Summer 2014
Van Wyck Gazette Finally, a magazine with personality!
Abandoned Hudson Valley Andy Milford & Liz Cooke
Gary Puckett & The Union Gap Susan M. Bourret
An American Hero Peter Rae
Rhinebeck • Poughkeepsie • Wappingers Falls • Fishkill • Beacon • Newburgh
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Summer 2014 Issue
Contents
Publisher/Editor
Joseph H. Caplan
A Master of Arts in Community Psychology is the strategic advantage our publisher uses to develop and design the authentic community magazine in the region. Finally, a magazine with personality.
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An American Hero
Peter Rae
Our Heritage Writer built his reputation with features about the Dutchess Rail Trail, Danbury Hat Industry and Wappingers Falls Hall of Fame Baseball legend Big Dan Brouthers.
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Collision with Pedestrians
Charles N. Rock, Esq.
Charles is a personal injury lawyer who pursues restitution and compensation for injured clients. http://www.rocklaw.net
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Abandoned Hudson Valley Andy Milford & Liz Cooke
Two of the most talented and visionary photographers around.
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Gary Puckett
Susan M. Bourret
Susan is our Entertainment Writer and built her reputation with highly detailed and brilliant interviews of musician Corey Stevens and 1960’s Chicago based pop group The Buckinghams.
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Our experience in commercial and residential sales / rentals speaks for itself!
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Lunch At The Live Bait Diner
Joseph D. Yeomans & Lewis Gardner
Their book is a joy. Drawings by Joseph D. Yeomans and poems by Lewis Gardner.
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Nature or Nurture
Salina Sias
Her shockingly candid first-person narrative about the struggles of a woman in the music industry is our definitive feature on the subject.
Cover Photo: AHV Kingston Express - Andy Milford
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Van Wyck Ga ze tte
An American Hero
History
by Peter Rae
Sybil Ludington was a typical American teenager – typical, that is, for the 18th century. Born in 1761, she was 16 years old in 1777 and the oldest of eight children. Sybil’s primary role in her family was to help her mother, Abigail, raise the other seven. But in 1777 the colonies were battling England in the Revolutionary War, so Sybil found more to do. The Ludington family lived in Fredericksburg in Dutchess County, New York. Fredericksburg is no more, but the location of the family farm lies within today’s Putnam County Town of Kent, in a section called Ludingtonville. When the southern part of Dutchess County became Putnam County in 1812, the Town of Kent, Ludingtonville area, and the family farm went with it. Suffice it to say that Ludingtonville is just off Interstate 84 at Exit 17. Sybil’s father, Henry Ludington, was a farmer and gristmill owner. Years before, he had fought for the British under Gen. James Tryon in the French and Indian War. In 1776 he had served as an aide to George Washington at the Battle of White Plains. Soon afterward, as Col. Ludington, he was named commander of the 7th Regiment of the Dutchess County Militia. At that time, militia regiments consisted largely of farmers who were often sent home in springtime to plant their crops. That’s what happened to the 7th Dutchess Militia, and is why, in late April 1777, Col. Ludington and his approximately 400 troops were home working their farms. Sybil, of course, was focusing on household chores including cooking, cleaning, minding the younger children by day, and reading them to sleep by night. When she did get some time off, she spent it training her horse, Star, and riding through the countryside.
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West Point and Danbury Gen. Washington believed that West Point, a fort situated atop cliffs overlooking a narrow, winding portion of the Hudson River, was “key” to his strategy for defeating England. South of West Point was New York City, which the British had captured in 1776 and continued to hold throughout the war. Westchester County and other areas adjacent to the city were a sort of no-man’s land where sympathizers on both sides skirmished with each other. Complicating matters, thieves stole equipment and supplies from both sides and sold them to whoever would buy them. The area north of West Point was controlled by the colonials all the way to Canada, but Canada, of course, was British. If the British forces in New York City and Canada could combine to cut the colonies in two, the war would be a long way towards being over. The easiest way for the two British forces to meet would be invasions south through the Champlain Valley and north through the Hudson Valley. The best way to prevent them from doing this was to blockade the Hudson River so British warships and troop and supply vessels could not use it. And the best location for carrying out this blockade was West Point. With the British ensconced in New York City and its warships controlling the waters not only of the lower Hudson but the entire northeast coastline of the colonies, keeping West Point equipped with munitions and supplies wasn’t easy. Some were produced in the colonies themselves, while others, from France and other allies, were slipped in through the British blockade. Washington organized a number of supply depots located near the Hudson Valley to support West Point but far enough apart so that the loss of one or even some would not spell disaster for the colonists. One of those supply depots was located in Danbury, Connecticut.
