Joseph Trionfero

How God got me into the Hall of Fame

Well, it’s official: after 50 years of performing in the music and entertainment business, I am being inducted into the Oswego Music Hall of Fame. I’ll be honest; it feels good. I am honored, and it does make me proud. If I’m being really honest, I am very surprised to receive this invitation and honor. You see, I gave up on the idea of this happening a long time ago as I had come to terms with the reality that it just wasn’t meant to be for me and my unusual career.

Stage 1. Side by Side. In the 60’s and 70’s, I played guitar and sang in a few bands, most notably in Side by Side with Paul Vandish. Paul and I achieved a pretty good level of success, and in fact, we made a pretty decent living out of it. My goal was to make money while having fun. Although Paul was (and still is) a great singer and very gifted at the keyboards, I was an “ok”  singer and a decent rhythm guitar player. I understood that I wasn’t “Hall of Fame material.” (Paul, is for sure) However, what I did bring to the table (stage) was fun! At this time, I realized my true gift was to spotlight people and to be an ENTERTAINER. I honed my skills at this with Side by Side while playing thousands of shows (for the better part of a decade) as Paul and I were performing 4-6 nights a week. People would come out to watch us and be part of the fun!

Stage 2. JTS Music In the 80’s and 90s. I needed to make Money, and lots of it. Side by Side had run into a brick wall as Paul and I both knew in order to grow or even sustain our success we needed to expand our market. We needed to live on the road. We both chose security as he had a wonderful opportunity with Oswego Hospital, and I had five kids with no job in sight. JTS Music was born out of complete necessity. I came up with the idea that the “DJ” concept could succeed, if not thrive, with an entertainer or emcee as a frontman. That idea catapulted me into a very lucrative business model. JTS Music has done thousands of weddings and parties for over  20 years. This further allowed me to develop into a true ENTERTAINER while making money. Again, obviously, this was not the path nor the ticket into “The Oswego Music Hall of Fame.”

Stage 3. Show of Love. In the 90’s, something changed. I changed. You could say I had become a master at my craft and thus quite successful. However, I had no idea what would come next. God, somehow, found me. As much as I tried to hide, “he” found all my favorite hiding places. My Mom did open my eyes one day (realizing my head was up my butt). She reminded me, “Remember, whatever you do well is a gift from God. What you do with it is your gift to God.” I WAS ON FIRE. I used every gift, resource and connection I had to work for my faith and to do God’s work. Since 1990, I have traveled  NY State extensively doing over 4300 school shows as a motivational speaker (an inspirational entertainer). The Golden Rule was always my message in one form or another. (I have also performed over 3000 shows at senior homes statewide) Was I an educator? Fast forward 35 years, and now I get recognized and inducted into my hometown’s Music Hall of Fame under the category of Educator. Now, isn’t that something?

In closing, isn’t it funny how things work out? It was at that moment that I decided it was more important for me to make a difference than make a living when God showed me the plan and gave me the POWER! The moment I no longer needed the recognition was when I got recognized. 

Thank you, God, for getting me here and showing me the way. Thanks to the Oswego Music Hall of Fame for listening to “him” and letting me in. I am grateful to you and to him!

My musical career started in 3rd grade when I walked a different way home from school. I came upon a house with a sign in the window: “Piano lessons.” I walked to and knocked on the door. A nice lady answered. I asked her how much for piano lessons? I excitedly went home and told my mother. I began with eight or nine years of classical piano training. For the last year, Mrs. Anthony taught me all about chord Structures. This opened the door for me to play rock and roll without sheet music in front of me. Armed with a Farfisa compact organ And an Ampeg B-18 amplifier, which my aunt Mary bought for me, I auditioned for the local band The Shadowman. Bob Harris, the drummer, said, “Pat, whenever you wanna take a solo, how to do that at the time go for it.”


I wasn't sure at the time how to do that. I went home and practiced long and hard. I finally mastered it.


The band later traveled to New York City to compete in Macy's Battle of the Bands. We won the deal to record a record.


As time went on, I played with many other bands. In Oswego, most notably,Tangerine,
Crystal Ship, and many others. Playing on many stages, including the Carrier Dome, and
Stay tuned with my good friend, Sam Domicolo, at the floating barge stage for HarborFest. A highlight of my career was playing at the Thousand Islands Music Festival in front of 13,000 people.


One day after I got married, my new wife learned what it was like to be married to a
musician - beginning with that Northern NY stage. Needless to say, I've been single for
many decades.


Of all the bands and musicians I have played with, I have learned something from each and
every one of them. Music education never ends. It is a lifelong endeavor. I hope that
many learned something from me. Even at the age of 76, I am still learning and will
continue to do so. I am humbly honored to be inducted into The Oswego Music Hall of
Fame.


Thank you very much.

