Dick
Wooley
Music Director
Jim
Wonnacott
Assistant Music Director
Joe
Trzcinski
Personnel Director
Buddy Sullivan
Business Manager
George
Ellis
Music Librarian
Ron Davis
Marketing Director
Don Day
Music Business Advisor
To
make a TAX-DEDUCTIBLE
donation, please
make your check
payable to:
CLEVELAND TOPS
SWINGBAND FOUNDATION
mail
to:
685-9 Windward Dr.
Aurora, OH 44202
Our
first studio CD
"Feelin' Young Again"
is still available.
Listen
to some samples.
Click here.
Dick
Wooley - Trombone
Arranger and
Music Director
TOPS BAND PERSONNEL
SAXOPHONES
Wally Scaffidi
Bob Pattie
Larry Patch
Buddy Sullivan
Larry Patrick
TRUMPETS
Joe Trzcinski
Jim Wonnacott
Al Couch
Ray Rinaldi
Jim Anastasi
TROMBONES
Bruce Lehtinen
Ralph Joseph
George Ellis
Allen Kofsky
RHYTHM
Doug Day, piano
Don Day, bass
Bob McKee, drums
VOCALISTS
Betsy Guy
Ron Davis
Larry Patch
Ruth Griebel
SUPER SUBS
Anthony Anastasi, trumpet
Jack Brndiar, trumpet
Bill Currier, drums
Don T. Day, bass
Doug Day, bass/tbn
Brian Dorr, bass
Harry Herforth, trumpet
Freddie Jenkins, sax
Ken Mehalko, sax
John Petrone, piano
Jay Ross, sax
Erik Svoboda, trumpet
Gary Twining, trombone
Karl Zahtilla, sax
Dave Zamos, piano
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The
CLEVELAND
Tough
Old
ProS
SWINGBAND
has it's roots in a concert at the A. M. McGregor Home in 2003, one of many such events created and directed by a retired-but then-still-active Cleveland musical legend, Vince Patti. Vince brought together a seventeen-piece big band of mostly retired professional musicians, Cleveland area all-stars really, with varied solid credentials, from dance bands to theater pit orchestras and the Cleveland Orchestra. It was a huge success both for the elderly audience and their helpers but also for the musicians who, almost to a man, ended the concert almost unwillingly...they talked about how there should be more chances to get together and be a part of the great experience such a band of "pros" provides. And so now, after some time, ruminating, wishing, thought, procrastination and effort, comes our new band. Our focus is on three ideas:
1. We intend to serve that huge audience of people who remember and love the great fun and excitement that only a fine big band, playing the great, familiar repertoire, can provide. 2. Just rehearsing and playing together is a source of musical joy that can only be found in a big band where all the players can really SWING in the wonderful traditional sense!
3. We need to generate enough income to cover expenses.
The principal
originators: 
Dick
Wooley, Trombone, Arranger and Music Director. Dick came to Cleveland
in the 1950's as a music teacher in the Shaker Heights schools and band
director at the then Case Tech. A player, arranger and conductor, he became
a composer/producer of music for broadcast commercials (think "Patio
Enclosures"), TV and films. He spent several years creating music
for Sea World's shows and exhibits. He was a long-term fixture in Cleveland
theater orchestra pits and recently resumed playing trombone after a twenty-five
year health-induced "intermission." 
Joe
Trzcinski, Lead trumpet and personnel director, has an impressive
list of accomplishments as a working musician and trumpet teacher. His
earliest professional experience was with the band at West Point, continued
in Cleveland at Musicarnival, Front Row (lead trumpet and musician contractor),
various area bands and tours with the Liberace Orchestra.
Contacts:
Dick Wooley: 440-871-0480 E-mail
Dick
Joe Trzcinski: 216-932-3228
visitors since
Sept. 25, 2005
©
2005
Cleveland TOPS Swingband Foundation
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