Terry LeRoi

Singer/songwriter Terry LeRoi is honored to be nominated for this year’s Oswego Music Hall of Fame.
Fans and friends may remember him from local & regional bands The Melons, Jolly Roger and Bleed Christine or National Recording Artists Titanium Black (Great Dane Records - produced by legendary Michael Wagener- (Metallica, Ozzy, Queen). 

Terry’s current endeavor, national recording artists Granny 4 Barrel (Warner Brothers/ADA-Produced by legend David Bendeth-(Killswitch Engage, Breaking Benjamin, I Prevail) have recently released three singles (“Freak Flag”, She Likes Guns” and “Nitro Sexy”) and has been touring the US for the past five years. 

Terry is the President, owner and master goldsmith at LeRoi Fine Jewelry and lives in Minetto, NY with his fiance’.
He is an OHS graduate and is proud to be a lifetime Oswego County resident. 

Since 1977 the Mac Brothers Band has been a dominant force on the country music scene in the Central region of New York State.  A mainstay at the area's premier country music nightspot, Phoenix, New York's Carvell's Roadhouse, the band's consistent popularity has ridden the highs and lows of country music and in 1988 reached a pinnacle as champion of the Statewide Country Music Association Festival of Bands Competition.  They were awarded performance opportunities at Nashville's Opryland Hotel and The Hunter Mountain Fest in New York's Catskill Mountains and won fans in both places.  They followed those landmark live successes with release of their 2nd album "With Strings Attached", a striking example of the band's versatile, Honky-Tonk style.  

The Mac Brothers Band have shared the stage with such name acts as Randy Travis, Tammy Wynette, Billy Walker, The Whites, Dave Dudley, Charlie Pride, and Dottie West in their 12 years and have sent one member, steel guitarist Buck Reid, to Nashville as a member of the John Andersons band.  Their successes and accomplishments also include begin named best band by New York State Country Music Association in 1978 and by Printers Alley Possum Holler Club in 1980.  

But star performers and trophies aren't what the bands about.  The Mac Brothers have made their corner of the world a 2-stepping, hand- clapping, good time haven for country music fans from all over- With Strings Attached.

Bio from: NYS Country Music Association 1988 Band of the Year booklet, author unknown.

A respected veteran of 36 years of singing and playing, Freddie McLean has made 1988  and 1989 landmark years in his musical career.  The current Mac Brothers band is the culmination of the enviable career of the Mexico, NY resident who played with pop group Tommy James and The Shondells in the 60's before returning home to build one of the most popular and successful country acts in the area's musical history.

In addition to the release of the groups second album "With Strings Attached", McLean was named the Statewide Country Music Association's Best Male Vocalist, and was runner-up for Best Instrumentalist in the annual competition won by his band in 1988.  He was honored by Eastern States Country Music Inc. as Best Male Vocalist in 1974 and 1976 and by New York's Country Music Association as Best Male Vocalist in 1978.  Also proficient on fiddle, mandolin, harmonica, bass and piano, the widely known McLean was inducted into the Statewide CMA's Hall of Fame in 1988.  

The influences of Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings are evident in McLean's rich vocals, heart-felt, working-man blues style and sparkling showmanship.  

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Bio from: NYS Country Music Association 1988 Band of the Year booklet, author unknown.

The sister of Band leader Freddie McLean, Patti's gifted vocal skills and authentic country style set The Mac Brothers Band apart.  Her duets with brother Freddie are among the strongest cuts on "With Strings Attached".  McLean has been honored for both her singing and her songwriting as winner of The Eastern States best female vocalist in 1976 and 1977 as well as a Golden Poet award winner for the song, "Love is a Challenge" in 1987.  McLean composed 3 of the songs on the album and co-wrote a 4th.  A graduate of the Ted Mack Amateur Hour and The Art Linkletter Show, McLean has worked with popular local acts The Claughlin Brothers and Alice Deitrich and has performed with Willie Nelson and Boxcar Willie.  

