Opening the entertainment on the main stage this year is a newcomer to our Festival, accordionist Matt Scafer from Uniontown. Encouraged by his dad, Matt began studying the accordion in 1951. Concentrating on classical accordion music, he was instructed by Joe Marullo of Tresigni's Music and Joe Rozman of Rozman's Accordion School. Playing standards, polkas and waltzs, at age 13 Matt began playing engagements in the Akron area and performing with his dad's band, The Matt Schafer Band. He competed in the International Music League competition in 1958 and 1959 and in 1970 Matt joined the Frankie Yankovich Band. At the time Frankie was known as "America's Polka King" and Matt toured with him until 1977 when he formed his own band.
About the same time that he joined the Yankovich Band, he met a lovely lady named Cathy and they have now been married 39 years. With four children and seven grandchildren Matt sticks pretty close to home, playing engagements throughout Northeastern Ohio. You can hear Matt on the radio by tuning to FM88, WZIP, The University of Akron public radio station. For the past nineteen years he has hosted the show "Saturday Morning Polkas" on air from 8 A.M. to noon.
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Another newcomer to the Festival is the local group, Valley Voices. This group of ladies began when four gals who loved Barbershop got together in 1976. In 1978, as interest in their music grew, they were chartered as the Tuscarawas County Chapter of the Sweet Adelines, a national barbershop music organization. In 1994 they left the national group and formed the present group. With approximately 25 members from a four county area, under the direction of Mary Kay Webb, they specialize in the American barbershop style of music.
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A graduate of Hiram College, Ren wrote his first song in the early 80's, which served as a catalyst for the creation of an arsenal of material. Paul Reynolds, a rising singer/songwriter known as Ren, captures a unique sound many entertainers would like to have. With his acoustic guitar, velvet voice, his ability to add the percussive element of the bass and drums, the steady, rhythmic element of the guitar and a free flowing melody line, Ren will take you on a journey through life with songs that add color and warmth to the world through his warm, smooth and comforting lyrics. A show for the entire family, Ren will leave you with the feeling you have stumbled across something very special.
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Back for their fourth appearance at our Festival, after a state-wide acclaimed appearance at the OFEA annual convention as the featured band in the Bow-Tie lounge, the Angels will be appearing on the beverage garden stage on Friday night. Deb, Toni Rae, Cheryll, Dave, Brad and Matt always provide a great evening's entertainment for rock and roll lovers. Covering the world of rock and roll from the days of Alan "Moondog" Freed through present day rock, they are guaranteed to " keep the joint jumping". The Angels web site at http://theangelsrock.com will provide you with more information on this extremely popular band.
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Back for the third year on our main stage, Avanti has always delighted our audiences. Infusing authenic Italian classics with a modern flair, they have brought their unique brand of music to people all over Northeastern Ohio. The trio, comprised of Joe Ruzinok on sax, trumpet and clarinet, Nick Gerard playing keyboard, accordion, guitar and doing a vocal here and there, and last but certainly not least, Tony Midea on vocals and guitar communicate "old world" traditions and heritage to a new generation of Italian-Americans.
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Schoenbrunn Valley Barbershop Chorus
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This chorus, originally formed in 1973, was founded to provide a musical outlet for men who desired to sing and acquire some musical education. The members are dedicated to achieving excellence in sound production and showmanship. The members take hard work, dedication, fun, and fellowship to heart, making them a very special group. All barbershoppers have one thing in common, and that is the pure joy of singing and listening to the unique sound, developed in the 18th century when people entertained themselves while waiting to get a haircut, playing instruments, singing and working out a harmony which became known as "BARBERSHOP"!
You can learn more about this group and barbershop at their web site www.harmonize.com/tuscarawas .
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Back for his second year at our Festival, Timothy Paul began performing at the age of nine as a drummer in his father's square dance band. After being hidden behind the drums for a while, Timothy decided he wanted to be a "front man" and a song writer like his uncle, Earl "Bud" Lee who had written the Garth Brooks hit "Friends In Low Places". Timothy has worked diligently to become very accomplished in his career and his style and demeanor have earned him an apppreciative audience. Timothy has entertained in Vegas, headlined with Kenny Chesney and opened for such great entertainers as Sawyer Brown, Lee Greenwood, Confederate Railroad and many others. His latest album, " Songbook", was recorded with many great names in the music business. Learn more about Timothy Paul at www.timothyonline.com.
Timothy will be with us both Saturday and Sunday evenings in the beverage garden.
