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Five Local Musicians Star With Monroe At Passaic
Theatre
Hundreds of
friends, relatives and followers of five young local musicians filled
a crowded Passaic Theatre yesterday afternoon and evening when they
were among the featured players of Vaughn Monroe's famous band. The
youthful performers staged their first local appearance since they
joined the name band.
Monroe and his
boys were guests at the Clifton residence of James J. Messina, one of
his trumpeters, of 68 Forest Way, following their first act yesterday
afternoon. The local players are Edwin T. Shedosky, of 693 Midland
Avenue, Garfield, Richard La Sala of 145 East Seventeenth Street,
Paterson, John Pizzarelli, Jr., of 150 Graham Avenue, Paterson,
Frank L. Ryerson of 39-06 Wanonah Drive, Warren Point, and Messina.
After the
final act last night, Monroe's band boarded a train at the Grand
Central Station in N.Y.C. at 12:10 this morning for Erie, Pa., where
the group will stage an appearance today. From there, they will be on
their way to Batavia, N.Y., Williamport, Pa., Pottstown, Pa., the
Click Club in Philadelphia until they will open a run at the Hotel
Statler in New York City this October.
Shedosky,
known as "Smitty" to his friends, was the featured solo trumpeter
yesterday in the tune called "Tulsa." He succeeded Ryerson who no
longer plays with the orchestra but is still associated with Monroe as
his orchestral arranger. Among the most popular tunes arranged by
Ryerson are "Ballerina," which sold over 2,000,000 records and is
heard daily on juke boxes and the radio. Another "Racing Over the
Moon," (sic) which already sold over 1,000,000 records and "Someday,"
which is now coming up and sold over 250,000 records in less than
three weeks, were also arranged by Ryerson for Monroe's band.
Local Musicians Play With Famous Band Tonight
Four young
musicians, two from Paterson, one from Clifton and another from
Garfield, will be among the featured players of Vaughn Monroe's famous
band tonight at the Central Theatre in Passaic where the youthful
performers will stage their first local performance. The players are
Edwin T. Shedosky, of 693 Midland Avenue, Garfield, Richard La Sala of
145 East Seventeenth Street, Paterson, John Pizzarelli, Jr., of 150
Graham Avenue, Paterson, Frank L. Ryerson of 39-06 Wanonah
Drive, Warren Point, and James J. Messina, of 68 Forest Way, Clifton.
Frank L.
Ryerson of 39-06 Wanonah Drive, Warren Point, former solo trumpeter in
the name band, no longer plays with the orchestra, but is still
associated with Monroe as his orchestral arranger.
The many
friends and families of the five local musicians will have an
opportunity tonight to get their first glimpse of the boys in action.
They heard them innumerable times on the radio and juke boxes, but now
they will see them on the stage for the first time performing near
their homes.
Shedosky
Plays Solo
Shedosky, who
was born in Passaic, attended local grammar schools and the Garfield
High School. He has been with Monroe's band since 1943 and left only
for a short while, being in service 18 months with the U.S. Army Force
band at Colorado Springs, Colo., as solo trumpeter. While in Colorado,
he met Miss Doris Ranum, to whom he was married. The couple have a
six-month-old son, Billy, and reside in Garfield.
Young
Shedosky, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael (sic) Shedosky, of 34
Division Avenue, Garfield, is known as "Smitty" to his many friends
and followers. He is know playing relief lead for Monroe, succeeding
Ryerson who undertook arranging music. He worked his way up from
fourth trumpeter to the position he know holds.
Shedosky also
played trumpet for Gene Krupa, Bob Astor and Mal Hallet and other
widely known orchestras. He got his start as a professional musician
with Joe Baron's Haddon Hall Club Orchestra, of Passaic. The young
soloist also has a brother, Michael, a musician, who plays trumpet
with Baron's orchestra and is a member of the Botannaires, a musical
group formed at the Botany Worsted Mills in Passaic.
Monroe
Guest In Clifton
Monroe, whose
band is featured on the radio and is popular with the juke box
audience, recently completed a run at the Toronto, Canada, fair. After
his appearance in Passaic tonight, he will soon open a run at the
Hotel Statler in New York City. He will be a guest this afternoon at
the Messina residence in Clifton before he will conduct the orchestra
tonight.
More....
Monroe, who
hails from Newton, Mass., told this newspaper that his orchestra will
be featured on television within a year. His orchestra and
entertainers consist of 30 members. He is also featured on the radio
weekly and many of his records are heard in juke boxes in public
places.
Shedosky
is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Shedosky, of 34 Division Avenue,
Garfield. His wife and son Billy, reside in Garfield. He got his start
as a professional musician with Joe Baron's Haddon Hall Club
Orchestra, of Passaic. His brother Michael, also a trumpeter, is still
associated with Baron's orchestra. "Smitty" plays relief lead for the
nationally known band since Ryerson left it as a player.
La Sala,
nicknames "Ritchie" is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry La Sala, Sr. He
plays lead "Jazz" and second trumpet with the Monroe orchestra. He
played solo trumpet for the La Sala Brothers Dance Orchestra, of
Paterson, conducted by his brothers, Jerry, Jr., of 163 East
Nineteenth Street, and John, of 298 Sixth Avenue, both of Paterson.
His father is assistant band master of the Pasquariello-Bradley Post
band in Paterson and a business agent of the American Musicians Union.
"Bucky"
Pizzarelli is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Pizzarelli, of
Paterson. He plays guitar for the name band and he also got his start
with the La Sala Brothers Dance Orchestra.
Ryerson,
who is now settling down locally, is only writing orchestral
arrangements for the Monroe group. He lives with his wife and family
at Warren Point and he is seriously thinking of opening a studio
to teach arranging and music.
Messina,
who plays trumpet with Monroe, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael
Messina. His wife and family reside in Clifton. He was formerly a
trumpeter for Duke Collins' orchestra, of Passaic.
All five local
musicians were with Monroe for a number of years, with the exception
of time they served in the army during the last war.
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