Glenn Gartland

I thought I'd join the conversation.  Went to see Hendrix in 1969, The James Gang, Moody Blues and Dion in 1970.  I missed Black Sabbath when they came in but, Rick Visconti tried to tell me how good that concert was but, he may have been impaired while in attendance....maybe.    I, like Bill Laronde, missed out on Woodstock.  I just got hired as a stock boy at Triangle Super Duper on Church Street and my starting day was the Saturday of Woodstock weekend.  Fred Snyder asked me if I wanted to go and I thought that it would not be good to ask for time off at a new job before I even started....the rest is history as is said.  What I did enjoy for a few years was the Syracuse Blues Festival.  There were so many great Blues bands that came in and throughout the weekend, they would float to different bars downtown.  The first time I attended, I saw Steve Miller with a blues band that he apparently put together.  It was not his "commercial" group and they didn't play Steve Miller Band hits.

Pamela Perry (Brock)

Rocky Capozzi

I remember going to see the Rolling Stones at the War Memorial in 65 or 66.  I had an older cousin that took me under his wing.  I saw Simon and Garfunkel around 68 or 69 and Jethro Tull in the early 70s at the War Memorial, too.  I remember Ian Anderson prancing around with his flute and some kind of crazy video they showed in the background. I got to see Elton John in his prime in Denver.  He came strutting out with his crazy glasses with lights blinking in a rotating pattern around the  lenses, a cape and also boots as I recall that had some kind of lights on them.  I think that was  a takeoff on his song Bennie and the Jets.  He was an incredible showman.  That pudgy guy did a hand stand on his piano at one point.  How is it that the concerts were more affordable then than they are now?

John Vincent

Hope everyone is staying healthy and riding out the covid situation. The Reunion date is still 4 months away so I am thinking we should wait until August to make any decision on the status. Any comments?

There are some interesting articles about the pandemic of 1968-69. That was the Hong Kong flu. A few mention that Woodstock took place during that pandemic!

Edward Guarante

In response to Bill Lalondes missing the greatest event in 1969, I did make it there and after over 45 years of looking for proof, I just might have found myself along with one of the 4 N. Syracuse High (Zeus) buddies that I went with.  Check out the little red circle, I knew exactly where I was during the start of the concert and after about 4 hours of sitting in this sea of whatever, I left the main concert area and spent the next couple days cruising around other locations in and around the main event.  We could hear the music from wherever we went so it wasn't that bad.  I couldn't take the crush.  A question that I'm always asked is "Did you enjoy the concert?" and I'd have to say NO, empahtic NO!  I was 17 from the burbs, stuck with some of the most raging loonies I could ever have imagined being with.  And no food except for some cans of pork & beans we brought that was eventually stolen  (I just had to respond to this) :-)  

Glenn Gartland

Ed, you've got great eyes for an old guy.  I wonder if you remember who of my Zeus brothers attended with you.  I know Dave Weston and Jeff Campbell went but am not sure if they had joined the frat or not.  In any case, I saw a later Woodstock film a few months ago and really wondered how it could have been enjoyable although I look back on my decision to be responsible and show up for my job and wonder if I should have gone.

John Vincent

Who knew music would be such a great thread on this forum! I have one more great story. In 1973, Jim Nels, Clark Johnson, Mark Cordone and I attended the big festival at Watkins Glen. It featured The Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers and The Band. We took vans from work and had loaded up with PBRs, ice and styrofoam coolers. Got there early Thursday and by Friday at noon we had smashed the coolers and ran out of ice. Sold some PBRs for some other refreshments and we were totally locked into the parking/camping area. Crazy sights all around us! I will always remember watching Nelsie  selling Rolaids for 50 cents a hit! We also saw a sky diver die after his chute did not open!

Edward Guarante

Hey Glenn,

I actually hitched hiked down with Dave Weston, Jeff Campbell and Murray Root  We broke up into 2 teams and I went with Murray.  As I understood it, we were to be giving free tickets by Murray's brother who worked at the time with The Johnny Winter group.  The trip actually took us a few hours because we got picked up by Gloria Swanson (and friends) who drove us all the way to Binghamton from Northen Lights  Then to17e, we were picked up by a group of wierdos (sorry) and the event began  They took us all the way into bethel, got out of the car and right across the street, in a crowd of about 30k was Dave and Jeff who left earlier.  unbelievable that we ever found them in that mess.  Its nice to think back about it but...

Bill LaRonde

Rod, Herman Hermits at the War Memorial was the very first concert I attended. My sister and Pam Strutz took me there as a tag along. I think my mother made her so she wouldn't get in trouble. I have also had a reoccurring feeling that I saw Jethro Tull but I couldn't remember when or where that might have been. Rocky's recollection is providing me with the most likely time and location!

Glenn Gartland

Ed....it should be no surprise that you found yourself in the pic in the Richie Havens crowd if you were able to find Dave and Jeff like you did.  What ever happened to those guys???  In any case, at least you can say you were there.

Glenn Gartland

John V. - for me, many of my best memories revolve around songs that were playing during that particular time.  This was really true when I was in the Air Force and every guy in the barracks spent most of his pay to buy the best stereo equipment and would "share" music with the rest of the people in the building.

