Welcome to KellysOldTimers.Net
Woody Kelly at age 10 or 11 (1932)
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To contact us about future events or for additional information, please email kot@rochester.rr.com
To Schedule a date or discuss pricing call: Eric Kelly at 585-237-3627 Kelly's Old Timers is Western New
York's oldest round and square dance band. We specialize in old time
American Dance Standards and Jazz numbers from the 1920's through the
1950's, Eastern Style Square Dances and entertainment for the more
seasoned listener. As we add to the web site you will find links for
our music clips and photos from the past. Our upcoming events page has the information for scheduled concerts and dances. I will be adding to the site from time to time. I hope you enjoy looking over the KOT web site.
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The History of Kelly's Old Timers:
Woody Kelly started playing the accordion at around 7 or 8 years old. He played for local parties and shows. In the early 1930's he did a radio talent show with "Pie Plant Pete and Bashfull Harmonica Joe" on WHAM Radio in Rochester. In 1939 or 1940 he joined Elmer Brewer's "Checker Boys". They were one of the first groups in the area to offer the Eastern Style Square Dancing that was becoming the new trend. Friday nights the Checker Boys played on WBTA radio in Batavia and provided the music for the Ralston Purina Music Hour. They offered a good program of dance numbers and Ken Lowe, their caller, knew all the latest singing square dances calls as well as many of the older reels and "Parlor Dances". Woody played accordion, Elmer Brewer the violin, Keith Morgan played bass and Lynn Rowley played guitar or banjo. They were very popular around the area and were in demand throughout the WWII years and into the 1950's. Also during this time, other musicians in the area were playing similar jobs. After the Checkerboy's came the ExCheks, Roger Kelly's Swingsters, groups that featured Sandy Consiglio on accordion or Edward Kalisz on accordion or violin. Jim Kruppner was also calling the eastern style dances. JN White's Mid-shipmen played more of the big band numbers and swing music. After the war, bands were available in nearly every town. There was a lot of work for good musicians who wanted to play. Some bands did the square dances, others did not.
About 1950 Woody wanted to get his own program of music and dances together, so he and Roger, Keith Morgan and John "Curly" Myers started playing as Kelly's Old Timers. Woody did the calling and Bill Loop from Castile was vocalist and rhythm guitar. KOT was very popular through the 1950's and 60's. Many fine musicians played through the years. The list would be long, but I feel the need to mention some who played over the years; Ralph Fuller, Del Sylor, Les Simpson, Bernie Simpson, Judy Koerner Foote, George Pawlak, Leo Ziolkowski and Don Wehner. Through the 1970's Woody's failing health required things to slow down. In May of 1982 he died of heart failure while on vacation with Ralph Fuller at their camp in the Adirondacks. In the 1980's and 90's demand for the group stepped up. Roger got Sandy Consiglio, Eric or Doug Kelly on Bass with Ken Lowe calling the square dances and kept things going. In the late 1990's a traffic accident injured Sandy Consiglio and ended his playing with the group. That made another big change for the band. It ended the Accordion era. Eric Kelly took over on the keyboard and Guy Macaluso came on board playing trumpet, guitar, bass as needed. The trumpet adds a new voice to the band. It's a jazzier sound and an occasional Dixieland tune has been known to get the most arthritic toes tapping. Helping from time to time are Peter "Al" Mastrolio, Susie Gustavson, and if we have a percussion break down, either Keith Kruppner or Brent Stothers helps out on the drums. Our regular drummer is Tom Kweicien, either Doug or Eric Kelly sing and call the dances. Roger Kelly is our classic "Old Timer". That old Golden Anniversary Gibson guitar still speaks the same language it did in 1950. I'ts tone is as distinct and unique as the one who runs its strings. Some confusion exists at times, we do square dancing, so some think we are a country band. In fact we are not and never have been, but rather we try to do a little bit of everything while concetrating on what is called American Standard Music. A variety of dance music that is easy to dance to.