First and foremost, I am so proud and privileged to be accepting this Oswego Music Hall of Fame Enrichment award. I am very grateful for all my bands for the great times that brought me
here today.


I started learning guitar in 1959, until I was asked to play bass in 1960. Bud Murray asked me to join “The Thunderbirds” as their bass player. The Thunderbirds lineup included Tommy Batchelor, Duane Wilson, Joey Spereno. This band lasted until 1963.


During my high school years, Me and my Rock and Roller musician friends, asked Lenny Lambert, the band director at the Oswego High School, if we could join the school band. He
said, “There will be no dam guitars in my band!” While I was still in high school, I took a music theory from Beryl Lewis Hill. That was the best move, me and fellow musicians ever took: Gigzy Illingworth, Bud Murray, Sam Domicolo, Billy Musacchio, Gary Staford, and Jimmy Losurdo along with others.


I left for active duty in the US Navy in 1963. I was lucky enough to sit in to play with a band while I was stationed in France. After two years being stationed in France, I returned home in 1966. I started playing the bass again with Buddy, Duane, Steve Calin and Fred Lewis from “WSEN” in a country band.


In 1968 Buddy Murray got a call from Fred Gerco looking for a lead guitar player. I asked Buddy if he needed a bass player and keyboard player in the group. I joined Freddy Gerco’s
group with Terry Fistic on drums. This band transformed by 1970 into “Yello Bric Rode”. Pat Hillman was added on keyboard, Jeff Strough on rhythms and vocals and Rick Reynolds on
trombone and vocals. It ended up being as 7-piece band.


1973, I formed “Tangerine” with Fred Gerco, Frank Rowe, Pat Hillman and Billy Barlow. We played six nights a week and times were “good” with that band.


The group “Ginger” was formed in the summer of 1996 bringing together, Jim Dillabough from Oswego on bass; Angelo Vescio from Fulton on Guitar; and Ginger Biganoswki from Phoenix on drums. We definitely “Spice up your rock and roll”. We played in many of the local bars and clubs. As a part of “Ginger”, I played many benefits throughout Central New York. I loved play St Luke’s and Michaud’s Nursing home. We would play at each facility a couple of times each year.


In the fall of 2008, Ginger had to take time off for health reasons and Dan Batchelor played drums but left after a year or so. Dan was the person who came up with the our new band name
after Ginger left to “Jimmy D and the Jury”. Darrell Hunt came up with the phrase &quote;The Verdict’s in, Let’s Rock and Roll.” “Jimmy D and the Jury” specialized in rock and roll, country and easy listening with all the tunes being dance-able.  Ginger did come eventually return to the band. “Jimmy D and the Jury” played together for 27
years.


In 2010, I was a founding member of “Long Time Coming” or “LTC” with Bill “Fuzzy” Wiltsie, Joey Stock, Billy Endres. There was a change of personnel over 14 years which included Bobby Larkin, Steve Watson, Joe Conzone. Unfortunately, the group disbanded in November of 2024.


Thank you to all the great musicians who pulled me up. When you play with better musicians, you get better yourself! My job was to sit in the “pocket” and feel the “groove”. I’ve always said,“I’m just the bass player, less is more”.

In 1959 I heard the “Twin Stoppers” at a block party outside Oswego City Hall for the first time.  I heard and felt the bass guitar; said to myself “that’s what I want to do”.  Approached Frank Rowe of the “Thunderbirds” and started lessons with him. 
In 1960 Frank left Oswego for the Air Force.  Buddy Murray, guitar player and then leader of the “Thunderbirds” asked if I wanted to continue lessons and be the bass player for the “Thunderbirds”.  Buddy worked very hard with me.  We approached High School Band and asked if we could play in it with our instruments.  Band director Mr. Lampart said “There will be no dam guitars in my band!”  Although disappointed with his answer, we still didn’t give up.  We asked Mrs. Berl Hill, music theory teacher, if we could join her class.  Wow!  What an experience!   Half my classmates were Rock and Rollers.  Thank you, Mrs. Hill.
I left for active duty in the Navy in July 1963 and returned home February 1966.  Joined the country music scene with Buddy Murray, Duane Wilson and Fred Lewis until 1968 when Buddy and I started to play with Freddy Greco.   I stayed with Fred until 1977 with “Yellow Brick Road” and “Tangerine.”  In 1977 I stopped playing to take a job at Miller Brewery for seven years.  “I learned money doesn’t buy happiness.”  I wanted to play! 
I got back with Buddy Murray and Fred Greco with the “Rolling Rag Tops”.  I then started a trio  “Ginger” whose name later changed to “Jimmy D and the Jury” 23 years ago and still play with this group today and am one of the founding members of “Long Time Coming”.
I have been blessed to be surrounded with such great musicians and friends.  I can never thank the three most important ones:  Frank Rowe, Buddy Murray and Mrs. Beryl Hill.
After all this … I am just the “Bass Player”!