Entertainment Award: Rock 'n' Roll: F5 (Hoffman)

Manny began playing guitar at around 10 years old after listening to his uncle’s stories of witnessing the original Woodstock and eventually watching him set fire to and smash his acoustic guitar. This led to a fascination, and a lot of experimentation, with the weird and wonderful sounds that an electric guitar could make.

He started to take his guitar playing more seriously during the hair metal heyday of the ‘80s. His influences would range from Hendrix, Page and SRV to Vanhalen, Gary Moore, John Sykes, Greg Howe and most every other guitar hero of the day. 

The band "Skorcher" was formed shortly after buying his first “real” guitar. They tore up the local garage and basement band scene with a mix of hard rock covers and originals. The music was characterized by a unique, for the time, use of drop tuning long before it was popular…mainly because it made playing chords much easier!! "Skorcher" is currently re-recording their original music as well as continuing to write new music. It is an enduring passion project that proves music can unite souls and forge friendships that last a lifetime.

Moving on to college Manny played in a variety of cover bands including: "White lightning" and the original hard rock band "Altered States". He eventually settled in the music capital of NY, Syracuse. He started playing locally in classic and hard rock cover bands in 2005 in "Bad Alice" and "Free Reign" in 2007. In 2009 bigger stages came when he joined hair metal tribute band "3 Inch Fury". The opportunity to open for and share the stage with such acts as Skid Row, Cinderella, Stryper, Warrant and Bret Michaels gave him invaluable experience playing for much larger crowds and provided insight into how professional bands perform and operate on tour. 

In 2011 he formed the Journey tribute band “Infinity” as well as an all original metal-core project called "Dead Before Dawn" with Bill Ali (Scars and Stripes) and Kevin Brennan (Cry to the Blind). Successful classic and modern rock bands "Bratz and Blondz" and "Tangled Grace" followed in 2012-2014.  

Manny joined the local Alice in Chains tribute band "Them Bones" in 2016 in which he still currently plays. "Them Bones" has shared the stage with Tool tribute legends "Schism" as well as playing the local music festival Fox Fest. 

In 2019 Manny was asked to join the mighty "F5" and was thrilled to be able to work with a great group of veteran musicians and continue to play prominent gigs such as the State Fair and Fox Fest and Oswego’s Harbor Fest.

In addition to "F5" his other current projects include the Rochester based modern rock band "Dangerous Beauty" which recently had the honor of opening for former Black Sabbath drummer, Vinny Appice on his Sabbath/Ronnie James Dio tribute tour. 

He also writes and records with the original modern metal project "Eyes of Odin" who will be releasing their first CD later this year. 

Manny would like to thank all the musicians he has shared the stage with through the years and cherishes the friendships made that all share that common love of playing and performing live music. He is extremely honored and proud to be inducted into the Oswego Music Hall of Fame. 

Matthew McGiff was born in Oswego, NY on March 9th, 1982, to James and Eileen McGiff. Matt’s parents introduced him to great music at a young age. He was exposed to classic rock by his parents and enjoyed artists such as Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and The Who. 

As Matt grew older, he began to listen to the contemporary music of the 1990’s. It was at this point that Matt knew he wanted to play the electric guitar. At the age of 12 Matt received his first electric guitar as a Christmas gift from his parents. He has not stopped playing since. 

As a young man, Matt spent many afternoons at A&J music playing whatever guitars were in stock and enjoying the company of Jim Thompson, Dave Wolever, John Bletch and Jim Eckert. It was here,  where that Matt received encouragement to explore opportunities to play at local open mic nights and begin playing with other musicians. 

After playing at many open mic nights with John Bletch, John referred Matt to Don Beshures, the leader of "F5", who at the time was looking for a lead guitarist. After 2 auditions and a couple of gigs, Matt was offered the job as the lead guitarist of "F5". Matt occupied this role for nearly two decades with a brief hiatus to complete his education. Matt played hundreds of shows with Don and the rest of "F5". 

Matt considers this to be a tremendously fun and educational experience as musician. Matt still plays locally with his current band "Infinity", works as a special education teacher at Mexico High School, and enjoys spending time with his wife Jess and their son Jimi.

Jason started off singing when he was around 4 years old, Listening to  Ozzy in his brothers room.  This transitioned to his 1st original band  "Somber" when he was in his teens. 

When he attended college in Oswego he  was approached to sing in the band "Malachai", which saw continued success  for over 12 years. Covering more of the heavy spectrum of music. Bands  like Slipknot, Soulfly, Type O Negative etc. After "Malachai" broke up he  started an acoustic duo with the late PJ Wise called "Pagenine". They  played all over CNY for 10 years. 

After that Jason recorded with some of  the members from "Somber" called "After X". Within that time frame Jason  was asked to sing for "F5" which he has been an active member for 11 years. They have played all over from bars, clubs to festivals.  

His  current endeavors consist of "F5", "Them Bones" (Alice in Chains) tribute,  and his original metal band "Ancient Crown", who has just recorded their  1st album. 