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With the addition of Roz and Lynn to our Saturday night lineup, we feel that a special charm and grace has been added to our Festival. Roz and her mother, Lynn, are from Dillonvale and inherited their love of music from Roz's grandfather and Lynn's father, Joe Nedved. Joe, a popular sax player, played with bands in the Ohio Valley for decades. These ladies delight audiences throughout the area as they take you on a trip down memory lane. Their unique harmony and style on classic standards and forgotten melodies will have you remembering your first date and your first love as they make the romantic love songs come alive. The evening is never complete without Roz's hit impersonation of "Marilyn Monroe" that has delighted audiences everywhere.
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The Dominic Greco Band, following a successful, standing room only, 2008 concert is preparing for 2009. This will be the ninth consecutive year the band has performed at the Festival. They also had performed once prior to that,in 1990. Director Frederick Delphia is working closely with band arranger Corey Swinderman in the development of special arrangements to spotlight the band's unique talent. They plan to feature many of the outstanding instrumentalists and vocalists that have performed with the band over the years plus some new surprises. We can always depend on a great performance.
The Dominic Greco Band brings the old-fashioned concert in the park to the streets of downtown Dover. “Every year we look forward to performing in front of audiences across Tuscarawas County,” said Delphia. “Getting the opportunity to perform at the Tuscarawas County Italian-American Festival is always a highlight of our season. Due to the band’s roots, we are honored and privileged to play at the Italian-American festival. ”
The band got its beginnings in 1917 when Dominic Greco moved from Pittsburgh to Dover and formed the Italian Band. The band’s name was changed in 1919 to the Dover Concert Band as it grew in numbers and popularity. The talented musicians found themselves becoming a staple at the Ohio State Fair and sharing the stage with many well-known entertainers, including John Phillip Sousa.
Dominic Greco remained director for nearly 40 years, until Harper Froman succeeded him. Following Froman as director was Robert Lyon. A dedicated musician, you can still find Lyon playing clarinet or saxophone in the band.
In 1973, band members agreed to change the group’s name to the Dominic Greco Band in honor of its founder.
Present day director Frederick Delphia took possession of the director’s baton in 1983. The band continued to perform until 1990 until it took an 11-year hiatus. Hitting the stage again in 2001, the Dominic Greco Band, under Delphia’s direction, has resumed the old-fashioned concert in the park format that made the Italian Band popular in the early 1900s.
The band is presently comprised of more than 80 musicians, ranging from their teens to over 90 years in age. Their occupations include music directors, students, business professionals, mechanics, doctors and retirees.
Beginning its concert with the National Anthem and closing with the ever-inspiring Stars and Stripes Forever, the Dominic Greco Band will perform a variety of Italian favorites, overtures, marches and Big Band hits, leaving the audience wanting more.
Learn more about the band at http://dominicgrecoband.org
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Back for its fifth year on the beverage garden stage, the ever popular Badstone will be entertaining again on Saturday night. Begun in 1987 and re-formed when Gregg Martini joined Tim Martini in 1993, the band added Tim Burris as the drummer in 2000 and in 2006 added Jim Tucker as the third guitar. The band has been playing regionally for more than fifteen years. The band's web site can be found at http://badstone.net.
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The Rocky Chirchiglia Band
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This popular band has been around Northeast Ohio for nearly 50 years. Rocky has appeared at every festival, this being his 21st. Entertaining on the Main Stage on Sunday afternoon enables more people to enjoy the talents of this fine band. The Tuscarawas County Italian-American Festival appreciates the fact that Rocky enjoys being here so much, he wants to return every year.
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Mickey entertains throughout the area, is in charge of the queens for the Dennison Railroad Festival and is vice president of the Board of Directors of the Ohio Festival & Events Association. He has entertained at the Spring Fling last year, will return there this year and is returning to the Main Stage for the fifth year. We would like to thank him for his loyalty and assistance throughout the years.
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The Good Fellas' Band returns to the main stage for the second year.
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This band began in Canton in 1997. Since that time they have played in more than 40 cities in 12 states. New Wave Nation provides a show that will entertain everyone from the young to the young at heart. In addition to great music and vocals, the band also provides a laser light show and on-screen multimedia video productions. New Wave Nation provides an experience that you won't want to miss. They are returning to the beverage garden stage for the second year. You can learn more about the band at their web site, www.newwavenation.com
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Main Stage sound system provided by Hitchcock Sound Company.
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