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Summer 2014 Issue
History Sybil’s Ride Late in the evening of Friday, April 25, 1777, a horse and rider arrived at the Ludington farm with disturbing news. A British force under Gen. Tryon had sailed from New York, landed in Westport, Connecticut, marched to Danbury, and was burning the military stores there along with much of the town itself. Alarms were sent out in all directions to muster troops to beat back the invaders and protect the town. The 400 members of the 7th Dutchess Militia were scattered on their farms throughout an area that featured rough, hilly roads populated by lawless skinners. Both rider and horse from Danbury were already spent, and there was no one else prepared to spread the word. Except Sybil. She had the horse, the riding ability, and the knowledge of the area needed to do the job. She may have even discussed this with her father in advance in the event the need arose. Probably the hardest part was convincing her mother to let her go, but by 9 PM that evening she and Star galloped off in the midst of a rainstorm. The first stop was Carmel, about six miles south. At farmhouses along the way, she knocked on doors and windows with a long stick, pausing only long enough to shout “The British are burning Danbury! Muster at Col. Ludington’s farm tomorrow morning ready to march!” And on she went. From Carmel, Sybil continued south to Mahopac and Mahopac Falls, and then north to Kent Cliffs, Farmers Mills, and Stormville, sounding the alarm all along the way. Sometimes she encountered groups of outlaws encamped for the night and managed to avoid contact by dismounting and walking Star in wide circles around them as silently as possible. At Stormville she turned south and headed home, arriving at about dawn the next morning. Already, soldiers from all along her route were arriving and preparing for the march to Danbury. In all, Sybil had ridden approximately 40 miles in about fifteen hours, mostly at night. By way of comparison, Paul Revere’s ride was about half that! Later that same day, Col. Ludington’s 7th Dutchess Militia began the 19-mile march to Danbury. They learned that the British had already encountered some resistance from the local militia and so had begun a return to the Long Island Sound. The next day, Sunday the 27th, the British met further resistance at the Battle of Ridgefield, where the colonists lost their commander, Gen. David Wooster, but under Gen. Benedict Arnold (yes, that Benedict Arnold!) they continued to fight. Col. Ludington’s militia regiment arrived on the 28th to reinforce the regulars, and the combined
An American Hero - continued by Peter Rae
American forces continued to harass the British until the latter finally retreated all the way back to the coast, where they sailed back to New York. In Carmel today there’s a statue commemorating Sybil’s ride. Created by the sculptor Anna Hyatt Hutchinson in 1961, you can see it just south of town on Route 52, along the shore of Lake Gleneida. There’s also a smaller version on the grounds of the Danbury Public Library. The British raid on Danbury was successful in a military sense because it resulted in the destruction of equipment and supplies. Regardless, the British chose not repeat this strategy with the other depots set up in support of West Point, perhaps because of the strong opposition of the colonial army and militia at and after Danbury. For the duration of the war, the Americans continued to strengthen West Point until it was virtually impregnable. In October 1777, a British army moving south from Canada was decisively defeated twice at the Battles of Saratoga, thus effectively ending England’s chances of cutting the colonies in two. The battleground moved to the south for three more years and ended with the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781. And what of Sybil? She began the rest of her life with a long nap that day (as did Star), and then resumed her responsibilities for the family. Indeed, Abigail and Henry had four more children, for a total of twelve, so there must have been plenty to do. But by now Sybil had become a young woman. In 1784, with the war over, she married Edmond Ogden, a lawyer from Catskill, New York, and had one son, named Henry. Later she and her family moved to Unadilla, New York, southwest of Oneonta. Following Sybil’s death in 1839, she was buried with her parents and other family members at the Maple Avenue Cemetery in Patterson, New York, a few short miles from Ludingtonville. Her headstone, identifying her as “Sibell” Ludington, can still be seen there. And today Sybil Ludington is remembered as an American hero.
