Dreamland Choo
Choo
Mt. Vernon-Great
Neck, New York
1967-1969
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TR and Steve were students at the
School of Visual Arts in NYC. Vince had just recuperated
from a serious auto accident in '65 he took the time to
learn bass while recovering. Sam tinkered on drums in the
pin room of a bowling alley in Mt. Vernon (hometown to TR,
Vince and Sam). The idea to form a band was always in the
background, as the boys were musical from day one. So TR
enlisted Steve who knew Bob Pruit (later owner of
Magnagraphics Recording Studio in the Village, where John
Lennon used to rehearse Elephants Memory Band for his Que
Pasa NY tours....and the band came together in Great Neck,
at Steve's house. Steve's father was a well known dress
manufacturer in the garment district and he got us some
gigs...they went well and we ended up at the Cafe Wha? (at
the time a major venue...it was the place where Jimi
Hendrix, as Jimi James and the Blue Flames....was discovered
by Chas Chandler, bassist in The Animals) , both a highpoint
and a swansong....as Steve and TR irked each
other.
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Personnel:
TR Russo - Lead Vocals
Vince DeLucia - Bass
Sam Cassarella - Drums
Steve Lapidus - Guitar
Bob Pruit - Guitar
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Influences:
Jug Band/Sopwith
Camel/Lovin' Spoonful/Tim Hardin
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Setlist
Sample:
Goodtime Charlie's Back In Town Again/Reason To
Believe/Movin' Like 60 (original)
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Equipment:
Bogen PA/Ludwig Drums/Univox Beatle bass
copy/Gibson acoustic/Rickenbacker electric 12
string.
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Rehearsal
Space:
Steve's house
(mansion!!!!) in Great Neck
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Band
Vehicles:
Whatever would be
available
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Fashion
Statement:
we were in the
avant garde for local bands back then....fringe
jackets/Edwardian
McCreedy & Schrieber boots..etc etc
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Best
Gig:
Cafe Wha? in
Greenwich Village, opened for Jerry Jeff Walker
(Circus Maximus) and the Hello People...did
well
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Gig from
Hell!:
None....all of
them were a joy and a privilege
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Last
Gig:
The Cafe Wha? gig
in 'Dec of 68
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Comments:
Peace, Love and
MUSIC...
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Where are they
now?
TR is a successful illustrator/Vince is a
college philosophy professor/Sam is in insurance/God only knows of
Steve and Bob....by the way Vince is still active in music and has a
band (a jug band called Mad Hatter's Junk Band).
7/4/05
TR and I have gotten back together to refrom the Choo Choo under the
name of BROKEN DREAMS.....here, along for the ride are Joe Guy on
reeds, Bianca on Co-lead Vocals and Jim McGrane on Basses...along
with TR on lead vocal and me on guitars...
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Broken Dreams Logo/TR &
Vince 2005!
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Information contributed by Vince DeLucia
HatCity@comcast.net
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