Re: [Harp-L] Bill Haydu RIP / Steel Valley Harmonica Club

[George Miklas <harmonicat@xxxxxxxxx>]

Smokey Joey,

Please accept my apologies..... I don't know where my mind was.

George

On Sun, Jan 8, 2012 at 1:12 PM, Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
> On Jan 8, 2012, at 12:07 PM, George Miklas wrote:
>
> > Wow!  There aren't many members of the old Steel Valley Harmonica Club
> > left.  The club closed its books years ago, but there still about 8 of us
> > left.... Myself, Chuck Rushen, Bob Dombroski, Herb Eck, Mike Seizer, Dale
> > "Pixie" Ensign, Al Sepesy, and Theresa Sepesy.  There maybe more, but
> that
> > is all I know of.
> >
> > This club once had Jack Allison (top chromatic and trio player from
> > Pittsburgh), Vito Patierno (chord player from Johnny Puleo's Harmonica
> > Gang), Stephen Miklas (my father who from 1942-1945 played the harmonica
> > for General George Patton and General Dwight Eisenhower) Al Data, Lew
> > Martin, and Mike Smith (The Harmonica Brats), hosted the 1977 SPAH
> > convention, brought in top entertainers such as Cham-Ber Haung, The Sgro
> > Brothers, Harry Fineberg for other club functions.
> >
> > My mom, Janet Miklas, was the treasurer of the club from 1978 - 1983.
> >
> > Between 1997 and 2003, Bill Haydu (along with Chuck Rushen and 4 other
> men)
> > would come to my house in Grove City PA.  We would read various harmonica
> > arrangements for enjoyment and improvement.
> >
> > Chuck Rushen is still living, but is bound to a nursing home.
> > I haven't seen Bob Dombroski for a long time, but heard he is still
> around.
> > Herb Eck is still playing and frequenting harmonica festivals in Virginia
> > and New Jersey and DannyG's picnic in Ohio.
> > Al and Theresa Sepesy are still around.. I last saw them in Salem Ohio
> when
> > I was playing Electric Bass for the Sgro Brother's concert in the park.
> > Mike Seizer gave up the harmonica long ago (when he got married).
> > Dale "Pixie" Ensign is playing in a blues band somewhere in Florida.
>
> Frank Fordely is still alive in Sharon Pa.? Former member Joe Leone is
> still alive in SW Florida?
> Ernie Lakatos passed away several years ago.
> >
> > I continue to Promote the Advancement of the Harmonica.  I have to offer
> > both solo and duo harmonica shows, and concerts with bands and
> orchestras.
> > I have recently begun promoting the new medical harmonica, and have
> opened
> > my own harmonica repair shop.
> >
> >
> > On Sun, Jan 8, 2012 at 11:06 AM, Danny G newharmonica <
> > dannyg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> >> I just received word that a dear friend and fellow harmonica player,
> Bill
> >> Haydu passed away Thursday morning, January 5th.
> >> Bill was a long time member of SPAH and the Steel Valley Harmonica Club
> >> and played with a group called The Groovin' Grandpas until last Spring
> when
> >> because of health problems he moved from Youngstown, Ohio to live with
> his
> >> son in North Carolina. Bill would have celebrated his 83rd birthday in
> >> April.
> >>
> >> Viewing hours will be this evening
> >> (Sunday January 8, 2012) from 5 PM - 7 PM
> >> Kannick Funeral Home
> >> 477 North Meridian Road
> >> Youngstown, Ohio
> >>
> >> Services will be tomorrow
> >> Saint Georges Catholic Church in Canfield, Ohio
> >>
>
>