If you have had a chance to read the most recent Eta Nuz; these pictures were published on the back page. The Actives were hoping that Alumni could help us learn about these pictures: If you know anything please comment on this blog.
posted by Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Eta Nu Chapter @ 3:51 PM
19 comments
Eta Nu Chapter was chartered on May 14, 1956. Its founder was Brother Hermes Paul Turner FSC ('46), who started the chapter as a way to bring together the members of the MariNotes (big band), and the SMC Glee Club. Brother Hermes Paul was the director of both groups, and members of these groups participated jointly in such activities as the Redman Revels, an all-campus variety show that predated the current Blue Angel and Gaslight shows. At the time of the chartering of the chapter, Saint Mary's College enrolled only male students and there was no music department. Brother Paul's membership certificate still hangs in the fraternity room, with the date of the founding of the chapter, as a memento of the beginning of Sinfonia at Saint Mary's.
19 Comments:
Gentlemen, I did not find the picture of my brothers as stated in Eta Nuz. So gentlemen the picture of the four brothers are as follows William "Sweeny" Welsh.( Now with the IRS so pay your taxes)Bass,Dr. Randy "Doc" Merchant(A very smart man, as he loaned the fraternity $200.00 so we could launch Blue Angel 1971)2nd. tenor.Next Paul "Copper" Berra (a very fine Italian cook also my pledge son who I introduced to cable tv)co lead maybe a 2nd tenor but he is could be related to Tony Soprano.Finally Richard (FBB,"Stu" "String" "Dick" Stringham (Mr. Insurance) lead singer and lead guitar. He is also Rick's uncle. the guitar was mine (Stapes) 1959 Gibson Les Paul TV Model other wise known as the "Banana" due to its color. It had Grover tuning pegs 2 top sets so one had to be reversed. The guitar was formerly owned by President H. Edward Chabot. Oh did I mention they were the Moldy Oldy Allstars at least 2 plus seasons.
Fraternally,
Robert (Stapes) Stapleton
Spring class 1971
Thanks Mr. Stapleton for you comments.
Brothers please keep sharing with us!
Stapes, you beat me to it.
While "Stapes" may have given you a lot of the "fluff" he forgot the basic DATA. The picture was taken in 1973. Bill "Sweeney" Welch was class of 76(close counts for Sweeney because he loved college) Randy Merchant was originally class of 74 but finished in three years to graduate with me in 73, Paul Berra and Dick Stringham were class of 74.
The first Moldie Oldie Allstars performed at Gaslight in 1970, which makes this fraternal tradition now 37 years.
George McNichols, 73
Hmm...I thought the first guy in that picture was Stapes. Live and learn.
The guys you don't see in that Oldies shot were the drummer, Tony Serratore; bassist, Bob "Woody" Woods, and keyboard player, Bob Carlson. That particular Oldies group had the advantage of being together for a full two years. They were really a top-notch group complete with choreography and tight harmonies. The four guys in the picture used to practice the vocals nearly every day before dinner over in 128 Village. I was honored to have been in that band and known some of the true talents and personalities that wandered SMC back in those days. By the way, Stapes, George McNichols, and I were all roommates in 128 Village back in those days. There was always quite a bit of laughs and entertainment in those days. By the way, I can be reached at my office 708 479-2526. My very best to all...Dick Stringham '74
Stapes is spot on in identifying the 1973-74 All Stars. I had the pleasure of playing bass in that band and took this picture (and others) of these four guys.
Would love to put this group together again, one last time..."do you remember...?"
Best to all,
Woody
P.S. Stringham, can I bum a smoke?
Woody,
I would go to that reunion show for sure! Great to read all the comments. My only college regret is not helping Katie Bishop Walker get together an oldies girl group. We talked about it once!!
