TOPS Swingband (Tough Old ProS)
Wed, April 9
7 PM
$20
Nighttown
12387 Cedar Road (top of Cedar Hill)
Cleveland Heights, OH
Tickets/reservations 216-795-0550
www.nighttowncleveland.com
The Cleveland TOPS (aka Tough Old ProS) Swingband will make a rare public performance at Nighttown on Wednesday April 9th. TOPS is filled with many of Cleveland's top legendary big band performers.
This band of 22 senior Cleveland musical all-star performers is only three years young. They have been met with extraordinary appreciation at their concerts featuring fresh new arrangements of the wonderful, classic songs of the thirties and forties era.
The average age of the band is 75 years but the fact that these professional veterans grew up musically during the great big band era gives them a sound and style that's distinctive and truly authentic. They play young and are the real thing! Don't miss this special appearance of the TOPS Swingband.
TOPS Musician Profiles
Anastasi, Jim - Trumpet. Active in music working as a technician/quality inspector in the King Band Instruments factory and as a professional musician with various area dance bands and other music activities for 65 years. Age-80.
Couch, Charles (Al) - Trumpet. Retired symphony musician, the Cleveland Orchestra, playing trumpet for 54 years, recently with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra. Age - 62.
Day, Don - Electric Bass. Is strictly a professional musician and active as a booking agent. Don purchased ownership of the Hal Lynn Agency in 1982. He has played music for 55 years, including shows at the Cleveland Arena, Musicarnival, and the Coliseum. Age - 60.
Ellis, George - Trombone. Retired from a career as a civil engineer with the City of Cleveland, has had a life-long love of music, started playing the trumpet but switched to trombone about ten years ago. He caused a minor blow-up about his practicing in the attic in Cleveland City Hall which was resolved when it was determined that it was his lunch time...not work time! Age - 68.
Joseph, Ralph - Trombone. Retired music teacher, involved with music for 66 years. Juilliard, Kent State, MA in Arts, many years at Front Row Theater, various area big bands. Age - 78.
Kofsky, Allen - Trombone. Retired symphony musician, the Kansas City Symphony and the Cleveland Orchestra for 39 years, served in the Navy in WWII. Age - 79.
Lehtinen, Bruce - Trombone. Retired mechanical engineer at NASA Glenn, 57 years as a performing musician, community bands & orchestras and small groups, mostly Dixieland. Age - 66.
McKee, Bob - Drummer. A very active professional musician and drum teacher, was featured with the Buddy Morrow Orchestra, with Ellie Frankel's band on the Mike Douglas TV show, band leader at the Theatrical Grill, various area bands and as a leader, over 50 years in all. Age - 78.
Mehalko, Ken - Alto/Tenor Sax. Retired band director, Strongsville City Schools, active as a player and director of the Strongsville Community Band and co-director of the Strongsville City Jazz Band with Jim Wonnacott. In 2003 & 2004 was a teacher-in-residence at a school for music as a guest of the Chilean Ministry of Culture and the Ohio Arts Council. Age - 66.
Patch, Larry - Tenor Sax & Vocalist. A professional saxophonist, flutist and vocalist with a variety of groups locally and nationally, and a music businessman for over 50 years. Music director for many Cleveland fashion shows and manager of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra for ten years.
Pattie, Robert - Alto/Baritone Sax. Retired school band director, Holy Name High School, free-lance musician and private music teacher involved with music for over 65 years. Age - 80.
Patrick, Lawrence (Larry) - Baritone Sax. Retired from banking but continues with his active avocation, playing with various bands, including Dan Zola's big band. Involved with music for over 50 years. Age - 75. Married to Billie, 1 kid, 4 grandkids.
Rinaldi, Ray - Trumpet. Retired school band director, Willoughby Schools, free-lance musician, 75 years playing trumpet, Musicarnival and Front Row theaters, circuses, ice shows, Disney shows. Age - 82,
Sullivan, Lawrence "Buddy" - Alto/Tenor Sax. Semi-retired CPA, still active as a featured jazz tenor saxophonist with various area bands, began with Midwest "territory bands," served as a musician in WWII, was a founding player with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Front Row and other theaters, for over 65 years. Age - 82.
Trzcinski, Joe - Trumpet and Personnel Director. Semi-retired musician with 50+ years experience. Age - 76, married to Pauline, many kids, many grandkids - Hobbies are walking, practicing piano, private teaching.
Wonnacott, Jim - Trumpet and Assistant Music Director. Retired school music director, Strongsville Schools, 52 years playing trumpet, various bands area dance bands including his own as leader. Age - 62. Co-directs the Strongsville City Jazz Band with Ken Mehalko.
Wooley, Dick - Trombone, Arranger and Music Director. 64 years in music. Age - 75. Loves writing arrangements for and the great privilege of leading the TOPS SWINGBAND!
Zahtilla, Karl - Alto/Tenor Sax. Still very active as a professional musician, he's been "doing" music for over 60 years with various bands, jazz combos, concerts and theaters, including performer for and getting to know many star celebrities at Front Row Theater. Age - 73.
Guy, Betsy - Vocalist. Has spent 60 years as a singer at concerts, musicals, theater, at the Cleveland Hermit Club and with various bands, including that of the popular Trevor Guy. She's retired from Director of Entertainment for Boykin Management. Age- 70+. Still singin' and swingin' here in Cleveland and in Naples, Florida during the winter.
Davis, Ron - Vocalist. Retired Street Superintendent, City of Cleveland. Started playing trombone at age 14, a jump-start into the music business for the next 39 years. Studied acting and playwriting at the Karamu House and the Cleveland Playhouse. Vocal lessons with Bob Beck of the Cleveland Opera. Studied and performed with Ace Carter and with Eddie Baccus the past 20 years.
Griebel, Ruth - The band's wintertime vocalist, a singer with several area bands over the years and also appears often with her husband, the legendary pianist Buddy Griebel.
Day, Doug - Piano, retired band director for the Bay Village Schools, pianist with many fine Cleveland dance bands, and director of the TOPS Educational Outreach program.
Twining, Gary - Bass Trombone, a uniquely gifted player with a fine career with the Tommy Dorsey band and Las Vegas show orchestras.
Herforth, Harry - Trumpet, our nonogenarian (92 years old) addition retired from a long and illustrious career with the Boston Symphony and the Cleveland Orchestra. (And still a helluva capable and enthusiastic player!!!)
Scaffidi, Wally - Alto Sax, a truly remarkable lead alto player in the great tradition of that handful of players who set the unique, driving style of the Basie, Ellington and Lunceford sax sections. A unifying, powerful influence on the TOPS sax section.
Don't miss the TOPS Swingband live at Nighttown on Wednesday, April 9th.
www.topsswingband.com
www.ClevelandOrchestra.com
| TOPS Swingband (Tough Old ProS) posted on Sunday April 06, 2008 |
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