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Van Wyck Ga ze tte
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Summer 2014 Issue
Legal The Stats: When a pedestrian and an automobile collide, the pedestrian is always the loser. In 2009, about 5,900 pedestrians lost their lives in such collisions in the United States, or one every 90 minutes. These deaths account for 11% of all fatalities involving motor vehicles. Another 80,000 or so pedestrians are injured annually. As you would expect, a large majority of pedestrian-vehicle collisions occur in urban areas, where there is a higher volume of both traffic and pedestrians. Almost as high a percentage of pedestrian-vehicle collisions occur at night, when pedestrians are harder to see. Because pedestrian-vehicle collisions happen when cars and people on foot interact, they are most common when a pedestrian tries to cross a street. Interestingly, pedestrian-vehicle collisions occur almost as frequently at crossings controlled by a signal as at those with no signal or crosswalk. The Causes: There are many different causes for this kind of collision. Inattentiveness to one’s surroundings (by either the driver or the pedestrian) is the most common cause, with cell phone use, map reading/GPS use, MP3 players/earphones use by pedestrian, all contributing. Another common cause is confusion: Drivers who are trying to figure out whether they can turn, what lane to drive in, or where they are on the map are more likely to hit a pedestrian than those who know where they are going. Overly aggressive driving and/or driving too fast for the situation are often factors. Poorly designed intersections, where traffic backs up or where drivers cannot see pedestrians crossing, can also contribute, increasing the chance of a collision.
Collisions with Pedestrians by Charles N. Rock, Esq.
The Advice: For pedestrians, the best option is to avoid a collision altogether. Like drivers, walkers must obey traffic laws and the laws of the road. Cross only at marked crosswalks and then only with the light – do not jaywalk.
Installing sidewalks where there are none, overpasses and underpasses for walkers to use to cross the road and “islands” in the middle of busy streets to give shelter to pedestrians if they do not make it all the way across can all reduce the chances of If you are crossing a street (especially such a collision. Better lighting can also near a cross-street), stay alert for cars that help. are not paying attention. Use caution when Do not become a statistic. Keep your you are walking on a sidewalk that crosses eyes open, your ears alert, and yourself an alleyway or parking lot, where drivers alive. may be turning. Look all around before IF YOU ARE HIT BY A CAR: getting into and out of cars parked by the The rules to follow when you are involved side of the road. in a pedestrian-vehicle collision are very If you have to walk at night, wear a light similar to those in an all-vehicle collision: color (preferably white) and if there are no • Remain calm. Call the Police. sidewalks, always walk against the traffic • Do not leave the scene before the police to give cars the best chance to see you. arrive and if necessary, the paramedics Finally, don’t insist on your rights. You may as well. have the legal right-of-way, but it is far better • Get the names and phone numbers of to let the car do something it is not supposed those involved as well as of any to do than to take the right-of-way and get witnesses. hit. • Do not make any statements to anyone For drivers as well, avoidance is the best about the collision except the police. option. Be aware of pedestrians, especially • Do not admit fault. if you are in a city or when the sun has gone down. Remember, pedestrians have as • After the collision, consult a doctor for your injuries and contact our firm to make much right to be there as you do. Do not sure that your legal rights are protected. drive too fast and watch for people emerging The period of time following any accident from behind obstacles such as parked cars, is one of confusion and uncertainty. trash cans, city buses, and the like. There are many things to take care of. Keep in mind that not all people who are Hiring a good lawyer is one of them. walking will obey the law. Many times, people do not know where Watch for people jaywalking or crossing after the signal has changed to “Do Not to go when they need legal help. Walk.” Be especially wary around schools If you or a loved one has been injured in and in residential neighborhoods: Children an accident, call us! often do not know the rules, and they may We will vigorously represent you and dart out from behind a car or cross unsafely make sure that you are justly compensated to get something or somewhere. for your injuries. There is a role for government too. That’s our job!
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Van Wyck Ga ze tte
A S u m m e r o f B e au t i f u l Possibilities Summer is in full swing – that means it’s time to lighten up your home and live more casually. At Ethan Allen in Newburgh, you’ll discover hundreds of fresh furniture and accessory styles to do just that. The Bell family have been authorized Ethan Allen retailers since 1979 and continue to offer the greater mid-Hudson Valley the largest selection of home fashions for every lifestyle and taste.
Freshen your palette. Consider swapping out dark-colored draperies, slipcovers, decorative pillows, bedding, or rugs with a lighter palette of mineral blues, ivories, soft yellows, and light greens as well as muted pinks, oranges, and purples.
Make your choices crystal clear. The more reflective surfaces you add to a room, the more sunlight you will draw in. At any time of year, mirrors or mirrored furniture and glass are perfect additions to a home.