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I started playing drums at eight years old.  Bands I played with are, K-nife, Tangerine, Patchwork, Ozone, Watson Brothers, Mack Brothers, Country Wine, Blue Starr, Split Image, Halfway to Nowhere, American Eagle, Red Bone, Guerin, Barlow Band, Dam Dog, The Lubercators, Krackers, Domicolo- Barlow.  All my family played music.  


The Mac Brothers was a great band, we played in Syracuse many nights.

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I played in bands for forty years, such as Midnight Hour, Patchwork, Halfway to Nowhere and Whiskey River.  Then I joined the Mack Brothers Band in 1977 and played with them until Freddy McLean passed away.  It was a great band, had so much fun on the way to Nashville for the album recording.  

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My father was a wonderful entertainer who always played Bass guitar,  but all by ear.  He never learned to read music.  He was with Freddy McLean from almost the beginning of the Mac Brothers band and  was well known for playing Ghost riders in the sky.  He loved old  trucks and fast cars.  He enjoyed playing Bass most of all and enjoyed  all the big jams with other bands and the comradery of them all playing  together at the end of the night and having fun.

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The area's youngest active steel guitarist, 23- year old Joey Corbett is also one of it's finest.  For 4 years of the kid from Oswego has lit up the Mac Brothers' live performances with the classic country sound of the alternately whining and jumping steel.  

The area's youngest active steel guitarist, 23- year old Joey Corbett is also one of it's finest.  For 4 years of the kid from Oswego has lit up the Mac Brothers' live performances with the classic country sound of the alternately whining and jumping steel. Corbett's authentic style comes from training with veteran picker Chub Shortsleff and 10 years of experience with his instrument.  Gifted with talent beyond his years, Corbett has landed the enviable position of studio musician at Lakeside Studios in Sacketts Harbor working with country star/ producer Del Reeves. 

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Bio from: NYS Country Music Association 1988 Band of the Year booklet, author unknown.

Syracusan Charlie Fay is a skilled and innovative drummer who has kept a steady beat for such national headliners as Lee Greenwood, Waylon Jennings, Joe Stampley, Moe Bandy, Dave and Sugar, Boxcar Willie and Charlie Rich.  The Mac Brothers Band solidified with the addition of Charlie in the Spring of 1987 as he brought with him the energy and touch he had developed in a varied career which has included local experience with The Wolf Mountain Band, Deperado and The Jesse Derringer Show as well as recording with Foghat and Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs.  Charlie's tender voice and natural talent for harmonizing also contribute to "With Strings Attached".  

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In the early 70's he was playing rock & roll with a group called Ed Ozone Band.  Then in 1975 I sat in with The Mac Brothers and fell in love with country music.  This turned into a twenty-five year wonderful experience.  We played everywhere in New York, all Firemen's Field-days and almost every bar in Oswego, Jefferson and Oneida Counties.  We also made three shows on channel 5 called "Dialog".

Then in 1980 we spent two weeks in Nashville, TN working in George Jones Possum Holler Club;  for fanfare week backing up people no one knew yet.  Such people as Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, and Randy Travis, it was such a great experience.

After 1983 I left the Mac Brothers and started a group called Running on Empty; playing most of the time as a house band at Scriba Town Tavern.  I retired from playing in 1985.  I'm still playing as a fill in for bands who need a drummer like American Eagle band, etc.

Born and raised in the small town of Sandy Creek in upstate NY... Buck's first inspiration to play pedal steel guitar came from his dad when he was 11 years old. His dad(James), a well known steel guitarist in the northeast for 40 plus years, also provided some six string guitar and basic theory instruction and insisted that he work on those two things for a couple of years before taking on pedal steel. His dad was also a huge Ernest Tubb fan and from those records he first learned of Buddy Emmons and Buddy Charleton.

It was then he decided what he wanted to do and dreamed of moving to Nashville one day. Those two great players along with Lloyd Green, Pete Drake, Doug Jernigan and Curly Chalker were his early influences. 