Jason is honored and humbled to be inducted into the Oswego  Music Hall of Fame.

 Aaron’s musical journey started in the early 1980s in Oswego with an Ibanez electric guitar and a small practice amp that was a birthday present. Aaron never took formal guitar lessons but leaned by ear by listening to bands such as Black Sabbath, Rush, Judas Priest and Van Halen. In the mid to late 80s Aaron moved to the west coast when he was 18 to pursue the dream of becoming a famous rock-star. 

He arrived in Portland, Oregon only to discover that he was the littlest minnow in the biggest sea of sharks that were all there for the same thing. After working hard playing in various unknown bands for some years Aaron decided to travel with the end goal of returning to Oswego if he didn’t get that “big break’.  

Years later, back in his hometown, and after lots of musical influences and stage experience Aaron and some local friends started an all original metal band called “Oblique”. A few years later, Aaron and fellow musician Patrick Odett and drummer Charles Robbins formed a cover band that performed all the “NU Metal” hits of the late 90’s and early 2000s, with songs by Korn, Coal Chamber, Slipknot, Godsmack, Disturbed and other popular K-rock radio hits at the time. The band’s popularity lasted for over 12 years. During this time Aaron joined the “The Betty Lee Trio” for a short time.  The trio performed at the 2001 Syracuse Blues Fest and other various festivals. 

Aaron switched gears again in an attempt to broaden his musical genre spectrum and joined an original Oswego punk rock band called “Hospital Truck”.  Some years later (2018) Aaron Joined a Syracuse area Alice in Chains Tribute through communication with past “Malachai” band-mate Jason Learo. During this time Aaron joined “F5” as the newest guitar player. The decision to add a second guitar player opened up a whole new world of song opportunities. 

During the past several years Aaron has been the bass player for 1970’s hard rock cover band “Headfirst”, and is the current bass player for “Them Bones” (Alice In Chains Tribute) and current guitar player in “F5”.  

Bio for John Wilson 

Jwilso10@twcny.rr.com

Playing with both “F5” with Don Beshures and “In The Flesh” with Jim Eckert

Joined F5 in 2016 

Helped start “In The Flesh – A Pink Floyd tribute” in 2022

John Wilson   Drums - Percussion

· Over 40 years performing and touring

· 15 years Drum and bugle corp. – Marching and Teaching

· Band Credits - Jolly Roger; YKK; Toys In The Attic; The Corporation; F5 (currently) 

In The flesh – A Pink Floyd Tribute (currently)

· Opening Credits – Skid Row; Foghat x 2; The Rods; The Cult/Metallica

Tom Guernsey, 61 and a native of Oswego, grew up in a musical family. By the time he graduated high school in 1979, the new synthesizer sounds of the 70's had intrigued him and sparked a curiosity with electronics and music. It wasn't long before the guitar sounds of Tom Scholz and Tony Iommi called him to buy that first electric guitar.

In 1980, he found himself in his first band, Prophesy. Being all "Rush" fans, they immediately began trying to emulate songs from Moving Pictures and Permanent Waves. With 80's metal on the rise, Tom's influences expanded to include bands like Judas Priest and Dio to Ratt and Dokken. Before long, he hooked up with "Jolly Roger", which was just beginning to come together.

Fully immersed in the desire to play guitar, Tom then rejoined an expanded "Prophesy" to form "Zoot Suit". "Zoot Suit", playing a wide range of popular hits, began playing the college circuit in the early to mid 80's. The band experienced great success for several years. Tom finally left "Zoot Suit" and that's when he met up with Don Beshures.

Don and Tom decided to form a new band they called "Mr. Volta". Together with drummer Billy Ferraro, "Mr Volta" picked up local steam playing everywhere from The Strand in Watertown to opening for Benny Mardones at Coleman's in Rome. Not all bands last forever but, Tom and Don were determined to keep rocking and thus, "F5" was born. Doing a variety of classic and modern hits of the time, Tom became adept at changing musical styles both in his playing and his sound as the collection of effects pedals grew.

 In the early 90's, opportunity came knocking and Tom left "F5" to join the nationally touring Aerosmith tribute act "Toys In The Attic". "Toys In The Attic" toured up and down the eastern and mid-west states playing A clubs and venues everywhere. During this time, Tom was able to refine his chops and stage presence and took quickly to performing for large crowds.

 Tom left "Toys In The Attic" in 1998 when his son Shane was born. He took a job with a microelectronics company in Syracuse. Tom excelled in the electronics position and quickly became a Deptartment Supervisor. But, the urge to play never goes away and Tom found himself back with Don in "F5". "F5" began playing regularly and the loyal fan base kept getting bigger. Tom enjoyed several years of great rocking times with "F5" until a member departed and Tom went on sabbatical from the music scene.

Currently, Tom still plays in his home recording studio. He uses Superior Drummer III to program drum tracks that sound like a real drummer. He then adds bass tracks, guitar tracks and keyboard tracks to create whatever kind music strikes his fancy. Tom keeps saying he will return to playing live in retirement which is planned to begin Jan 1, 2024. We shall see.