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Stop in today and discover all of the beautiful possibilities. Ethan Allen has everything you need to create a one-of-akind home: furnishings for living rooms, bedrooms, guest rooms, dining rooms, media rooms, kids’ rooms, playrooms, outdoor spaces, and even home offices; art for your walls; rugs for your floors; drapery and hardware for your windows; swap out existing table lamps with seasonal mattresses for a great night’s sleep; options, including glass, porcelain, rattan, decorative pillows; gorgeous comforters, sheets, shams, and more; and exquisite and sea grass. accents, from candlesticks and vases to At The Bells’, you can shop Ethan Allen flowers that will look fresh every day. On Demand™, an amazing array of in-stock The Bells’ is located at 94 North Plank furniture and home accents with the same Road, Newburgh, New York. For more high quality and style as the company’s information, call 845.565.6000 or visit custom designs. That means more color, ethanallen.com/newburgh. more personality, more drama, more flair, and all the precision craftsmanship—now without the wait.
Think of fabric as well as color. Curtains made of silk, gauze, or linen and rugs made of sisal lend rooms a relaxed Let the design pros at Ethan Allen show inviting feel. you how to summer-ize your style by Light up the night. incorporating items that complement yearSure, the days are longer now. But when round pieces. Here are a few simple tips to the sun goes down, you can’t do without help you create a beautiful, airy atmosphere: ample lighting. For an instant style refresh, Bring a sense of renewal. Simple vases and bowls filled with freshly gathered fruits and flowers scattered around the home capture the colors of the outdoors and liven up your living space.
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Summer 2014 Issue
Abandoned Hudson Valley Abandoned Hudson Valley launched in September 2013 on Facebook as a place for photographer Liz Cooke to showcase her work. Within one week, the page had over 4,000 fans – far more than Liz ever imagined. Liz quickly changed her focus from showcasing her own to work to building an interactive space where anyone could share their photos of abandoned places in the Hudson Valley. It was not long before Liz met Andy Milford, a British-born, Kingston-based photographer whose portfolio included every place from the abandoned cement plants of Cementon to Tamarack Lodge and Halcyon Hall at Bennett College. Liz and Andy struck up an immediate friendship and agreed to run Abandoned Hudson Valley together. Within a few months the page grew to well over 10,000 fans, and is now approaching the 25,000 fan mark. While the audience has grown, the mission of the page (and now website) has not changed. Liz and Andy are still committed to using photography as a way to draw attention to the “abandoned, forgotten and imperiled places” in the Hudson Valley.
Ice Barge, Hyde Park - 2014 - Photo by Liz Cooke Fascination with Abandonation Liz and Andy are frequently asked what draws them to places like abandoned hospitals, asylums, schools and factories. In a place as beautiful as the Hudson Valley, why would anyone crawl over broken glass to get a photo of an abandoned grist mill? And why are so many people so turned on by photographs of the decayed, destroyed and dilapidated? Liz states, “I think there is something inherently beautiful in the ruins of a culture. For
Narrated
by Liz Cooke & Andy Milford
thousands of years people have visited the ruins of Pompeii, the Parthenon and the Coliseum. While we do not have ruins of quite that magnitude, we do have some incredible places, like Wyndcliffe Mansion in Rhinebeck and Bannerman Castle. These places and many others offer a compelling glimpse into the past. When a structure is in a state of abandonment, time freezes. Walking through these places is like entering a time capsule. Cups and saucers sit on countertops, old phones hang precariously off the wall, ticket stubs and magazines litter the hallways. There are always so many questions we can never answer like who lived here and why did they leave so fast? And quite honestly, we don’t even try to answer those questions. We just take the picture to capture what we saw and we leave the speculating to others.” Andy states, “I grew up in a country with an ancient past. In Britain, you can not turn a corner without seeing some reminder of our history. It’s different in the States. Here, old buildings are torn down to make way for modern structures. And that’s a shame. When the wrecking ball comes, so goes a piece of history. It may not always be the most important piece of history, but it was important to someone. With my camera I try to draw attention to places that are a bit more obscure, but just as fascinating. Places with stories to tell. The narrative, according to Liz, is what animates the pictures. She states that photographing abandoned places requires more than great camera equipment and techniques. It requires a sensitivity to the experience of the people who came before and who’s lives you are unearthing and documenting. While she states emphatically that