JoAnn Simon

JoAnn Simon, a Niagara Falls native, currently serves as the Recording Secretary for the Niagara Falls Music Hall of Fame. After serving 30 years as a full-time training and office manager in the US Air Force Reserves at Niagara Falls Air Base, she retired in 2014. Since then, she has dedicated much of her time tenaciously promoting area musicians and hosting music events in the city of Niagara Falls.

As president of the newly formed LaSalle High School Alumni Association, she and her team have resurrected THE REC dances, which were popular music venues for teenagers in the 60’s and 70’s. This group also hosts the annual Lovin’ LaSalle Music Festival held every summer. Proceeds from both events are donated to various non-profit entities within the city of Niagara Falls. JoAnn has a passion for music that may very well come from her family background. In the early 1900’s, her grandfather; a violinist and grandmother; a pianist, performed with orchestras and symphonies throughout the United States and Europe. Her father was a professional trumpet player in the 40’s, who also played all over the world with the US Army Band during WWII and also with Red Norvo’s jazz band.

JoAnn fondly remembers her dad’s photographs and stories of sharing the stage with jazz greats Benny Goodman, Woody Herman and Dizzy Gillespie. Proud of her family’s musical heritage, JoAnn is delighted to be a part of the Niagara Falls Music Hall of Fame Board of Directors by offering her managerial experience and computer skills. Giving back to the community where she was born and raised is very important to her.

She currently lives in Amherst, New York with her husband Howard, their son Jonathan, and her elderly mother, all of whom are devout sports fans; leaving music as a viable outlet for herself.