Congratulations on The Bridge’s January Issue
Editor,
Just wanted to praise the latest issue! Congratulations! Every success for the Bridge in 2021!
Elizabeth M. Parker, Montpelier
More Credit is Due
Editor,
Thanks so much for publishing my piece in the Dec. 16 issue of The Bridge. I would correct that the photo of The Jesters, my high school rock band, was actually taken probably in 1965 at the Newport, Vermont, Armory during the State Student Council Convention, not at the Newport High School gym for their prom.
My article failed to mention some other fine musicians in the Montpelier/Central Vermont area during the 1960s who I want to acknowledge: Mike (Brassard) and the Ravens (originally The Throbs), one of Vermont’s premier early rock bands, which included Pete Young from Northfield and the Blodgett brothers from Stowe; the late Jimmy T (Thurston) and the Cobras from Waterbury — Jimmy T being the father of country star Jamie Lee Thurston; the legendary, great Western swing/jazz guitar man Bud Truax from Waterbury; Harry “Thumper” Colombo and Dick Fielder of The Beachcombers, both of whom have remained in the area (Montpelier and Calais) since that time; the Kelty Brothers country band from Barre, who worked the Barre Moose Club and the White Stallion bar on the Barre-Montpelier Road; Dick and Ron Sicely of Cabot and Barre, who had a fine country band and eventually opened “The Country Cuzzin” bar in downtown Barre; great country singers Lee Jollota and Brenda (Henry) Cruz and fine frailing/drop-thumb banjo player Andy Leader, currently of North Middlesex. These are just a few more who come to mind, although I know there were others and apologize for whomever those omissions might be.
I would further note that The Jesters were initially known as The Oxfords (named after then-downtown Montpelier’s Oxford [men’s] Shop) and our lead singer was none other than Montpelierite Doug Knapp, now known as dug Nap — cartoonist, card designer, and former lead singer for one of Vermont’s first punk bands: Pinhead. And for Bluegrass fans, I would add that The Osborne Brothers and Flatt and Scruggs appeared on a flatbed trailer in the infield at Thunder Road for two separate shows during the summer of 1964, plus Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys appeared at the Barre Auditorium that fall. So we had an active, good music scene around here in the 60s.
Finally, I want to thank Andy Leader and Mary Carlson for their letters to the editor commenting on local music back then.
Danny Coane, Montpelier
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