He began playing with well know local favorites "Freddie Mclean and the Mac Brothers" and "Mike White and the Sliter Brothers". At age 15 and would travel to Wheeling, W.VA. once or twice a year to play on the famous "Wheeling Jamboree" radio show . Needless to say it was quite a thrill for a 15 year old kid. Around the time he graduated from high school, the group signed with a booking agency based out of Detroit, MI and traveled around the country performing.

During one of their frequent stops in Detroit, Buck was offered a position with popular locals "Kansas City Southern" and moved there soon after, playing six and seven nights a week. A couple of years later while living and working in Detroit, resident friend and guitarist, Vern Pilder told Buck about a job opening in Nashville with a new country singer named John Anderson. After a few phone calls, an audition... which consisted of riding around with the band for a few days to see if everyone could get along, he was offered the job and moved to Nashville in 1982. The childhood dream of moving to Nashville had come true! 

After touring and recording with John for 8 years, Buck went on to either tour or record with many artist's such as... Rob Crosby, Martin DelRay, Bailey and The Boys, Chely Wright, Michelle Wright, Keith Urban and The Ranch, Jerry Kilgore, Matt King, Sting, Marcus Hummon, South 65, Farmers Daughter, Confederate Railroad, Third Day, Cindy Lou Harrington, Bill Anderson, Mark Miller of Sawyer Brown, LeAnn Rimes, Dierks Bentley and is currently approaching his 20th year with Lyle Lovett and his Large Band.

In 2006 and 2007, Buck added two major motion picture sound tracks to his credits due in large part to his association with drumming legend Russ Kunkel, who also has been touring with the "Large Band" for the past few years. Buck and several other "Large Band" members collaborated with L.A. session musicians and legendary film score producer, James Newton Howard, to work on the movie sound tracks for: RV (Runaway Vacation) - Sony/Columbia Pictures and Charlie Wilson's War - Universal Pictures. Buck say's it was a great and humbling experience and recalls thinking... "Hollywood is a long way from Sandy Creek, NY". 

Just like any other story, there have been hard times and Nashville can be a tough place. Luckily, Buck has always had a liking for the mechanical side of the Pedal Steel, due in large part to the fact that where he grew up there wasn't anyone nearby to "fix" things if something broke or needed tweaking, and also due to the fact that his Dad was also a part time gunsmith and passed on some his "handyman" knowledge. 

So... when work involving touring or recording would slow down, Buck would keep himself busy helping others with repairs and/or restorations and for several years could be seen at one of Bobbe Seymour's shops off and on to lend a hand. Buck has also worked with friends and fellow musicians, Duane Marrs and Jimmie Crawford taking things a step farther with assisting in designing and building pedal steel guitars. 

Buck has built two personal guitars for himself which are... a Marr's in the mid 90's and a JCH in 2001. Jimmie and Buck built the JCH together and is currently Buck's main guitar. All in all, Buck feels lucky and says... " Regardless of whether I'm playing steel or working on one, It's what I enjoy. I consider myself to be very fortunate to have met so many great people. I hope it continues for a long time! " 

1975-1980: Worked with local Upstate New York favorites.  "Mike White & the Sliter Brothers" and "Freddie McLean & the Mac Brothers".

1982-1990: Toured and recorded with country artist John Anderson.

1990-1993: Toured and recorded with several artists including... Rob Crosby, Bailey & The Boys, Martin DelRay, Keith Urban, Marcus Hummon, Michelle Wright, Chely Wright, South 65, Confederate Railroad, Jerry Kilgore, Kevin So, Emmy Lou Harris and a few others.

1993-Present: Toured and recorded with Lyle Lovett and his Large Band.  Also during this time I've preformed cameo appearances with Sting, ACM Award Show with LeAnn Rimes and worked movie sound tracks for the movies "RV" with Robin Williams and Jeff Daniels and "Charlie Wilson's War" with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.

I currently have one solo CD which can be found on my website along with pictures and more bio info spanning the last three decades.  Also active in the Still Guitar concert circuit which often times includes classes and teaching seminars.  Check out: www.buckreid.com

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Well, I have been given the task of creating my music biography. It all  started way back in high school over 50 years ago in Red Creek NY. It  all started playing with classmates, Larry Minier, Terry Drum Al Douglas  and Bob Fitzmorace. After that I went into the Navy. After I left the  Navy, I started playing with some friends, Red Osborne and Joe Rose.  From there I played in bands, Nitelife, Tri-County Drifters. It was when  I was playing with Amarillo that I started to really play more.

