THE CATHEDRAL' HIGHLIGHTS SYRACUSE HOLIDAY SEASON

Syracuse Music Hall of Famer Joe Whiting serves as artistic director for this years amazing "Solstice at the Cathedral" December 8, 9 & 10 at St Paul's Cathedral, 310 Montgomery Street in downtown Syracuse. Always a fantastic holiday production Whiting lead as cast that included a Who's Who of musical treasures of Central New York that include the following-

Loren Barrigar & Mark Mazengarb, Donna Colton, Joe Davoli, Bob Halligan Jr, Brian Murphy, Van Norstrand Brothers, Jeff Stockholm, Marsha Hagan, Brian Scherer, Jim O'Mahoney, Dave DeSiro, Avery Head, Wayne Skinner, Tony Rashad & Larry Kyle.

One of those special event that if you haven't should not miss...each and every year.

HISTORY OF SYRACUSE MUSIC "OFFICIAL SITE" - CHAPTER 176- PENSABENE'S FINAL HISTORY OF SYRACUSE ROCK & ROLL "THEN AND NOW" - GALA CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR- DECEMBER 4, 2016 WITH COACHMEN, LOREN BARRIGAR & MARK MAZENGARB, SHEELA TUCKER, BOB BROWN & HISTORY OF SYRACUSE MUSIC ALL-STAR BAND BEFORE A PACKED HOUSE.

The History of Syracuse Rock n Roll "Then and Now" live shows continued December 4, 2016 at Pensabene's Casa Grande on State Fair Blvd here in Syracuse. This event was the 17th in this tribute to our amazing Syracuse, NY Music History.

This jam packed Christmas Spectacular's Show lineup included the amazing Loren Barrigar & Mark Mazengard who were joined by special guest Sheela Tucker. Followed by the Coachman one of Syracuse's longest performing bands- Joe Neri, Michael Davis, Rock Falcone, Rob Sherwood,  Dave Frateschi, John Saltamach, and Dickie Cappotto, .they were also join for a few turns by songstress Sheela Tucker. And finally to complete the jam packed holiday show The History of Syracuse Music All-Stars band that included - Dave Novak, Mark Hoffmann, Bill Weiss, Don Shoudy, Mike Ferrante, Ted Storto, Shane Storto. Ed McBannon,, Steve Schad, and guest Hall of Fame drummer- Dave Hanlon with special vocalist- Bob Brown & Sheela Tucker.

An amazing  three+ hours of fun, dancing, and great music performed by a long list of Syracuse finest musical performers. The Shows Mc- was Nick Caplan of Dinosaur Radio and show produced by Syracuse Music Historian. Ron Wray. Dinosaur Radio was represented by staff  on the air  personalities- Craig Fox, Tony Fallico, Bob Brown, Lee Goodman, Dan Elliott, Bretagne Pidgeon, Chris Weidman & Nick Caplan 

The sad part of this awesome event was this was going to be the final show held at Pensabene's Casa Grande, as our good friend owner Terry Pensabene was retiring as of December 31, 2016. We had teamed with Terry Pensabene for 14 of our 17 live show event. We brought Terry on stage to say thanks you for his efforts and great friendship.