Jacki Nosek McNichols
Sweetheart of Eta Nu '73
Jackie -
Honest to God, I closed my post and thought, "now where is that picture of Jackie Nosek?" I took one of you at Cotillion when you were announced Sweetheart of '73. Wife Amy (the packrat) is off in search of the album of old Phi Mu pics. Hopefully we'll find them and get them to Eta Nu for safekeeping.
Adding to Dick's remembrances -
* Sweeney, Copper, Merchant and Stringham would practice vocals and choreography apart from the rest of us (Carlson, Serratore and me) and only bring us in when the act was nearly complete. We were definitely "backup". The show was the four All Stars.
* I tried to sing a part in rehearsal one night until Stringham turned to me and said, "chrissakes, Woody -shut up. You're wreckin' the song." Dick was the undisputed leader of the band.
* I was not much of a bass player, but the walking part was so easy - and always in the key of A - Dick's singable key!
* The act, as I recall, was 15 - 20 minutes of non-stop music, one song blending into the next with the "do you remember, wop wop" bridge.
* Looking back, the amazing thing to me is that the 73-74 Oldies were really good. And as I recall none of us had any formal music or vocal training worth noting. Just a love of music and friendship - somehow, the way it should be.
Thanks for the memories.
Bob Woods
Jacki -
I agree with you on the "girl oldies" thing. We did talk about it. However, when you are only on campus for a few short semesters, time goes..."
Woody -
Glad to see you are still at it. I knew that lung cancer wouldn't have taken you because we live in different states and I wasn't there to give you any more smokes. When I quit, we both quit...really, simple. However, a couple of minor correctsions...
You were a very, very good bass player. You followed along with us when we strayed from the plan and did a bit of the unusual...and no one else had quite the lettermen's sweater as that powder blue sweater you had. It was all in "A", not because that was my key, but because it was a true medley. My sophomore year was the first year I was in the Oldies and that was Eddie Chabot (my pledge father and a whole twelve pack full of stories unto himself). Eddie was the lead singer and guitar in that band which included Kevin Roberts, Randy Merchant, Ed Chabot, and me. Eddie did it all in "A". He liked to keep out too much musical variety so Kevin, Randy, and I would not get lost.
We did have 20 minute or so sets. However, we had four different sets by the time we approached Gaslight of my senior year. So, we always came back with a large number of encore songs. Woody, I do agree with you that this was an excellent band that was playing Oldies when no-one else was. I look at the songs the Oldies play now and most of them were still a glint in some musician's eye when we were doing our stuff.
I do urge all of my brothers who were around when I was to keep writing to this thing. It brings back a flood of great memories of some of the best people on earth. This contact is easy and well worth it. -Dick Stringham
PS Woody, I suppose you want a light, too?
As long as we're talking about those days...acoustic guitar was huge in those days...i.e. Crosby, Stills, & Nash, and so on. I was in the car lstening to "On Susan's Floor" by Gordon Lightfoot. That was one of Woody's songs. No one melded in with Lightfoot's music like Bob Woods. He really had a great touch for that type of music.
One of the other amazing things that I remember from those days was when Stapes put together the Marinotes for the show. I think Stapes knew every guitar chord ever written. Who knew you could read music and play guitar. Man, I never would have believed the "Notes" would be so smooth. What a superior job...really! The jazz band worked out without a hitch and even backed another great act - Paul Berra, veteran singer and chef. Those were the days. - Dick Stringham
For the true memories of Eta Nu during the '70s we should definately have stapes re-tell the night of glee he spent at the "Midway" dressed as a member of the Sargent Peppers Band. ONLY STAPES!!
For the record.... at the May '75 graduation ceremony I opened my diploma only to find it read Dec '74. And I had gone to the Registrar's office before starting spring semester to discuss my credit hours. Nice of them to tell me they changed their minds. It was a Godfather III moment: "Every time I get out they pull me back in!"
Keven P. & I were pretty much neck & neck as the longest tenured actives. Hasn't anyone tried beating our stints in the interim?
