- Rose City Accordion Club

Rose City Accordion Club - Portland, Oregon
( http://www.rosecityaccordionclub.org )
Please Join Us April 16 at the Milwaukie
Public Safety Bldg., 3200 SE Harrison Street
(SE 32nd and SE Harrison)
1:00 - 5:00 PM Club Meeting
2011
George Rozwick will conduct a
“workshop” from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
prior to the regular meeting.
April’s “Featured Performers”
Highlights
2 - March meeting
George
Rozwick
Eldon
Tichenor
3 - Accordion Events
4 - Ruth Burgess
Birthday Party
5 - RCAC “Night Out”
6/7 - History of song:
“Just Walkin’ in the
Rain”
8 - Contact Info
George Rozwick has performed with many of the “greats” and
contributed much to the accordion world. He started playing the
accordion in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the age of 13 and was teaching
and performing by 17. He had planned to attend medical school
following military service, but instead started an accordion school.
He eventually started 50 accordion studios in eight states, including
Oregon & Alaska. He also had a Competition Band that won at
Carnegie Hall!
Music has always been a big part of Eldon’s life. Raised in Topeka,
Kansas, he took his first piano lesson at the age of 4 and
transitioned to the accordion at age 8. In 1949, he began private
study with George Rozwick and went on to become a “Championship
Player.” Eldon’s resume includes a World Championship Trophy
from the International Music League and “First Place” trophies from
contests in Kansas, Oklahoma, Ohio and Colorado.
These two accordionists rekindled their friendship a number of years
ago and have enjoyed performing together whenever the opportunity
arises. Please join us as these gracious gentlemen & fantastic
accordion players “wow” us with musical talent.
Page 2
Accordion Talk
April 2011
Members played the following at the March meeting:
PAT DALEN - Amazing Grace & Danny Boy
George Rozwick
JILL PATTEN - some Irish “Diddies” & Midnight Waltz
will conduct a
VELMA CONTE - Peg of My Heart & Danny Boy
“workshop”
LEONARD KOSATKA - Under Paris Skies, Misty
MARLENE MEISSNER - Swedish Polka & Bayerische Defilier March
from 11:00 AM
BEN BRINK - Emily and Rebecca’s Waltz
to 1:00 PM prior
BOBBIE FERRERO - Harbor Lights & I Won’t Get Married
to the regular
PIETER BERGSHOEFF - Lara’s Theme & Lola
WAYNE NELSON - Toledo Waltz & Russian Sketch
April meeting.
LAVERNE MORRIS - That’s My Desire & Apple Blossom Time
LETA BUNNEL & BOB TROJAK (duet) - MacNamara’s Band & Peggy O’Neil
BOB NOEL - Basin Street Blues, Lili Marlene, Garyowen & Blue Hawaii
BEV OYLEAR - Oh Susanna & Sjomans Valsen
GEORGE ROZWICK & ELDON TICHENOR (duet) - Bill Bailey, 12th Street Rag & Springtime in the Rockies
ELDON TICHENOR - great rendition of Clarinet Polka
MEL KEETING - Over the Waves
PHILLIP LAZAU - Czardas & Accordion Boogie
SIDAR BUDEANU - Arkansas Traveler, Anniversary Song & Julida Polka
CONNIE WEIMER & DOROTHY FUCILE (duet) - French Toast
JASON, JESSICA & JOHNATHON BORZOSH - Poporashul Meu (Jason played the accordion and Jessica &
Johnathon sang)
JASON BORZOSH - Golden Slippers & La Spagnola
JASON BORZOSH & DOROTHY FUCILE (duet) - Julida Polka
LISA ROEDER & DOROTHY FUCILE (duet) - Accordiana
LISA ROEDER - Dark Eyes
DOROTHY FUCILE - Lady Be Good, Liebestraum, Sweet Georgia Brown, & Don’t Take Your Love From Me
STEVE KNAPKE - Squeeze Box & Moonlight Bay
Dorothy Fucile (left - our
“Guest Performer”)
entertained us with lovely
music. But I believe she was
most proud of her accordion
students who played music for
all to enjoy at the March
Mel Keeting
meeting. Her students are
pictured here.
Dorothy & Lisa Roeder
Ben Brink
Dorothy Fucile
Phillip Lazau
Sidar Budeanu
Dorothy & Connie Weimer
Jessica, Johnathon
& Jason Borzosh
Page 3
Accordion Talk
April 2011
Accordion Events
Calendar of Featured Guests
April 10, 2011
Forest Grove Spring Accordion
Social
Forest Grove Senior Center
Forest Grove, OR
April 16 - George Rozwick & Eldon Tichenor
May 21 - TBA
June 18 - TBA
Please let me know if you hear of any interesting players
as possible future guests. Thanks - Glenda.
gmmaccord18@q.com
From One Accordionist to Another
Looking for accordionist to play with
a few times a month
• Playing easier / intermediate music.
