2018 Inductees

Stephen Wieloszynski 2018 Legacy

1896-1975 Professor Szczepan ‘Stephen’ Wieloszynski, was a well-respected violinist, teacher, orchestra leader, and music store owner in Niagara Falls New York. He was a son of Polish immigrants who instilled him to work hard and devote time to helping youth. The...

Felix Viscuglia 2018 Legacy

1927-2009 Felix Viscuglia, born in Niagara Falls New York, was a world-renowned clarinetist. In the early 60’s Felix performed at many local clubs to include The Whirlpool, The Glass Bar and Club Rhapsody to name a few. He was hired for weddings and many private...

Anthony “Tony Paone” Paonessa 2018 Legacy

1915-2003 Anthony T. Paonessa, better known as ‘Tone “Saxophone” Paone’ was a life-long resident of Niagara Falls New York. He was best known as being the entertaining club manager of the infamous Stage Door Lounge for over 30 years which was a favorite Niagara Falls...

Natalo Paella 2018 Legacy

1927-2001 NataloPaella, awell-known trumpet player,was born and raised in Niagara Falls. When he was a young boy, he was taken to hear Duke Ellington’s band in Niagara Falls Ontario at a club called the Arena. That night he met trumpet player Cootie Williams and was...

Frederick “Freddy” Maruca 2018 Legacy

1932-2015 Freddy Marucca graduated from Niagara Falls High School in 1950 and started a band with Joe ‘Burpo’ Marino, Joe and Tony Marillo and Joe Leo. He attended Fredonia School of Music, but left to join the Air Force when he was assigned to the Air Force Band,...

John “Spider” Martin 2018 Legacy

1931-2000 John W. ‘Spider’ Martin Jr. was a tenor saxophonist, and a highly respected jazz legend. He relocated to Niagara Falls New York with his family at a very young age. When his parents brought musical instruments into their home, Spider found his passion. He...

Donald Gais 2018 Legacy

1919-1996 Donald Elton Gais, born in Niagara Falls New York, was an internationally acclaimed jazz pianist and singer who performed for many years in the United States and Europe. At eight years old, he was already playing the piano at First Evangelical Church in...

Gregory DeDario 2018 Legacy

1949-2018 At the very young age of 8, Gregory DeDario was exposed to the Niagara Falls music scene. His father Bill DeDario was a trumpet player and many local musicians performed at his family's restaurant, DeDario's Grill located on Falls Street. At the age of 9,...

Dr. Edward D’Anna 2018 Legacy

1880-1965 Dr. Edward D’Anna was, in his day, the most famous musician in the city of Niagara Falls, known locally, nationally and internationally. He worked his entire career here and brought fame to the city as a home for great music and talented musicians....

Ronald Corsaro 2018 Legacy

1937-2017 Ronald L. Corsaro Sr., a musician, composer, arranger, teacher, and coach, began his musical journey playing the piano at teen dances and the Ontario House among other popular hang-outs in the 1950’s. He was a member of Joe Marillo and the Rockets performing...

Marcangelo Perricelli 2018

Raised in Niagara Falls New York, Marcangelo Perricelli quickly became one of this area’s premium keyboard players. He has performed in Western New York and on the road along the eastern coast of the United States for over 45 years with the bands Tarkus, Aurora,...

Peter P. Paonessa, Jr. 2018

Peter P. Paonessa, Jr., known for being a professional drummer, entertainment/booking manager, and local club owner, started playing the drums at a very early age. At age 13, he started playing professionally with older musicians on weekends in Niagara Falls...

Perry Novak 2018

Perry Novak, born and raised in Niagara Falls New York, started playing guitar when he was young and continued professionally throughout his adult life as a lead guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, producer, sound engineer, guitar teacher and a luthier. For 21 years he...

Jeff Jeckovich 2018

Jeff Jeckovich, keyboardist, singer, songwriter, and composer has a decades-long career as a full-time musician, encompassing wide-ranging styles and many differing aspects of music. His musical endeavors range from rock to classical, including directorships in...

James L. Jeckovich 2018

James Jeckovich is a Niagara Falls guitarist/vocalist who plays classical, pop, jazz, flamenco and rock solo guitar and has been a key performer in many area bands since he was a teenager. Starting out with his older brother Jeff in 1975, he was a guitarist and singer...

Frank Geracitano 2018

Frank Geracitano started playing drums when he was 9 years old. As a teenager in the late 60’s he started performing with the band Love Memorial at LaSalle REC dances, then Purple Gas at the Monte Carlo Lounge and Northwood Fantasy at the Pine Bowl Lounge. In 1968, he...

Jack Gavin 2018

Jack Gavin started playing drums in his hometown of Niagara Falls New York. Early in his musical journey, he played with fellow-inductees Mark Dixon, Carl Filbert, Perry Novak, and Marcangelo Perricelli as well as Tony Beccari in the “Buffalo” circuit band TaTa Swan....

Carl Filbert 2018

Carl Filbert, a noted bassist and vocalist from Niagara Falls New York, has been a professional entertainer and musician his entire adult life. Influenced by Dick Clark’s American Band Stand and The Beatles, and after making an impression on musician Dr. Edward...

Mark Dixon 2018

Mark Dixon was born and raised in Niagara Falls New York and according to his mother, he started singing at the age of two. Whenever the Ipana toothpaste commercial would come on, he would sit in front of the television and sing along with it. In 1964, Mark saw the...

Lewis D. Custode, Jr. 2018

Lew Custode, trumpet player and vocalist, who was born and raised in Niagara Falls New York started playing traditional jazz music at an early age, following in the footsteps of his father Lewis Custode Sr. As an accomplished professional musician in Western New York...

Joe Calato 2018

Born in Niagara Falls New York in 1921, Joe Calato, drummer and inventor of Regal Tip drumsticks is the owner of J.D. Calato Manufacturing company, a family-run business, based in his hometown, where he has lived his entire life. Joe started playing the drums when he...

Beginnings 2018

Beginnings is a Niagara Falls New York based horn group established in 1971, whose members have continued to excel in this area’s music scene overfive decades. As young teenagers in the early 70’s, members of Beginnings attempted complex horn songs and were one of the...

2018 Inductees

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