by Angela Gentile
Beaver County has a rich musical history. Throughout my years of working at the Office on Aging, I have heard many older adults stories about how they met their future husband or wife when they were young at a dance with a band at one of the ethnic social clubs, churches, bars, restaurants or square dances. It brought a lot of people together.
Maybe you danced at Infinity, the former Oriental Theatre in Rochester, VIP in Northern Lights Shopping Center, Center Stage or the Rochester VFW. Perhaps you went out to hear the Patterson Township Granati Brothers (G Force), Donnie Iris and The Cruisers or when Iris was with the Jaggerz or Wild Cherry, or Aliquippa native B.E. Taylor. Were you some of the hundreds of people who would pack Morry’s Speakeasy in Rochester to hear many of the area’s top bands or listened to Midland’s Rudy Zetz Fourth and Main around the tri-state area?
This is only a smidgeon of the area’s great talent. Check out the Beaver Valley Musicians website for its Hall of Fame. You can see and reminisce about the past honorees who entertained in Beaver County and became well known nationally. Many honorees led elementary, junior and senior high school bands and community bands. My teacher, Donald Knezevich, who taught me to play flute in fifth grade, was one of the honorees. Throughout the years, I would see him entertaining in various Croation musical groups. It was always fun to talk to him after the performances and let him know that I still was playing my instrument as an adult.
There used to be lots of opportunities to go out to local bars, restaurants and other venues to hear a band and dance. This does not happen too much any longer. A lot has changed. As the steel industry declined, many of the social clubs do not exist; bars and restaurants have come and gone. Churches have closed or consolidated. Most of the square dance groups have disbanded.
There still are a lot of people making music in our county. You may have to seek it out a bit more. We do have students learning music at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School in Midland. We still have community singing groups and symphonic ensembles/bands entertaining. Come see the high school bands in parades. There are musical programs at our local libraries.
Research shows that music has a profound impact on the brain, stimulating various regions and releasing neurochemicals that influence mood, cognition, and overall wellbeing. It can help reduce stress and pain. Socially, it brings people together and helps them stay connected with others.
Music has been part of my life since I learned to play the flute in elementary school and participated in junior and senior high school bands. I started singing in the church choir in college. Since then, I have been singing in church choirs, playing the flute occasionally and cantoring. More recently, I also sing with my parish’s Contemporary Ensemble monthly. Music is my happy place as it is different from everything else I do.