Rhode Island’s veteran drummer Joe Holtzman stills pats the snare and bass drums in greater Providence.In 1954, while growing up in South Carolina, Holtzman joined The Brooklyn-Cayce Marching Band. After a few beginners lessons, he taught himself the basic artform of drumming, began winning drum competitions and joined The All-State Band. In Junior High School, […]
Noted reedman Dan Moretti, one of the nation’s top tenor saxophone artists, lives in Narragansett. Dan has been composing, recording, leading, teaching and performing jazz and some R&B around the world for more than 30 years. He has played with many of the great names in jazz during his veteran years, and Dan represents quality sound […]
The Downbeats were a group of young high school musicians that formed a quartet that was to play local school dances, featuring upbeat music of the times. These young performers were in the graduating Class of 1957 at Pawtucket West High School, where they excelled in the school band and orchestra. They chose jazz standards […]
During 1932, the gifted international musician Frank D’Rone was born.He grew up in Providence, where at five years old he began singing and learning to play guitar. By age eleven he had his own radio show. While playing regularly in Rhode Island at all kinds of professional venues, he decided to try his luck in […]
A list of great musicians coming out of Woonsocket must include Jean (McKenna) O’Donnell. As the sister to the late fabulous internationally acclaimed pianist Dave McKenna, who had captured the jazz world and more, she had graciously accepted being a few paces in back of her gifted brother without any fanfare. Their mother was a […]
Providence’s Billy Lipson, born in 1911, was blessed with a terrific jazz singing voice. Billy sang with several large orchestras in greater Providence.His renditions often sounded like Frank Sinatra or Bing Crosby. Billy had a loyal group of followers who regularly cheered him on, and many a local woman swooned over his romantic deliveries. His torch songs […]
One of Rhode Island’s finest local entertainers is Bob Mainelli.He has performed for more parties, organizational events, civil and otherwise, private celebrations, small clubs, large clubs, restaurants, casinos, political happenings, weddings, funerals, bar-mitzvahs and probably hangings than most professional singers. Bob taught music at Johnston High School for many years. His daughter, Jennifer has emulated […]
Rhode Island veteran trumpet player Al DeAndrade was born and raised in Pawtucket. His father, known as “Jim Daddy,” had a local orchestra and played alto saxophone and clarinet. Young Al began performing with his dad at age 9 on his horn. His brothers, Richard […]
Oliver Shaw was believed to be America’s first musical composer. He was born in Newport in 1779 (long before the Civil War). Following a childhood accident, and a bout with Yellow Fever, he became totally blind. Yet, he studied with the noted organist John Berhonhead and later with veteran society pianist Gottilieb Grauper. Oliver Shaw […]
David Wallis Reeves (1838-1900) was a professional cornettist, composer and bandleader. He was a leading horn player in the Dodworth Band in New York City and the American Brass Band in Providence. David composed more than 100 works, and many had what today would be considered upbeat jazz passages. He developed a march-style and counter […]