After  Amarillo, I got the honor and pleasure of playing with Nashville  recording and NYS Hall of Famer “Ronnie Smith,” I then got the chance to  play with such great musicians, such as Ed Steator, Chuck Premo, Johnny  Dugan, Bill Lapara, and Paul Coates. When I was playing with Ronnie  Smith, I had also the great honor of being nominated to the NYS Country  Music Hall of Fame in Cortland NY in 1987. It was through playing with  Ronnie that I got to share the stage with such artists like Charlie  Pride, Loretta Lynn, Ricky Skaggs, Garth Brooks, George Jones, and  others.

After  a few years of playing with Ronnie Smith, I received word that Fred  Mclain was looking for a new drummer for “The Mac Brothers Band”. I took  that opportunity and had the time of my life! There were a few player  changes over the years, but that didn’t stop us from playing good music.  Toward the end of band we had Fred, Joe Corbett, JR Lamb and myself. We  played all over from Fort Drum to Cortland and then some.

Fred  and I tried to keep playing, We had a band called Arizona Wyne, with  Fred Greco, Jimmy Dillabough, Patty (Mclain) Pascarella. Then the  unfortunate happened and Fred had passed away. His music still lives in  my head.

From there I played here and there, finally gave up playing drums and started playing percussion with djembes and other stuff.
And I’m not done yet.

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Bio from: NYS Country Music Association 1988 Band of the Year booklet, author unknown.  
Toscano's inspired craftsman on three different instruments has been a Mac Brothers Band strength for over 4 years and he also applied training and experience as co-producer of "With Strings Attached".  Davis is also the band's engineer on the album and has produced for other various local acts.  Dave's fills, both lead guitar and keyboards, are indispensable to the sounds of the album as well as the stage show as his years of musical education and travels with such musicians as renowned fiddler Hal Casey has enabled Dave to elevate his talent both in the studio and the control room to top-notch status and made him a coveted performer and technician.  

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The Mac Brothers Band was the best.  Freddie and I rocked the country stage.  Many fun nights together.

Bio below from: NYS Country Music Association 1988 Band of the Year booklet, author unknown.

The Mac Brothers Band's newest member has extensive local band experience including work with champion fiddler Hal Casey and the popular variety act The Barons of Boogie.  Horn opened for the Pure Prairie League and The Outlaws as a member of the band Blue Starr in The Thousand Islands Fest.  In just 1-year as The Mac Brothers bassist Horn has added a strong smooth vocal style and a consistent, team-player approach to the band's instrumentation.

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A third generation musician, he spent his formative years working with  his fathers band throughout Central NY. Fate intervened when he began  his tenure with The Mac Brothers, a band he would work with until Fred McLean's untimely passing. The years since have seen J.R. continue making  music culminating with his current band in Tampa, Florida.

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Bio & photo coming soon

George Hoffman known to many radio listeners as, Rolly Jolly George fell in love with radio when he received a transistor radio for Christmas back in 1960.

He was born in, Syracuse and moved to the town of, Albion, where he grew up on a farm, and he took that radio with him everywhere. 

When answering a call in his junior year of school at, APW, about a news job at, WNDR in Syracuse. While there that morning, he met his first DJ in the industry The then “morning man”, Peter C. Cavanaugh ask him what he was there for. George told him,  ‘He wanted to be a radio announcer”, in which, Cavanaugh to this day, still remembers asking him if he needed his head examined.

George was told he would need some practice in enunciating and pronunciation which he worked on. George stayed in contact with personnel at, WNDR and WOLF, buy visiting and helping when he could at record hops. 

After being Honorably Discharged from the US Navy, George got his first full time radio job at, WOSC AM/FM in Fulton. He made so many calls to, Bob Rooney he was hired to do the evening shifts at the Fm Station. Rooney said, “It was the only way to make him stop calling him”. 

