The Band From Glen Rock High reunion concert + Uncle Floyd
December 5th, 2021 by Mr. C
A talented bunch of musical misfits who were all graduates of Glen Rock High School from the early 1970s including a funny & the most outspoken one of them all, Floyd Vivino (Glen Rock High graduate 1969) otherwise known as Uncle Floyd gathered together for a reunion concert billed as The Band from Glen Rock High. This one night only event took place at the Glen Rock High School auditorium and some of the concert footage will be used for the upcoming documentary called “The Band From Glen Rock High”. The Band mostly played jazz influenced tunes and even sported out some funk-tastic ones as well! For a second I thought the Funk Brothers were in the house or even the contemporary likes of the Budos Band and similar ilks! Of course some classic concerto pieces from the symphony master Jim Feeney on the upright bass with his wife on the violin were magical and fun! We couldn’t leave out Uncle Floyd with his shaving cream routine and standup comedy bit are always a crowd favorite creating instant chuckles! A highlight for me and forgive me as I forget her name but it will come to me eventually was Cissy Houston’s piano player that records with Cissy from time to time. She really thumped those keys with soul, gospel, & gusto onto that piano solo she had. The Band backed her up like they have played together for years! We gave her a standing ovation after her performance! Another bone chilling vocal performance was from Donna Vivino. She’s the daughter of Jerry Vivino and she is one incredible Broadway singer! She has been acting & singing on Broadway since she was 8 yrs old! Donna sang an uplifting song from her breakthrough appearance from Les Miserable! The finale of the night went to Lee Shapiro on the keyboards and his contribution to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons with “Oh What a Night”. And oh what a night it was!
During the early 1970s, Glen Rock High School students Lee Shapiro, Jerry Vivino, John Feeney, Frank Pagano, Jimmy Vivino, Doug Romoff, and Uncle Floyd Vivino all discovered each other through the love of music & friendships. Of course the Vivino family seemed to all possess the musical gene but Glen Rock High School & their music program led by Joseph Silsky seemed to breed professional musicians! Since graduating from Glen Rock High, the band members all went on to have very successful music recording careers. Lee Shapiro made his name & success playing with Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons. Jerry (Clarinet & sax) & Jimmy Vivino (guitar) are very accomplished jazz & blues musicians recording with the likes of Paquito & Cissy Houston. John Feeney, a virtuoso on the upright bass plays with the NY Philharmonic. And we all know how successful Uncle Floyd became!
Well for one night on December 2, 2021 – the Band from Glen Rock High gathered together for a reunion and once again created beautiful music together! They all honored their High School music mentor Mr. Silsky and gave him a lifetime achievement award! Mr Silsky was called on the stage and played the sax like a boss and would even make Clarence Clemons raise the roof from heaven!
The director of the film who is also a Glen Rock High School alumni announced that they will have a screening of “The Band from Glen Rock High” at Glen Rock High School so stay tuned!
a paquito influenced piece!
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