Today we offer the same basic program of old time American Dance Standards. 1920's thru 1950's and our Eastern Square Dances and Jazz specialties. We've played for the weddings and the 50th wedding anniversarys of certain couples. We do public concerts, Barn Dances and entertain for company open house parties. Please feel free to check out our music link page. We have a sample of our square dances and other tunes there. By listening to these two links you will have a good idea of what we do. You can find more on "U-Tube.com", along with come clips of Checker Boys and ExCheks recordings. We also have a coming events page with all our public jobs listed. Don't forget to sign our Guest Page. ---- See you soon.... Doug Kelly
Woody Kelly started playing the accordion at around 7 or 8 years old. He played for local parties and shows. In the early 1930's he did a radio talent show with "Pie Plant Pete and Bashfull Harmonica Joe" on WHAM Radio in Rochester. In 1939 or 1940 he joined Elmer Brewer's "Checker Boys". They were one of the first groups in the area to offer the Eastern Style Square Dancing that was becoming the new trend. Friday nights the Checker Boys played on WBTA radio in Batavia and provided the music for the Ralston Purina Music Hour. They offered a good program of dance numbers and Ken Lowe, their caller, knew all the latest singing square dances calls as well as many of the older reels and "Parlor Dances". Woody played accordion, Elmer Brewer the violin, Keith Morgan played bass and Lynn Rowley played guitar or banjo. They were very popular around the area and were in demand throughout the WWII years and into the 1950's. Also during this time, other musicians in the area were playing similar jobs. After the Checkerboy's came the ExCheks, Roger Kelly's Swingsters, groups that featured Sandy Consiglio on accordion or Edward Kalisz on accordion or violin. Jim Kruppner was also calling the eastern style dances. JN White's Mid-shipmen played more of the big band numbers and swing music. After the war, bands were available in nearly every town. There was a lot of work for good musicians who wanted to play. Some bands did the square dances, others did not.
About 1950 Woody wanted to get his own program of music and dances together, so he and Roger, Keith Morgan and John "Curly" Myers started playing as Kelly's Old Timers. Woody did the calling and Bill Loop from Castile was vocalist and rhythm guitar. KOT was very popular through the 1950's and 60's. Many fine musicians played through the years. The list would be long, but I feel the need to mention some who played over the years; Ralph Fuller, Del Sylor, Les Simpson, Bernie Simpson, Judy Koerner Foote, George Pawlak, Leo Ziolkowski and Don Wehner. Through the 1970's Woody's failing health required things to slow down. In May of 1982 he died of heart failure while on vacation with Ralph Fuller at their camp in the Adirondacks. In the 1980's and 90's demand for the group stepped up. Roger got Sandy Consiglio, Eric or Doug Kelly on Bass with Ken Lowe calling the square dances and kept things going. In the late 1990's a traffic accident injured Sandy Consiglio and ended his playing with the group. That made another big change for the band. It ended the Accordion era. Eric Kelly took over on the keyboard and Guy Macaluso came on board playing trumpet, guitar, bass as needed. The trumpet adds a new voice to the band. It's a jazzier sound and an occasional Dixieland tune has been known to get the most arthritic toes tapping. Helping from time to time are Peter "Al" Mastrolio, Susie Gustavson, and if we have a percussion break down, either Keith Kruppner or Brent Stothers helps out on the drums. Our regular drummer is Tom Kweicien, either Doug or Eric Kelly sing and call the dances. Roger Kelly is our classic "Old Timer". That old Golden Anniversary Gibson guitar still speaks the same language it did in 1950. I'ts tone is as distinct and unique as the one who runs its strings. Some confusion exists at times, we do square dancing, so some think we are a country band. In fact we are not and never have been, but rather we try to do a little bit of everything while concetrating on what is called American Standard Music. A variety of dance music that is easy to dance to.
Today we offer the same basic program of old time American Dance Standards. 1920's thru 1950's and our Eastern Square Dances and Jazz specialties. We've played for the weddings and the 50th wedding anniversarys of certain couples. We do public concerts, Barn Dances and entertain for company open house parties. Please feel free to check out our music link page. We have a sample of our square dances and other tunes there. By listening to these two links you will have a good idea of what we do. You can find more on "U-Tube.com", along with come clips of Checker Boys and ExCheks recordings. We also have a coming events page with all our public jobs listed. Don't forget to sign our Guest Page. ---- See you soon.... Doug Kelly
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