she is not “involved in the paranormal scene,” she also states that “it is hard not to be moved when you are in these places.” She continues, “Many people died in these rooms, and many more suffered. When you feel a rush of cold air it is chilling to the bone.” Liz points out that many people comment on Facebook that the photographs are “creepy” and “eerie,” while others call the same images “hauntingly beautiful.” As a collective, Abandoned Hudson Valley has become a showcase for the work of many photographers, including professionals with thousands of dollars of equipment, to cell phone enthusiasts who fire off a quick shot of something they see on the side of the road. Andy points out that Abandoned Hudson Valley does have some technical requirements in an effort to maintain a uniform high quality appearance. He also
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Van Wyck Ga ze tte states that Abandoned Hudson Valley does not publish photographs that include people in the image. This is an effort on the part of the administrators to avoid glamorizing or encouraging what could be a dangerous pursuit. Abandoned Hudson Valley does have a strongly worded disclaimer, letting people know that many places are dangerous and others are strictly off limits. In many cases locations are not disclosed. “This aggravates people,” says Liz. “But we need to make sure we are not exposing places or people to increased risk. Many places are far too vulnerable to draw attention to. It doesn’t make us popular when we do this, but we hope people understand why we do it.” Favorite Places Andy and Liz each have their favorite places. For Andy, a special place is Wyndcliffe, the abandoned Hudson River mansion that inspired the phrase “keeping up with the Joneses.” He is also somewhat obsessed with Halcyon Hall at Bennett College, a 1907 girls’ college, photographing its slow, tragic deterioration. “It is such a gorgeous building but the winter was particularly hard on it. Every time I visit more of it has collapsed.” Liz loves old stone houses, factories, mills and barns. “Fortunately, there’s a pretty endless supply,” she states. “I don’t think I will ever run out of places to explore and shoot.” Liz and Andy are hoping the Abandoned Hudson Valley website will become a hub for sharing images and information on abandoned places in the Hudson Valley and beyond. The website allows the team to go into much greater depth on a given location than they can on Facebook. The website features weekly columns that cover “all things abandoned from around the world,” as well as local “abandonment news,” like updates on plans to convert abandoned Catskills resorts into casinos. They also follow developments at Hudson River State Hospital, Harlem Valley State Hospital, Bannerman Castle and other key places in the region. Andy and Liz were recently asked by the Orange County Film Commission to help scout intriguing locations for film, TV and advertising shoots. “Abandoned places could be a real economic engine,” says Liz. She also notes that many people have asked when the AHV team will offer tours. “We are able to offer individual and small group tours to places that are safe and legal.” Liz encourages people interested in visiting the region to see the “visit” section on their website and to send an email to inquire about tours. Liz Cooke was born in New York City and raised in Brooklyn. Her interest in abandoned places began as a teen when she was given her first camera. She began photographing the changing face of her childhood neighborhood Brighton Beach, as it transitioned from a neighborhood of elderly Jewish refugees and
Holocaust survivors to “Little Odessa,” home to thousands of Soviet emigres. Liz saw firsthand how quickly one culture can be replaced by another, leaving nothing but traces of what had once been. She was also fascinated from an early age by the streets and back alleys of nearby Coney Island, and was greatly influenced
Wyndcliffe Mansion - Photo by Andy Milford by the work of Dianne Arbus. Liz moved to the Hudson Valley in 2008 and resides in Rhinebeck with her husband, John, and daughter, Mimi. The family frequently visits abandoned places together, something Mimi calls “creepy.” Liz is also a social worker and life coach. She writes a monthly column for the Poughkeepsie Journal on emotional wellness and creativity. Her photos can be seen at photos.lizcooke.com. Andy Milford was born and raised in England and currently resides in the charming Hudson Valley town of Kingston NY. Influenced by his father who worked out of an ad hoc darkroom in the family bathroom, he has gone on to become a prolific photographer. This has developed into a passion that wears out on average one camera per year. His favoured subject matter includes urban exploration, abandonment, street art, Americana, reflections, and anything that casts an interesting shadow. Though an avid photographer, he has recently been distracted by stenciling and larger wall murals. He is joint founder of the Thou Art gallery in Kingston, which showcases local artists in various pop up locations. His work has been published in South Korea, England and the United States.
