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.
