Jim Wonnacott
Music Director

Larry Patch Paciorek
Managing Director & CFO
216-524-BAND

Ron Davis
Marketing Director
216-244-0646

Board of Directors
Ron Davis

Doug Day
George Ellis
Larry Patch Paciorek

Jim Wonnacott

To make a TAX-DEDUCTIBLE donation, please
make your check
payable to:

CLEVELAND TOPS
SWINGBAND FOUNDATION

mail to:

PO Box 31666
Cleveland, OH 44131



Our first studio CD
"Feelin' Young Again"

is still available. Click on the
CD cover above to hear
some song samples.

Jim Wonnacott
Music Director

TOPS BAND PERSONNEL

SAXOPHONES
Ken Mehalko
Don Kubec
Larry Patch
Rudy Vincent
Dick Ingersoll

TRUMPETS
Jim Wonnacott
Frank Cosenza

Mike Galloway
Anthony Anastasi

TROMBONES
Bruce Lehtinen
Ralph Joseph
George Ellis
Gary Twining

RHYTHM
Doug Day, piano
Don Day, bass
George Kiteley, drums

VOCALISTS
Ron Davis

Larry Patch

SUPER SUBS
David Betts, trombone
Jack Brndiar, trumpet
Don T. Day, bass
Doug Day, bass/tbn

Brian Dorr, bass
Mike Fisher, trumpet
Brian Griebel
Larry Herman, trumpet
Bruce Koscheck, sax
Tim Keehn, trombone

Eric Rowles, trombone
Dave Sterner, sax

Our second studio CD
"Accentuate The Positive "

is now available. Click on the CD cover above to hear some song samples.

 


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The
CLEVELAND
T
ough Old ProS
SWINGBAND

LATEST NEWS

 

June 9, 2021
Today is our second rehearsal in 15 MONTHS
.

May 25, 2021
Tommorrow is our first rehearsal in 15 MONTHS
.

April 1, 2021
We are now taking bookings to hopefully restart this summer. Call Ron and reserve your date.

February 14, 2020
Valentine's Day found TOPS at Hilltop Village. This was our final performance of 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic shut us down.

December 19-20, 2019
TOPS played back -to-back Christmas shows for McGregor Home (Clev) and Hilltop Village.

December 2, 2019
TOPS returned to the Lutheran Home at Concord Reserve in Westlake..

October 25, 2019
Hilltop Village is another new venue for TOPS.

October 1, 2019
Tapestry Senior Living in Wickliffe invited TOPS to play for the residents. this is a new venue for us.

September 15, 2019
The Arts in Strongsville Foundation invited TOPS to kick off their annual Day at the Chalet fundraiser.

August 4, 2019
The nice folks in Hudson invited TOPS to play a two-hour concert at the Hudson Bandstand.

July 18, 2019
Jennings Center for Older Adults is where we play In the parking lot for the residents as they sit on the porch. We play inside if it rains. Starting with 2013 this is our fifth visit.

July 14, 2019
Back for an encore at St. Vitus Church (Cleveland) church picnic at at Slovenska Pristava in Geneva, Ohio.

May 21, 2019
Another concert at Public Hall for City of Cleveland Senior Day.

September 25, 2018
We have played at Fairfax Place Assisted Living in Cleveland once or sometimes twice a year.

July 15, 2018
St. Vitus Church in Cleveland invited us to play for their anniversary celebration and picnic. The event was held at Slovenska Pristava in Geneva, Ohio.

May 24, 2018
City of Cleveland SENIOR DAY was a big success once again.

October 19, 2017
The Ehrnfelt Event Center in Strongsville was the venue for a concert for seniors from 1-2 p.m.

August 12, 2017
We played for "Dancing Under the Stars" at THE GROVE in Mayfield Heights. A GREAT new pavilion band shell.

May 24, 2017
Thank you to City of Cleveland SENIOR DAY for again inviting us to perform for the masses.

August 27, 2016
We played for "Dancing Under the Stars" at THE GROVE in Mayfield Heights. Two sets, a tent and a sound man. All good!

July 7, 2016
Jennings Center for Older Adults is where we play for the residents in the parking lot as they sit on the porch. We play inside if it rains. Starting with 2013 this is our fourth visit.

May 27, 2016
The City of Cleveland SENIOR DAY at Public Hall is one of our favorite venues.