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Summer 2014 Issue
Gary Puckett
Entertainment Gary Puckett and the Union Gap Music plays a very important part in most people’s lives and many of us will sing our praises for the foot stomping, hand clapping, fun filled music of the 60’s and 70’s. Many of the charismatic heart throbs whose voices graced radio stations across the country and whose enchanting performances left viewers and concert goers breathless, have left a notable mark in the music history books and in the hearts of so many of the 60’s and 70’s music lovers. There were many artists and bands who shined through during this historic era of music and entertainment, but the smooth, romantic, and appealing sound of Gary Puckett and the Union Gap made this magical group a favorite among 60’s music listeners nationwide.
by Susan M. Bourret
for Prince Charles and Princess Anne and was also nominated for Best New Artist in 1969. After a successful run of record releases, abundant television appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Red Skeleton Show and worldwide visibility this amazingly talented music act sadly disbanded in 1971 after a record breaking run of success.
For a couple years following the band’s breakup, Gary performed as a solo artist with notable success but decided to turn his attention to studying acting and dance and found himself performing in some theatrical productions in the Los Angeles area. However, Gary soon recognized where his true love was and returned to stage performances. His return began at a Las Vegas oldies comeback tour where his performance and voice earned him a regular spot on the national oldies circuit. Notable accomplishments and achievements for Gary continued. In 1974 the ever popular gold smash hit, Young Girl, was re-released in England and won record breaking awards yet again. In 1984 Gary was thrilled to be a part of the first ever and highly successful Happy Together Tour, performing for 8 fun filled months across the country. In 1986, this same Happy Together Tour became known as the Monkees 20 year reunion tour and not without any surprise, Gary was invited to tour with the Monkees on their magnificent tour. The tour was remarkably successful delivering record breaking audiences wherever the act performed and specifically captured With a tenor voice not mirrored by others, singer and artist Gary the hearts and minds of baby boomers concert after concert after Puckett began playing guitar in his teenage years and performed concert. In addition to his touring, Gary performed on thirty plus in several bands early on. Having grown up in Yakima, Washington network shows and television specials. In addition, Gary released (near the city of Union Gap) and Twin Falls, Idaho this talented his “In Europe” CD in 2001 followed by his first Christmas CD young man found his way to joining the cover band, the Outcasts, later in the year and in early 2002 Gary put together a memorable in the mid-sixties and toured briefly with the band before Puckett collection of live songs and released this “Live” CD in March. re-formed and renamed the band the Union Gap in January of I have had the pleasure of interviewing Gary and would like to 1967 with manager Dick Badger. The newly named Union Gap share that interview with my readers: signed a recording contract with Columbia Records, donned Tell us a bit about your experience and contributions to themselves in Union Army Civil War uniforms as the band’s the Happy Together Tour.... performing attire, and set out on their gold record breaking music The Happy Together Tour 1984 was the first classic oldies tour journey with six consecutive gold records, ten Billboard hits and more records sold in 1968 than any other recording artists at that ever to go on the road. It featured Spanky and Our Gang, Gary time. With such smash hits as their first single “Woman Woman”, Puckett and the Union Gap, The Association and the Turtles. It followed by an array of successful gold hits , “Young Girl”, “Lady was extremely successful and it found us on the road for about Willpower”, “Over You” and “Don’t Give it to Him”, the Union Gap 8 months of the year. It was demanding in its schedule but we became a household name and was heard on radio stations toured the greater part of the U.S. and it put us in front of a lot of throughout the country and seen on television programs weekly. baby boomers who had missed the music of their youth having The ever popular band also performed at a White House Reception taken the time to raise families, start and establish careers, and
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Van Wyck Ga ze tte generally let their lives find direction. The classic oldies radio stations were in the process of “becoming” around the nation and the boomers music was once again being played nationwide. We, the artists, were still young and up to the task of a demanding road schedule. The fans turned out in great numbers and it was almost like the early days of initial success. It was exciting once again!
to Brian and through them we have a grandson, Brandon, who I call “Beautiful Boy”. She is attending medical school and with the birth of her first child is leaning toward pediatrics. Sydney has her degree in business, is working for Coach and is in love with an outstanding young man whose career is in hospital administration. We believe that she and Jon will marry and start a family soon. We certainly hope so as they are wonderful together.
If you had the chance to perform with any one artist or band today who would that be and why?
Finally, if you were to mentor a young adult today who wants to be a musician/performer what would be the core of your advice to him/her?