Hoffman did the “Best By Request”, show from 10 to midnight in which he took calls and played requests for his listeners, some of whom he made friends with.  He was there when; WKFM went on the air. He also helped do play by play broadcasts of high school sports. He later moved to, WSCP, Pulaski, Sandy Creek, where he was part of the three George’s that worked Saturday morning from 6 to sign-off, before becoming the everyday morning man.  

He enjoyed playing Country music to a large country audience. He spent many hours of devoting himself to the public, by going to stations sponsored shows, and meeting his many listeners. He shared in their happiness and felt their sorrows. 

After working at several stations in Kentucky he came back to WSCP, before doing a brief stint in sales at WOLF and the “Morning Host”, at WKAL in Rome.  George then answered an ad, for an afternoon host at, WSGO AM/FM. There he was hired by two of the nicest people in the business Pat Cahill and the Owner Bob Gessner. After about a year doing afternoons, he was moved up to the, morning spot he also did the news. He enjoyed working with people on a talk show called, “Open Mike”. Getting his show name, Rolly Jolly George in Kentucky, he continued with that name. Enjoying Saturday mornings, when he changed the music to, “all gold” with a program he named, “Saturday Morning of Gold”. George was told by many listeners, that it was a great program on Saturday mornings. Hoffman said, there were many stations doing oldies on a Saturday evenings, he thought Saturday morning was prime for such a program. George met some great radio people at, WSGO including, Bob Hageny (Just Plain Bob), Kevin Velzy (Kevin P---A---U---L), Bill Schlneiz, Johnny Gauge, and Judy Pelow. 

For many years being known as, “The Voice of Oswego”. He was also known as, “The Voice of the Oswego State, Great Laker Hockey Team”, where it was told, he woke many up with his broadcast, with his screaming yell, when the Lakers scored. He became friends with many of the Laker players and coaches. 

George also had his own DJ business known as, “YGH Music” in which he played at many weddings, graduations and parties. Many times, George volunteered his services for benefits, also, volunteering his service at St. Mary’s Bizzare, and has joined up with his longtime friend, Bob Hageny at, St. Steven’s Polish Festival. 

Hoffman has dedicated many countless hours working on Veterans programs. He has served as commander of VFW post 2320, Oswego County Commander and several Positions in the 5th district, working to help veterans in need. He is currently the, Senior Vice Commander, at VFW Post 5885, and the President of the City of Oswego Council. Hoffman has been involved in the Memorial Day Ceremonies in, Oswego for over 20 years organizing the program for the past 22 years. Hoffman has also been involved with the youth as he was a, hockey coach in the Oswego Minor Hockey Association, as well as an assistant coach for the Ontario Bay Storm high school team. 

He also spent many years working with youths in the United States Naval Sea Cadet program. He was the Executive officer at the, Truxton Division in Oswego. He has spent many volunteer hours in these programs and is proud that many of his cadets have gone on to great Naval Careers. 

With everything going on in his life, he has kept his foot in radio as a guest host on the, “Dinosaur Radio Station”, which airs locally, on Thursday morning at, 8:20 here in the area at 103.9, on a feature called, “Everything Oswego”. The program highlights and promotes things of interest going on in Oswego County. George enjoys his new radio colleagues, Nick Caplan the “Caveman”, Tony Falaco, Bob Brown, Chris Wyman, Bretagne Pidgeon, Ron Wray, John Caruccia, and owner, Craig Fox. Upon becoming involved with this group, Hoffman is now known as the, “Dinosaur Navy Vet, George”. 

Today George still volunteers his DJ service at OCO’S annual Bowl- a -Thon fundraiser. Hoffman credits one of his former owners, Steve Sattler, of giving him the confidence of being involved in the local community and considers himself to be proud to be in the, people business. 

Hoffman met his wife, Yukiko while stationed in the Navy at Sasebo, Japan. He asked her to marry him after knowing her for 3 weeks. Friends said, “It would never last, but this Halloween, they will celebrate their 52nd wedding anniversary. They have 3 sons, 7 grandchildren, one great grandchild and one more on the way.

