Results

    August 2016 James Rasche began playing guitar at the age of 14 and performed in the local Alcona music scene. In this interview, James talks about some of his early years playing at the Mountain Inn, Slanty Shanty, and Rainbow Lounge, as well as many local festivals, dances, and parties ...

    Coming from a musical family, Cal's love for music began at the early age of five and was influenced by his travels growing up in a military family. While his father was stationed in Hawaii, Cal learned traditional Hawaiian music and torch dancing which contributed in developing a passion for ...

    Husband and wife, Doug and Eve Allyn, worked professionally in rock and roll bands for over 35 years. Both natives of Northeast Michigan, the Allyns talk about their formative years in the Alpena area and their experiences working as musicians in Taiwan while Doug was stationed during the Vietnam War. ...

    Guitar player Glenn Anderson talks about playing music in the Alpena area, in Texas and recording in Nashville.Glenn plays country music primarily and some polka music as well. He started out with locally with Bussey String Band and discusses other players and venues in this interview.

    Diane Madsen and her husband moved to Alpena from Brimley, Michigan in 1972. Playing bass guitar to Neil's lead, the Madsen's performed locally in Two's Company, and were later joined by Dick Laney in Three's Company. Later Diane joined Carol Witherbee and Carole Cadarette in Three on a String, then ...

    Stan Bartreau started playing guitar in a country band called The Ranch Hands in 1948, along with Ed Perkins and Howie Arnold. He continues to play music today in area nursing homes and can be found joining a jam session at The Maplewood Tavern on a Friday night. Lu Bartreau, ...

    Bobby Rigg started playing drums under the tutelage of his dad Tubby Rigg, then played drums at St. Bernard's and in the City Band. Enamored by the sounds of rock and roll, he formed the band The Chevelles with Ralph Pinkerton, Donny Hartman and Jack Smolinski. Their success in the ...

    Born in 1907, Sid Pugh led and played in Alpena area dance bands for over half a century. Sid's early training included violin lessons with Professor William Burgard. His first gig was at The German Hall, now Nowicki's Sausage Shop. In addition to his own bands, Sid played in the ...

    Butch Lyon got his start in music in East Jordan, Michigan playing with his dad's band, The Bundy Mountain Jamboree. The band was featured on a Saturday morning radio show on WATZ hosted by Ralph Diethelm. In this interview, the Lyons talk about Butch's career, including a bus tour across ...

    Not to be confused with two other musicians of the same name, Richard N. Kosloski began playing banjo with his father at the age of eight. He later picked up the accordion, and his expertise with that instrument earned him an induction into The Michigan Polka Hall of Fame in ...

    Lifetime Long Lake Resident, Clarise Grzenkowicz talks about working as a cutter at The Alpena Garment Factory from 1935-40. In addition to discussing the working environment at the factory, Clarise describes day to day life in Alpena at that time.

    Local guitar player and vocalist Dan Ager began playing regular gigs at the age of 15. He attended the music program at Olivet College for two years, recorde in Nashville, and has performed throughout Michigan, in many states and Canada. Dan has performed in concerts with Moe Bandy, Susie Nelson, ...

    Area piano teacher and performer, Loretta Beyer talks about her roles in the Alpena music scene as well as her own music education in Zimbabwe.

    A lifelong musician, Greg Altman has been playing guitar for twenty years. For most of that time he has played as a solo artist and with numerous local artists, in a variety of venues throughout Northeast Michigan. For more than a decade, Greg performed in and produced concerts to benefit ...

    Born and raised in Alpena, Norm Seiss has played accordion and been involved in the music business for over 65 years. Inducted into the Michigan Polka Hall of Fame in 2001, Norm's music focuses on German style oompah music, polkas and waltzes. In this interview, Norm discusses the passage of ...

    Jerry Ruczynski got his start filling in for Bob LaMarre's drummer when he was in grade school. Initially inspired by Bobby Rigg's sparkle blue snare drum, Jerry's first drum set consisted of sand filled cigar boxes.Jerry went on to work with The Tom Ferguson Quartet, The Dolly Gray Band, and ...

    Interview with Mrs. Theresa Hardies Kowalewski about her escape and the loss of her mother and sisters during Metz Fire on October 15, 1908. Mrs. Kowalewski died in 1981.

    Mary Ann Hubbard talks about her role as an music educator and performer. She has taught music at ACC, Blue Lakes Fine Art Camp, Resurrection Lutheran Church School of Music and privately. MaryAnn performs in the Alpena Symphony Orchestra, The Windsong Quartet and organizes the annual "Flute and Friends" concert.

    Carole Cadarette began playing music at the age of 14 with The Cadarette Family Band. Starting out on keyboards, she took up the autoharp in 1979 and performed with Carol Witherbee and Diane Madsen to form Three on A String. Currently Carole performs solo as a vocalist and keyboardist around ...

    Local session bass guitarist, Al Zdan, first began playing professionally in the 1953.He built his own double-neck guitar which can be seen in the photo of the group The Monarchs. Al has played with numerous bands including, The Nomads, The Harmony Boys, Johnny Woloszyk and the Polka Jacks, The Belusar ...