During 1968, ’69, and ’70, which were the most successful years for the Union Gap, we had the opportunity to perform with a long list of favorites. That list includes:
Be centered and grounded. Be focused and prepared. Learn and explore your art. Be devoted to the hard work that it takes Chicago, the Beach Boys (we traveled throughout the U.S. with to succeed. Take nothing for granted. Utilize all the tools at your them for about 6 weeks in ‘69) Creedence Clearwater Revival, disposal i.e. teachers, coaches, social media, etc. Believe in Jr. Walker and the All Stars, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, yourself and then work hard. Never give up. Learn from those the Grass Roots, the Buckinghams, the Guess Who, the Lemon who have gone before you. There is always room for talent in Pipers, the Human Beinz, and the list goes on. In later years I this world but more importantly success is always waiting for found myself performing with B.J. Thomas, the Monkees, Paul those who are dedicated and hard working. Live your dream! Revere and the Raiders, the Righteous Bros., and this list also God bless! goes on. My thanks Gary for taking the time out of your very busy schedule to spend this bit of time with me and to enlighten my readers a I have even had the pleasure of being on stage with acts of bit more about the man behind the amazing voice and smile. other genres. Country, alternative, doo wop, etc. I’ve even had the opportunity to open for people such as Phyllis Diller.
I’ve had the pleasure of doing a duet with Bill Medley and also Johnny Maestro. I’d love to sing with Tom Jones and, of course, Elvis though that has to wait for another life. Tell us a little bit about Gary’s private personal life - are you married, any children or grandchildren, where do you currently reside? I live in the Clearwater, FL area with my wife Lorrie. We have two daughters, Michaela, 28 and Sydney, 25. Michaela is married
Having been an active performing member of the 2012 and the 2013 Happy Together Tours earning nothing but grandstand reviews show after show after show, Gary now finds himself touring regularly on the National Oldies Circuit and continues to do what he loves best:
“woo his foot stomping, hand clapping baby boomer audiences with his romantic voice and his charismatic presence from the moment he first steps foot on the stage until his very last encore.”
Scott Russinoff, M.D.
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Summer 2014 Issue
Lunch at the Live Bait Diner by Joseph D. Yeomans & Lewis Gardner BUSINESS AS USUAL A lot of papers today need to be moved from one end of my desk to the other. And some of them mean phone calls and some of the phone calls mean arguments, persuasion, dissembling. But that’s what I’m paid for. Outside my window flimsy webs of branches are starting to turn green. I think about walking there, watching the sky, forgetting the time. That’s not what I’m paid for. A LETTER TO RAMONA Ramona Romano, I don’t mean to torment you, and I assume you won’t sue over unsought renown, but wouldn’t you wish the world to sing your singularly singable name? Your euphonious phonemes have enthralled meRamona Romano-Ramona Ramona Ramonosince first I noted your name embellishing a memorable membership list. Did you impart your magical moniker on yourself, or did a melodious Muse intone to your mother: “Ramona. Ramona Romano. Ramona?” I knew a woman named Diana DelBello. Her name demands operatic embellishmentnot like your name, Ramona, an intimate murmur. So I’m finally confessing: whoever you are, Ramona Romano - Ramona - Ms. Romano Romano, Ramona (as the phone book would say)Ramona Romano, I’m enamored of your name. Drawings by Joseph D. Yeomans / Poems by Lewis Gardner
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Page 14
Summer 2014 Issue
Nature or Nurture
Music Open Letter From a Mom in Music
by Salina Sias
condition of shyness forced me to find other ways to express myself. (That my shyness stopped me from singing, but not acting, was and is inexplicable to me. Maybe I was afraid of what I cared about most…)
My father-in-law, Norman Mailer, once said to me, “…if I had been a better father, I would not have been as great a writer.” I found myself in the role of devil’s advocate, as I often did with him; I tend to be a contrarian. What did I know? I was a new In 1999 I met someone I fell in love with, mom, in my twenties. got married, did the kid thing, and never looked back. Flash forward: I find myself caught between the magnetic poles that Norman referenced. But please don’t think I’m using the word “great” in any self-referential way. It’s the nature of the debate I’m talking about.
Until I started singing again in 2008 after my son was born. Something – I’m not sure what – motherhood, thoughts of the future, the interaction of hormones and creativity – clicked, and I decided to write the songs I’m a broke singer and songwriter who I said I’d never share with the world. has to make decisions between family and I have done okay, I guess, for an indie. career every day. Sometimes every hour. But okay is relative. Far from it; I get paid It goes like this: a new song, a new album, less than a penny per stream for my music, a series of shows at Rockwood Music Hall getting booked at even popular venues in NYC, or piano lessons, summer camp, means I play for free. I’m lucky to walk away and life beyond PB&J. with $100 bucks in tips, which doesn’t even The specter of selfishness looms. But I cover the cost of my musicians. (It’s the feel the tug of destiny. Does that sound reason I can’t always afford a bass player; arrogant? I hope to hell not, but I can’t I really miss him). change it.