Sweeney Winter '74
I know I'm late in responding but playing with the Oldies was one of my best St. Mary's memories. Not only were these guys talented, but they could put on a show. Who else could come up with a jellow mold for a wedding ring? It was a pleasure to be a back up to these guys! Woody I have talked with Dick many times about doing this one more time. I think we still may have something left. I also agree about Stapes. I was the drummer in his Marinotes and he was truly an amazing leader. Copper, where are you little star? Thanks for the memories!!
Tony Serratore '76
The picture of the 10 handsome men were a part of "The Saint Mary's College Concert Choir" in 1958 or 1959. That's my dad 2nd from the left front row. He has on a light colored jacket and his name is Bill Berg. The man to the right of him is Tony Partipillo. The man to the left of my dad is Dick Diaz and 2nd to the left of my dad is Bob LaPata. My dad, Bill Berg, is one of the most successful graduates to attend Saint Mary's. He went on to be a professional sports announcer, which included such teams as the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Bucks, and GoldenState Warriors. He is most well known though for his long run on "The Bill Berg Talk Show" on WGN radio in Chicago. He is now retired and will be married to my mom, Charlene, for 50 years next December ('08). They have 5 children together and they have 12 healthy and happy grandchildren. It was neat seeing his picture in the Phi Mu newsletter. I have fond memories from SMU myself. From,
Laura "Berg" Pellicane Class of '92
Hi eta nu. Stapes is right about the guitar. I sold it to him for $150 after owning it only a month or two. I was playing professionally at the time and I bought a new 1972 Les Paul to replace it. I still have it, it has been appraised at about $1,500... however, the "Banana" guitars now are worth about $12,000 because they are so rare! Hindsight is everything I guess. I still play on the side; I'm in a Catholic, Christian Band lead by Jaime Cortez (google him)and we do concerts of Jaime's CDs. Ed Chabot - Class of '72
I just wanted to say it was great to read all of your comments. We had some great times at St. Mary's, and in eta nu. Being an Oldie Moldie was definately one of the musical highlights of my college career, but the real treat was being "involved" with all of you wonderful people, music or no music, good times and bad. Just a word to the present oldies and to the future oldies of eta nu, "Music shouldn't hurt, play'em in A". Ed Chabot '72
Ned, do you have a Miata that turned 200000 miles? I saw a picture and it sure looked like you. I had the pleasure at the 50th reunion to intro the original oldies and listen to them rehearse prior to the show.
My dear brothers I think it is time to return for a reprise of those days. If we had another year we could have gone on the road. Here is the line up. It opens with Berra singing "Luck be a Lady Tonight as sung by Frank in Guys and Dolls Followed by a medley of My Kind of Town, New York, New York and close with the Wanderer. Then to be followed by Woody with a couple of Gordy Lightfoot tunes.
Next would be Winona performing a couple of Chicago and Guess Who tunes. Since we can always find Scruggs we would do a couple of Santana numbers. Then we could have Woody and Sweeny do a blues number. Bring Berra back for a reprise of Louie Miller's version of Everythings Coming up roses followed by Mack the Knife. Woody and someone do Dueing Banjo's and then to send us all home jumping and running the Oldies performing about 4 volumnes. We could always throw in Jacki and Dick singing Hey Paula.Or Bobby Stringham with Bad Bad Leroy Brown.Now thats a show I would pay big money to see.then after the show we could have a Skittle bowl tournment with Rocco's pizza and Old Style.
Stapes -
Please, call me at 708 479-2526 or Email me at Dick@StringhamInsurance.com. I need to speak with you. I would also welcome the opportunity to hear from any of my brothers anytime. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to y'all!
Dick Stringham
Ed Chabot said I should jump in the Sinfonia blog. I’m Marty Jagodensky, class of ’70. I guess you could say that Rick Perviski and me were the two that created the “Oldie Moldie Allstars”. I'm still entertaining, writing and recording. I still love those oldies!
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