September 3, 2015
This was our third yearly visit to North Olmsted Senior Center. They have a very nice seniors luncheon and we were honored to be the program.

August 9, 2015
Lakewood Park was the site of our first public performance in 2005. It was nice to see old friends and make new ones.

May 20, 2015
The City of Cleveland SENIOR DAY at Public Hall has become an annual event for TOPS.

July 16, 2014
Our Youth Outreach initiative continued with a concert and interaction with Cleveland youth at the Harvard Community Center.

May 14, 2014
The City of Cleveland SENIOR DAY was held at Public Hall with over 1,000 attending from all over Cuyahoga County. We kicked off the festivities with a one hour performance.

Feb. 3, 2014
Thank you to those hearty souls who braved the weather to attend our first ever concert in the Gifts of Music series at Rocky River United Methodist Church yesterday.

Nov. 13, 2013
Trinity Brown Bag Concert: 378 attended, a new record for us, WOW! Thank you!!

Oct. 17, 2013
We made a lot of new friends in Norwalk, Ohio. Residents of area senior facilities were bussed to Calvary Baptist Church where 175 enthusiastic seniors enjoyed our two set performance.

July 26, 2013
Our performance at the National Senior Games yesterday morning at 11:30 a.m. was a big hit. Folks even danced! Thank you to Humana, Cleveland Clinic, and all the sponsors and workers who helped make this event a success and to show our city in a positive light. A special big THANK YOU to Liz Strong from Meredith Camp Events, who guided us through and made it work.

The evening segment at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for a V.I.P. party from 7-9 was taxing as it was two hours when we had already played one hour in the morning.

November 29, 2012
The Wednesday Brown Bag Concert Series at Trinity Cathedral has become a yearly event for us. Keep an eye on our calendar so that you can join us next year. You can bring your lunch or purchase food items right there at the concert.
Music begins at noon and ends around 1:00.

October 26, 2012
Last night the Cleveland Public Library and the Senior Games (coming to Cleveland in 2013) hosted the national organization Grantmakers in Aging for a reception held in the rotunda of the Stokes Wing. The group was in Cleveland for most of the week for meetings and seminars and the TOPS Band was honored to play a set for a VERY enthusiastic audience of Grantmakers from all over the United States. A big TOPS thank you to Heidi Strickland and her staff at the CPLibrary for helping to make the event a memorable one for us and providing lots of help getting our equipment in and out of the venue.

July 27, 2012
Dick Wooley steps down as Music Director & CEO, Jim Wonnacott named Music Director.

In a letter to supporters dated Ju
ly 26, 2012, Dick Wooley expressed "personal appreciation for your vital contributions during the seven terrific years we've had together. It has been a honor to lead this band of professionals but it is time for me to respond to the demands of my age and physical limitations." Dick announced his resignation to a packed house at the TOPS fundraiser held at Nighttown Jazz Club in Cleveland Heights on July 10th. Dick was presented with a commemorative plaque for his years of service and "vision." His wife, Nora, also received a plaque from the band for her contributions as TOPS "Number One Volunteer," along with a dozen long-stem roses.

Sept 10, 2010
We have NEW FRIENDS at Kenston Intermediate School in Chagrin Falls. On May 7th, TOPS was privileged to experience a unique concert/seminar given for 600+ students and faculty. The event was a "donation" sponsored by Corinne Cathcart who "won" the band at the raffle of our 2008 fundraiser. Our singer, Ron Davis, in a moment of pure inspiration, asked the kids to join him in singing the tag line of our concluding number, Louis Armstrong's great song, "What a Wonderful World." All the kids joined in for an inspiring rendition, and we Tough Old Pros still get goose bumps recalling that priceless moment. And thanks to all the students who took time to write us a thank you note. Below is a small sample.

Thank you notes

May 22, 2010
We now have a total of eight CDs available, and you can even order online. Our new "Spotlight" Series showcases each of our fine vocalists: Ron Davis, Larry Patch, Ruth Griebel, and Betsy Guy. We put all eight CDs on one page, along with an order form you can fill out. Click "send" and it goes to Ron Davis, our Marketing Director. He'll put your order together and when your check or money order for your donation arrives Ron will send yor order right out. Sorry, we are not set up for credit card payments. Thank you for your support.

