Dick Guyer

2017 Entertainment Award Jazz

1950-High School Years 16 yrs. old my first group: Mark Murphy (vocals), Richard “Fibber” Curtiss (drums) & myself (tenor sax)

1951 17 yrs. old played for Jazz clubs in Syracuse, NY

1952-U.S.A.F. in Reno NV 18 yrs. old while enlisted in the U.S.A.F in Reno, NV played in their band; a 15 pc band w/ a vocalist. Also played with a 5 pc band for small clubs in the Reno, NV area During this time also had opportunities to play with Big Bands; Count Basie, John Long & Charlie Spevak

1953-stationed in Korea during Korean War Landed in Korea on Christmas Day 1953 and there 10 months until war ended Played in the U.S.A.F band for the troops when not on duty guarding troops.

1970-for 30 yrs. played w/ a variety of groups;
*Eddie Goodness Quartet

*Mickey Vindette’s Goodtime Band (last 10 yrs.)

*Joe Cortini Sr.

*Joe Cortini Jr.

Including various local groups from: *Oswego (Dr. Boogie)

*Syracuse

*Turning Stone w/ Jerry Coli

Newest Group 2017: Sweet Soul Project

About Hugh

The next time you hear the ceremonial trumpets at Torchlight or Commencement, you can thank Hugh Burritt.

Burritt, the former chair of the Music Department, is responsible for bringing music to SUNY Oswego ceremonies. The herald trumpets that play during public ceremonies are the original ones he bought 40 years ago.

Initially, the trumpets were only used for graduation. They were then added to Commencement Torchlight in May, and later used during Welcoming Torchlight in the fall.

“These ceremonial trumpets you don’t just go downtown and buy,” Burritt said. “I had a dealer I did business with. He was able to get a hold of these horns for me.”

Before Burritt spent 20 years with the music faculty at SUNY Oswego, he taught band to hundreds of children in the Oswego City School District. One of those students, Stan Gosek, would succeed Burritt as chair of the music department.

Burritt taught by day and played at night. Burritt’s talent with the trumpet led to acceptance to the elite Julliard School, and later to gigs with Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra.

Burritt had a love for jazz and played weekly gigs at the Three Rivers Inn in Phoenix, N.Y., during the 1950s and early ’60s. He also arranged for musicians to back up the top-shelf singers.

“We put together the band,” Burritt said. “They would tell us how many musicians they wanted. They all had their own books they carried around. We’d get the bands together and play these shows that would run for a week and a half.”

Burritt came to SUNY Oswego in 1968 to teach brass and basic music theory. He quickly brought his love for jazz to the department, creating the Jazz Lab Band, which the next year became Solid State.

Solid State performed popular shows downstairs at Hewitt Union in a venue called the Rathskeller. Designed and built by students, the Rathskeller included multiple seating levels, professional-grade stage and sound, murals and a bar.

Burritt also collaborated with the late Jim Soluri, who directed Oswego’s Statesingers. The two groups thrilled audiences for years by performing original arrangements of rock, jazz, gospel and show tunes.

Burritt made lifelong friendships at Oswego, perhaps most importantly his wife, Grace Mowatt, whom he met through working on the public ceremonies committee. Grace taught physical education and was the women’s swimming and diving coach.

Together, they endowed a scholarship. The Hugh and Grace Mowatt Burritt Scholarship goes to a student who is a member of a music performance organization on campus or to a wellness management major, a health science minor or a student involved in a campus organization or team, club or intramural sports.

The Burritts stay in touch with many former students, and their hope was that the scholarship would help future Oswego students to afford college. The relationships with people made the time at Oswego special, Hugh said.

“That’s my fondest memory,” Burritt said. “The students, the musicians, the concerts we put together. We had some pretty thrilling events.”

-Edwin Acevedo M’09
Permission granted by: Margaret Spillett

Listen to Hugh

Rock 'n' Roll

Billy & The Barons

Dave Rebeor, deceased (lead guitar)

Ray Smith (bass)

Billy Cook, deceased (lead vocalist/ guitar)

Kenny Germain, deceased (sax)

Jack Henderson (drums)

Gary Illingworth, deceased (piano)

Billy and The Barons were formed in 1960, featuring Billy Cook as lead singer and rhythm guitar. Gary Illingworth, piano and vocals, Dave Rebeor, lead guitar, Ray Smith, bass guitar and vocals, Ken Germain, tenor sax and Jack Henderson, drums. The band was fronted by, Ray Smith.

The band played in Oswego, for high school dances, at various venues, including Christ Church, St. Joseph’s Hall, OHS gymnasium and others. The band enjoyed a successful summer at Sylvan Beach and playing weekends at the Fishnet Inn.

One event Billy and The Barons played at was the “Hollywood Premiere”, a variety show staged at the Oswego Theatre sponsored by D.G. Sorority.

In 1960 or 61 radio station WSGO went on the air with a studio at Hotel Pontiac, Oswego. Owner, Clifford Harris, decided to have the band perform live on air, at a weekly dance party from the Christal Ballroom at Hotel Pontiac. Local teenagers were in attendance to dance. The program was sponsored by, Coca Cola. It ran for two or three weeks until union troubles forced it’s cancellation.

In 1961 the band participated in a “Battle of the Bands Contest”, hosted by WNDR DJ “Dandy Dan Leonard” at 3 Rivers Inn. The contest was judged by celebrities, Bobby Comstock, Connie Francis, and Stan Celest. It ended in a tie between Billy and The Baron’s, and a band from S.U.. Both bands were awarded a session at Ripposo Recording Studios, in Syracuse, and a KISS from Connie Francis. They chose two songs written by Billy “Thinkin Bout You” and “Return Romance”. They were issued 45 RPM demo discs.

Later that year, the band recorded a second demo at a Rochester studio. This time they chose two instrumentals. A bluesy rendition of the old standard, “I Love Paris” featuring Ken Germain on sax and “Twistin with Josh”. The demos were played on the air at WNDR and by John Sullivan, who had a DJ show at WSGO. Neither of the records were ever published.

The band broke up sometime in 1962. Billy Cook died tragically of heart problems, in September of 1970. Both Dave Rebeor and Ken Germain passed away in 1997. Gary Illingworth died in 2013.

Dick Guyer

2017 Entertainment Award Jazz

Dick Guyer Photos

Hugh Burritt

2017 Educator Award

Hugh Burritt Photos & Memorabilia

Hugh Burritt Audio

Rock 'n' Roll

Billy & The Barons

Billy & The Barrons