• German/Scandinavian, old time dance music + standards.
• Meet once to check compatibility.
Terry George Rudd (503) 235-0517
Rudd-family@comcast.net
Member Rose City Accordion Club, NWAS
June 05-10, 2011
RCAC Accordion Camp
Silver Falls State Park, OR
June 16-19, 2011
Leavenworth International
Accordion Celebration
Leavenworth, WA
July 04-09, 2011
Kimberly International Old-Time
Accordion Championships
(KIOTAC)
Kimberly, BC, CA
August 20, 2011
Cotati Accordion Festival
Cotati, CA
Sep 09-11, 2011
Sandy Oktoberfest
Sandy, OR
Sep 15-18, 2011
Mt Angel Oktoberfest
Mt Angel, OR
October 23, 2011
Forest Grove Fall Accordion
Social
Forest Grove Senior Center
Forest Grove, OR
Velma Conte
Bobbie Ferrero
A “BIG THANK YOU” to
Bev Oylear
for providing snacks at the last meeting for all
to enjoy.
Bev Oylear
Bev finally decided to strap the accordion on
and play a couple of songs for us.
Page 4
April 2011
Accordion Talk
Ruth Burgess “Birthday Party”
Saturday, April 9, 2011
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Masonic Lodge
10636 SE Main St, Milwaukie
Attention RCAC Club Members!!
You are invited to attend a birthday party for Ruth
Burgess
David and Bobbi Scogin invite you to attend the 90th birthday celebration of
Ruth Burgess on Saturday, April 9, 2011, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
at the Masonic Lodge #109, 10636 SE Main Street, Milwaukie, OR
Luncheon at noon. Talent show. Video show. Bring your accordions and play some
music for her entertainment.
Bobbi needs to get a “Head Count” to order food.
Please RSVP by April 3rd.
Call 503-653-7652 or email eckdancer@yahoo.com
If you would like to bring a dish of food to the party (such as a salad, cookies, jello,
baked beans, etc.) please call Bobbi and let her know what you are planning to bring.
Directions:
Go west on SE Harrison Street from the Milwaukie Public Safety Building (where our club meets),
after about ½ mile, bear left to stay on SE Harrison Street, turn right onto SE Main Street, the
Masonic Lodge is on the right)
B (on the map at
A (on the map at
right) designates the
location of the
Masonic Lodge
left) - designates the
Milwaukie Public
Safety Building
where our club
normally meets
Page 5
Accordion Talk
April 2011
Rose City Accordion Club
“Night Out”
Friday, May 13
The RCAC “Night-Out” is Friday, May 13, at the Tualatin Valley Elks Lodge (8350 SW Warm Springs
Street) in Tualatin, OR (this is the same place where we held the previous event). “No host” bar will
also be available. Bring your accordion for we will play tunes prior, during and after dinner. Come
and enjoy a steak dinner, drinks and accordion music played by our club members.
Free entry; however, you will have to pay for dinner. Estimated cost for dinner is $12.00 ($12.00 per
person); however, RCAC members who are current with their dues will receive a 50% dinner
discount (our club will pay the other 50%). Spouses & significant others will pay full price for dinner.
Money will be collected at the door. Door opens at 4:00 PM. Dinner served btwn 6:30 - 8:00 PM.
If you plan to attend this event, you must call BOB TROJAK before May 04 and let him know that you
will attend/eat dinner and also how many folks there will be in your party. Please give Bob your
telephone number in the event he needs to get back in touch with you. If you state you will attend
and have dinner, and we inform the Elks staff to prepare your meal - you will pay for dinner even if
you don’t attend.
Bob Trojak’s telephone numbers:
503-685-9036 (primary) / 503-866-7756 (secondary-cell)
April 2011
Accordion Talk
Page 6
History of Song: “Just Walkin' in the Rain”
"Just Walkin' in the Rain" was written in 1952 by Johnny Bragg and Robert Riley,
two prisoners at the Tennessee State Prison in Nashville, after a comment made
by Bragg as the pair crossed the courtyard while it was raining. Bragg allegedly
said, "Here we are just walking in the rain, and wondering what the girls are
doing." Riley suggested that this would make a good basis for a song, and within
a few minutes, Bragg had composed two verses. However, because Bragg was
unable to read and write, he asked Riley to write the lyrics down in exchange for
being credited as one of the song's writers.
Bragg formed a band - The Prisonaires - and they were just
that, five African-American male singers who also happened
to be inmates of the Tennessee State Penitentiary in
Nashville.
The group was formed when Bragg (lead singer), who had
been a penitentiary inmate since 1943 when, at the age of
17, he was convicted of six charges of rape, joined up with
two prison gospel singers (each of whom were doing 99
years for murder) - Ed Thurman (second tenor) and William
Stewart (baritone and guitar), and two new penitentiary
arrivals, John Drue Jr. (first tenor, doing three years for
larceny) and Marcell Sanders (bass, doing one-to-five for
involuntary manslaughter).