Rose Geraldine Reitz Spinelli, or better known as Rosie, was born to Laura and Phillip Reitz Sr. on March 15 th, 1926. She was a lifetime resident of Oswego, NY. In 1991, Rosie passed unexpectedly due to a brain aneurysm. She was the eldest of her four siblings, Dorothy, Betty, Mary Ann and Phillip (aka Jocko), whom have all passed.

Rosie had a passion for music starting at an early age. Her mother, Laura, received a piano as payment for money owed, and Rosie taught herself how to play it.  Laura would have Rosie play for friends and family when they visited. As the years went on, she continued to play and perfect her skills. As a self-taught musician, she played various genres of music on the piano, organ, and accordion- all by ear.

Like many stars of the day, she was a natural entertainer that loved to put on a show. Some even joked that she reminded them of Ray Charles, because she wore dark glasses. She admired the pianist Liberace for his talent, and also for his stage presence and bling. Rosie took a few notes from his book and loved to wear flashy rings while playing.

One of her favorite pastimes was traveling to the Three Rivers Inn in Phoenix, NY to watch celebrities from the 1950s perform. The famous location on Route 57, eventually grew even closer to Rosie’s heart, as this is where she met her late husband, Robert Spinelli Sr., better known as Spinner. The two were very compatible; they both loved putting on a show. In 1958, Rosie and Spinner started their family with their first daughter Denise. Over the next seven years they went on to have two additional daughters, Roberta and Karen, and one son Robert Jr. All of the Spinelli children were born with the gift of entertainment, just like their parents. Rosie’s family continued to grow in 1989, with the birth of her first grandson Giovanni, whom she loved dearly, and in 2006 with the birth of her second grandson Dillon, whom she would have loved to have met.

Rosie became well known locally in 1968, when her mother opened Laura’s Tavern on East 1st Street. She and her mother were very close, and Rosie loved being able to spend time with her while playing for the patrons of the establishment. Her natural talent was the tavern’s golden ticket to a successful business; everyone always had a ball, singing along whenever she performed. Unfortunately, Laura’s Tavern was closed after it burned down. Years later, Rosie got the chance to entertain again when her brother opened the bar, Jocko’s. At one point, she helped managed the business, where she continued to tickle the ivories for the customers.

Rosie’s passion for music and entertaining was not restricted to her performances at Laura’s Tavern and Jocko’s; she also loved to play at local weddings and family occasions. At home, when her children were bored they would dress up as their favorite singers and sing alongside their mom at the piano. If you were to ask Rosie’s children, one of their favorite memories of their mother, was when she would set up speakers in the windows of their home and they would sing and play piano for the neighbors. Once, they even took requests by phone from those who could hear. Another of their favorite memories, was when they helped their mother put on a block party for the entire neighborhood. There was never a dull moment when Rosie was around; a great time was had by all.

Rosie played in almost every establishment in Oswego; she even dedicated time to play in local nursing homes. She would also travel with fellow musicians to venues in nearby cities. Rosie was well recognized in the areas that she traveled to. The musicians she traveled with were always in awe of her natural talent. They would only need to run a song by her once or twice, and she was able to immediately pick it up and play along.

Rosie’s last claim to fame, was jamming with other musicians at The Cabaret in Oswego, a popular spot for Jazz and Blues music at the time. The owner of the Cabaret, Nancy Rodak, was one of Rosie’s best friends. Nancy loved to sing along and entertain with her. Some of Rosie’s favorite tunes to play were: “It Had to Be You,” “I’m Confessin’ (that I Love You),” “Misty,” and “Unforgettable.”

Rosie was a fantastic mother and musician. She was loved by all, not only for her genuine heart, but also for evoking laughter with her comical nature. Her presence and her music have truly been missed throughout the years, especially by her children.

Rosie is now reunited among the stars with her husband, siblings, and parents gathered around the organ, belting out their favorite tunes…occasionally sneaking away to enjoy her favorite pastime, BINGO!