David Lukasiewicz

I saw quite a few of the aforementioned concerts. Other than seeing Johnny Cash with my dad, my first rock show was Jimi Hendrix at the War Memorial. The fall of my freshman year at SUNY Cobleskill I came back to town for Led Zeppelin. Ladies man that I was, I couldn't find a date at COBY so my date for that show was Dave Zawadzki. I remember seeing Chicago that year too. Not sure if they did a show at COBY or if I went to Morrisville or Albany! For years after that my wife and I enjoyed many prog rock shows by YES, ELP, Tull, Renaissance. Also some Cat Stevens, Santana, CSN, CNSY. Lots of great music. Plenty of blurry memories.Especially the Summer Fest at the Stadium events at Rich Stadium.

Sam Anderson

I ran across Dave Z a few years ago.  He and his wife then had a place on one of the Tully lakes.  Still the same laid back, nice guy.

John Vincent

Hope everyone is enjoying life and getting back to normal somewhat! I am thinking that the reunion will go off as planned unless we spike again. Please pass the word and encourage anyone you know to join the site and consider attending in September! 
Because the musical thread was so popular, what song does everyone remember as the most overplayed song of our generation?

George VonPless

Any "Bubble Gum" song, like"Sugar, Sugar" by the Archies, or "Yummy Yummy" by the Ohio Express.

I also got sick of "American Pie", by Don McLean.

I know they came along later, but the Disco Era songs were too repetitive (i.e. anything by KC and the Sunshine Band).

Thankfully, we were exposed to a very diverse group of musicians and somebody could find something they liked. 

Margaret Hewitt (Phinney)

HAHA great question to ask...then this article appeared on the internet !!!          

1970: '(They Long to Be) Close to You'

Rod Henry

Those are both great posts.

The bubble gum era had been totally surpressed in my memory, probably some post-traumatic episode.

I vividly recall hearing "Sugar Sugar" on the radio driving by Sal's Seafood for the first time and cursing out loud to it.

Now it will be stuck in my head for a week...AAAAARRRGH!

Sam Anderson

John Fogerty's Centerfield - without "bubble gum" & baseball it just doesn't feel like summer.

Pamela Perry (Brock)

John Vincent

I agree with American Pie! Wish I had a quarter for every timeI heard that song! And every time you went into Hafners, Close To You was playing or a Jackson Five song! Other runner ups would be Maggie May or Honky Tonk Woman!

There will be an update on the reunion sometime in July. I have also requested info from the school district as it relates to school tours. Obviously, they are dealing with the covid virus and I will not expect any decision on tours until Labor Day. 

Anne Bitterman (Hill)

Just to stay on the music thread a bit longer. Last spring my husband and I went on a Flower Power cruise-featuring the music and performers of the '60's music. Each group still had at least one original member or more. The live conerts each night were fabulous.We saw The Lovin' Spoonful, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, Tommy James and the Shondells,Blood, Sweat and Tears, Jefferson Starship and the Cowsill, who were so much fun.We also had Cheech and Chong-hilarious! It was co-hosted by Peter Asher, the remaining half of Peter and Gordon.  Since it was the 50th anniversary of Woodstock they also had the couple from the Woodstock album who are standing wrapped in a quilt.Nick and Bobbie Ercoline.Obviously cancelled this year, but Peter Noone with Herman's Hermits were scheduled.

Doreen Armstrong (Fountain)

I have been reading all the comments regarding music of "our" days. The thing that amazes me is that when  listening to the Oldies stations, the words to most all of the songs come to mind and I am able to sing along, although I can't carry a tune in a tin box, no problem. I often said if teachers could have put our lessons to music we all would have been a check of a lot  smarter!

Carol [aka Kelly ] Champion

Wow Anne - sounds like quite a cruise.  I'll check it out.  BubbleGum music - eh - not so much a part of my life but yes - very singable!   Lately husband and I obsessed with REM older hits.   NYC needs as much "Shiney Happy People" as it can get.  Best to all.

John Vincent

Marty Borio called me today to confirm our reunion date. He explained they are open and fortunate to have so much area to spread out. He sounded excited and told me he will keep in touch every few weeks. We agreed on a 1pm until 5pm time frame for the get together. Next month I will work with him on menu/cost scenario. Please direct any questions directly to me and I will do the best I can to answer ASAP.

Love all these posts! Amazing how much music has influenced us all! When you hear a song and it reminds you of a specific time and place, I consider that a hit! We were lucky to experience all kinds of music! My grandkids get a kick out of me when I rock out to an old RollingSones song! We have indoctrinated our grandchildren to become Jimmy Buffet fans and "parakeets"! 

Rod Henry

Here's a question on a different topic.  The other night I found myself humming the tune from an old commercial...and was interested in my ability to recall that sort of random thing from over 50 years ago,

The commercial was the ancient one for a spaghetti sauce - "Mama - si si - Villa Sauce is for me!".  Darned if I can figure out what triggered the memory - some similar bit of music, product, whatever, but there it was.

I would be interested if there are other old ads from the greater Syracuse area that people still recall, fondly or otherwise.