The Prisonaires
The group was discovered by the radio producer Joe
Calloway, who heard them singing while preparing a
news broadcast from the prison. Calloway suggested
to warden James Edwards that the group be allowed
out to perform on the radio. Edwards, a liberal reformminded warden who saw this as part of his strategy of
rehabilitation, agreed. Calloway arranged for the
group to perform on the radio, a performance which
was eventually brought to the attention of Sam
Phillips of Sun Records. He arranged for the group to
be transported under armed guard to Memphis to
record. A few weeks later, "Just Walkin' in the Rain"
was released and quickly sold 50,000 copies.
The Prisonaires
"Just Walkin' in the Rain" was likely the record that captured the attention of a young Elvis Presley as
he read about the studio, the label, and more importantly, Phillips. The attendant publicity was more
than had been predicted, and soon warden Edwards was allowing the group out on day passes to
tour throughout the state of Tennessee. The band became favorites of the state's governor, Frank
Clement, and frequently performed for assembled guests at the governor's mansion. The group's
legacy was confirmed when "Just Walkin' in the Rain", written by Bragg, was recorded by Johnnie
Ray and became a million seller.
Page 7
Accordion Talk
April 2011
The Prisonaires eventually found themselves in demand for a series of television and concert
appearances. They gradually became high-status figures in Tennessee, and never betrayed the trust
placed in them by trying to escape their guards on their numerous forays outside the prison. A
second single followed in August 1953, the highly spiritual ‘My God Is Real’, followed by ‘I Know’ and
its autobiographical “b”-side, ‘A Prisoner’s Prayer’. While recording it they made the acquaintance of
Elvis Presley, who later visited them in prison.
The group never had another hit, and within a year they were finished, the result of the rise of rock &
roll and Phillips' preoccupation with a young singer from Tupelo, MS, named Elvis Presley. Most of
The Prisonaires had no careers outside of the prison with the notable exception of Bragg, who,
despite remaining in jail off and on until 1969, recorded some marginal R&B and country for small
labels in Nashville.
Bragg died of cancer in 2004. Stewart died of a drug overdose in a Florida motel in 1959, Sanders
died in the late 1960s, Thurman was killed in an accident in 1973 and Drue died of cancer in 1977.
Lyrics
Just walkin' in the rain
Getting soaking wet
Torturing my heart
By trying to forget
Just walkin' in the rain
So alone and blue
And all because my heart
Still remembers you
People come to windows
They always stare at me
Shaking their heads in sorrow
Saying, who can that fool be?
Just walkin' in the rain
Thinkin' how we met
Knowing things could change
Somehow I can't forget
(Just walkin' in the rain)
(Walkin' in the rain)
(Walkin' in the rain)
(Just walkin' in the rain)
(All day I...)
People come to their windows
They always stare at me
Shaking their heads in sorrow
Saying, who can that fool be?
Just walkin' in the rain
(Walkin' in the rain)
Getting soaking wet
(Walkin' in the rain)
Torturing my heart
(Walkin' in the rain)
By trying to forget
(Walkin' in the rain)
Rose City Accordion Club
1546 Willow Avenue
Woodburn, OR 97071
RCAC Contacts / Business Information
http://www.rosecityaccordionclub.org/
2010 Officers
Activity Coordinators
President
- Steve Knapke
Vice President - Glenda McLean
Secretary
- LaVerne Morris
Treasurer
- Marlene Meissner
Meeting MC Membership Program
WEB Site Newsletter RCAC Band Co-Directors - LaVerne Morris
Wayne Nelson
Mail dues to: Marlene Meissner
251 McNary Heights Drive North
Keizer, OR 97303
various
Marlene Meissner
Glenda McLean
Steve Knapke
Steve Knapke
Board Members
Leonard Kosatka
Wayne Nelson
Bob Trojak
George Veenstra
Glad Willie
Steve Knapke/Phone 503-612-8381
email - squeezebox11@frontier.com
Rose City Accordion Club is open to all accordion players, from beginners to professionals, their
friends and families, and to anyone who enjoys music. Meetings are held monthly on the third Saturday
of each month at the Milwaukie Public Safety Building, SE 32nd and SE Harrison, Milwaukie OR, from
1:00 to 5:00 PM.
Ad Policy: Any member wishing to place a business card or four-line ad in the newsletter may do so
free of charge for three months. After that, the fee is $5 for two additional months. 2 x 3 ½ ad
(Business card size) $5. ¼ page ad $10. ½ page ad $20. Full page ad (8 ½ x 11) $35.
Annual Dues are $20 and checks should be sent to the Treasurer RCAC