My journey into the arts began in a small town in Texas; I started to sing when I was eight. I moved to NYC in 1996 to pursue acting, a love that took over when a chronic
There are many dirty little secrets about what it means to be a singer-songwriter today. It’s not the romantic life you imagine. I get booking inquiries from managers who are only interested in how much my friends
3 Choose Your oExecutor:
and fans will consume at the bar – and I’m talking about desirable venues who are interested in the gradual destructions of my friends’ livers. I go along with it all, because the cliché of singing in the shower is too painful, and not singing anywhere is even more painful.
I have two beautiful children, a great husband, a two-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn and various freelance jobs that allow me to pay rent. Sometimes I wish I was a social worker or florist, but then again, that’s not exactly high-frequency trading. Am I doing something of value that my children will one day be proud of when I’m gone? I keep asking that question, and when I think about it too much, I drink and map out a different plan to become something better, something lucrative… something more. But I don’t. Instead, I go from day to day, but sometimes there’s a crashing moment that truly makes you re-focus. I had that in August 2010. I was chronically broke and my family and I were pushing hard on a music project that was just one week away from wrapping. I turned my music project into a family affair because
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Van Wyck Ga ze tte summer camp was too expensive. Together, we made a music video. Yes it was challenging as hell, but we all have fond memories – like the time when we had to bribe my four-year-old-daughter with marshmallows just to get her to climb a near thirty-foot tree (Wait, that sounds dangerous. Maybe I should cut this out or the child services people will be up my ass).
I have today. (link to video: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=hCHvldNVPtY)
that my six-year-old son is suddenly taller than my eight-year-old daughter. I see how excited they get when I walk through the door, exhausted and sleep-deprived from the hard work that goes into touring as a DIY indie (knowing I probably lost money). I mourn missing their art show or recital. And when it’s time to leave again, I find notes from my daughter in my bag:
Three months later, my mother-in-law passed away, and a few months after that, my grandmother-in-law followed. My own mother recovered from surgery, although she began gradually losing her sight. I had to figure out how I could afford to fly to Texas Prior to that scene, our DP had fallen more frequently. More pressure. And it “Mommy, I know I will miss you and I down a flight of stairs, spraining his ankle. showed. know you will miss me, but we are always My husband was the director and stunt together (even when we’re not). I wonder My debut album stalled, my performances what you are going to see there in all of coordinator (among other things), which meant our daughter was in good hands, suffered, and my plans for a release tour those places?” but he couldn’t stop a torrential downpour. and party were shelved. I see my debut Will my children be strong and independent Luckily we got a great shot of the storm album, “Salina Sias,” floating in cyber space and practice perseverance one day when with no owner attached to it – even the clouds. I’m gone? artwork appears to be ghost-like. Then the phone call came. Calls, actually. I wish I could revisit the conversation with My forthcoming EP will be released this Three of them. Each with overwhelming Norman today. This time I’d be having it news. My mother-in-law was in the hospital, year. This summer I plan to take my children from the perspective of someone living the her long battle with cancer was turning with me on the road when it’s possible – I debate. against her; my grandmother-in-law was in even lined up a gig at an ice cream parlor/ At the end of the day, I’m an artist, that’s the emergency room; and my own mother coffeehouse in Albany, NY (Aug 2). And was in the hospital for a last-minute when school starts, I have a few plans up who I am and I’ll find a way to be that no my sleeve (You’ll have to connect with me matter what comes my way. It’s not a quadruple bypass surgery in Texas. on social media to find out). vocation so much as a way of being. My There are choices you make in life that Some friends can’t believe I’m still doing sound, my voice, will live on, and travel with are instantaneous and not entirely sound my children. I hope it will help them deal or fair. (To yourself, to others you love.) it. Some ex-friends have judged and with their own unanswerable questions, the Sometimes you just don’t know what to do, wondered when I am going to stop. Some one that Yeats posed: “The intellect of man because no matter what the decision is, worry about my sanity. It reminds me of the is forced to choose perfection of the life, or time I fell in love. you neglect something else. of the work.” When I get back from a long trip, I notice We went ahead. It’s the only music video
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