October 22, 2009
Thank you to all who attended and supported the fundraiser last night. The results are being tabulated and will be announced soon. You can still get a tax deduction in 2009 for your support of TOPS. Send your check made out to Cleveland TOPS Swingband Foundation to the address at the left.

July 9, 2009
We are planning a TOPS fundraiser for Wednesday, October 21st to be held at Night Town Jazz Club in Cleveland Hts. We will play two sets from 7-9 p.m. Cost is $100.00 per person, which breaks down to $30.00 for dinner (drinks extra), and a $70.00 tax-deductible donation to TOPS.

March 28, 2009
All spots have now been filled for the free concert/clinics for 2009 . If you would like to be considered for a free concert and clinic for your students in 2010 (contingent on grant funds available), contact any member of the TOPS Education Committee: Doug Day, Jim Wonnacott or Ken Mehalko.

Jan. 30, 2009
In case you missed it -
We're sorry you couldn't get to the introductory event our band held for music directors at Nighttown on January 21st. Follow-up letters have now been sent out. If you didn't get one and would like to be considered for one of the remaining spots for a free concert/clinic for your students, contact any member of the TOPS education Committee: Doug Day, Jim Wonnacott, or Ken Mehalko to see if the date you want is still available.

What you missed was a sample of the unique style of big band performance our senior Cleveland all-stars play…and an outline of our program to work with Northeast Ohio school jazz bands.

Doug Day, Ken Mehalko, and Jim Wonnacott, retired and highly respected music teachers who head up TOPS's Educational Outreach Program have, like you, worked hard to create and build jazz programs in their schools…i.e., they've been there and done that! They know your challenges and aspirations!

These men described the program of clinics and combined concerts with which we've had great success. Due to our having received a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, we can now extend this opportunity to you and your players.

The funds are limited and dates are filling up quickly so we ask that you contact these men soon to learn more details and schedule your school.

We know you'll be glad you did…and your program will surely benefit from the experience gained from time spent with our Tough Old Pros.

TOPS Education Committee
Doug Day
Jim Wonnacott
Ken Mehalko

Nov. 30, 2008
The National Endowment for the Arts has officially informed us that TOPS is to be the recipient of a 2009 grant of $25,000 to support our efforts specifically in the area of our Education Outreach Program.

TOPS, thanks to this endorsement and support, will be able to quickly expand our efforts to introduce the authentic big band era music style to high school and college musicians of northeastern Ohio.

The overall plan is to join with music directors in holding clinics, joint concerts and other related seminars to provide hands-on work with us Tough Old Pros.

This will also support a summer “Big Band Bash Camp” that salutes and enriches chances for outstanding young student performers to grow exponentially.

Many details are yet to be worked out but we have several qualified music education professionals in the TOPS band who will organize and implement this truly exciting extension of our mission.

Fundraiser
Our fundraiser at Night Town, Cleveland's premier jazz club, was a resounding success. On Wednesday, October 29, 2008, the TOPS band played to a near capacity crowd and thanks to the generosity of many fine individuals, we raised over $7,000 to help us further our mission of providing classic big band music to senior audiences.

Recordings
We now have eight CDs. View contents AND order online here.

Our first studio CD, "Feelin' Young Again," is still available. They went fast so we ordered another batch. If you would like to have one (or even 10 or more, they make great gifts), e-mail us or call Ron at the number below, and we will be glad to send them out to you right away. Listen to song samples from the CD here.

Funding
We are seeking sponsors to assist with achieving our primary goal - to provide live traditional big band era music to the Northeastern Ohio area's senior audiences. Sponsorship can take two forms:

  • Help us reach our audiences
    by contacting activities directors or others you know at senior centers and senior resident facilities or by providing us with information we can follow up. Enjoy the band? Please spread the word!

  • Financial sponsorship
    There are expenses in starting, equipping, promoting and operating such an organization and in underwriting the costs of performance which exceed the resources the musicians can provide unaided. Many facilities do not have budgets that allow them to fully pay for the band, about $600 minimum per concert. Support from sponsors is needed to make up the difference. Contributions are tax deductible.

We have been granted non-profit foundation status and are applying for several foundation grants but we would still appreciate any individual or company support.

Contacts:
Jim Wonnacott: E-mail Jim
Ron Davis: 216-244-0646 E-mail Ron
Larry Patch: 216-524-BAND E-mail Larry