Robert Larkin
2017 SOUND TECHNICIAN AWARD WINNER
About Bob
When I was 6 or 7 years old, I remember getting in trouble a lot for touching my mom's guitar. By the time I was 10, I had learned some guitar from my Aunt Nancy, who played in a country band.
In 4th grade, I joined a chorus and band and made All- County chorus in 6th and 7th grade. In 8th grade, I decided to drop band and joined "The Black Knights", marching with them for five years.
During high school, I took some music theory classes and was in a couple of bands. I always set up and ran the PA systems. I picked up on the sound systems, I think, from my Uncle Redd. I helped him move equipment for his bands, "The InnKeepers" and "Equinox".
In 1979, I joined the Navy and found my way to the ship's rock band, again the PA system was my job.
I came back to Oswego in 1982 and worked as a Light Tech for Sneaker Star. I also learned more about the PA system.
By 1985, I had given up the thought of a music career, got a construction job, moved to Philadelphia, and was married in 1986. A friend found me a crew job and I worked for "Pink Floyd"! Wow, it was then that I knew what I wanted to do.
The recession brought us back home to Oswego, in November of 1990. Chris Ellerd called me in January of 1991 and asked if I wanted to help move the PA system gear and run it. Assuring me that he would teach me what I needed to know. That band was Frostbit Blue, and so it begins.
It's twenty- six years later and I look at all I've done. There's been 500 plus different bands, 1,000 plus shows. It's hard work and long hours but I wouldn't change a thing. It's the reason I'm here, I still get the same feeling I always got.
Thanks to all the bands, venues, and people I've met. I got to work with lots of great musicians, some, pretty well known. I've traveled up and down the East Coast and far into the Midwest with Toys in the Attic, Blind Man Sun, Beatlemania NOW, Hotel California, The Drifters, Joey Dee and the Starliters, Peter Frampton and locally with Frostbit Blue, Johnny Vegas, Doc Apple, Moe, Dr. Boogie, Off the Reservation, Pegasus, Critics. What fun I've had being a part of great music for almost three decades.
Let the music play!
Thomas "Tommy" Ciappa
2017 ENTERTAINMENT AWARD WINNER
VOCALIST
About Tom
Tom Ciappa was born at six foot two inches tall and 185 pounds. Over the years gravity and food have not been kind to his stature, Vertically or Horizontally. This has never prohibited from having a song running continuously in his life. From singing with numerous bands in Oswego from The Honeymooners , Fission, Live Lobsters, or The Cortini Brothers to singing Nationally with ACME VOCALS A Cappella group, singing has always been part of his life. When Tom isn’t singing he can usually be found speaking alone in his basement through a microphone and hoping someone on the other end will hear and hire him. Tom has been lucky to make his livelihood using his voice since 1991 doing voiceover work. If you listen hard you can hear him trying to get you buy One A Day Vitamins, Dominos Pizza and other products that will make your life better than you ever thought it could be. If you need your table cleared just let him know and he’ll get to it after he’s done singing.
country showmen
2017 Entertainment Award Country Group
2017 ENTERTAINMENT AWARD WINNER
COUNTRY GROUP
About The Country Showmen
The group was formed in 1971 and consisted of Bill Favata (lead vocals/ guitar), Jim Yeager (lead guitar/ vocals), Jim Thompson (drums), and Al Thompson (bass guitar).
Members of the group grew up in Oswego, New York and since a very early age shared many of the same interest, playing music and attending the same schools.
Since forming the group in 1971, playing regularly in many different venues throughout the eastern US and having competed in several group competitions and successfully taking top honors. The largest being in April of 1973 (The Eastern States Country Music, Inc.) where the group took 1st place in the regionals and to go on to capture the finals. There they met Carl Strube Management and was introduced to the recording field and successfully recorded several songs.
Unfortunately in 1977, an accident took the life of Bill Favata. Trying to keep it together after many attempts we couldn't go on.
Country Showmen: Memorabilia
Country Showmen
Country Showmen
Billy & the barrons
2017 Entertainment Award Rock n Roll Group
2017 ENTERTAINMENT AWARD WINNER
ROCK N ROLL GROUP
About Billy & The Barons
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.
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 & The Barons Photos
Billy & The Barrons
Billy Cook
Billy Cook
Billy Cook
Jack Henderson, Rest In Peace 2018