Musicians from Cortland County

Musicians & Groups Currently Displayed

Ronnie James Dio

From early bands in Cortland to Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio, Heaven & Hell

Mickey Lee Soule

David Feinstein & The Rods

Charlie Bertini

Danny D’Imperio

Colonel Arnald Gabriel

Tex Roe

Spiegle Willcox

Cortland Old Timers Band

More musicians and groups to come….

Interactive Touchscreen – Music Videos, Photos, Interviews, and More

Ronnie James Dio
Mickey Lee Soule, David Feinstein, The Rods
Spiegle Willcox
Arnald Gabriel, Tex Roe
Danny D’Imperio

 

Some Artifacts & Narratives on Display

Charlie’s recordings
Charlie Bertini’s Circus Showband
Charlie Bertini
Danny’s drum, signature drumsticks, and more
1978-79, Rehearsing with Tony Bennet in Miami
Endorsed by Slingerland Drum Company
Album display – Ronnie Dio along with other area musicians
Dio Platinum Record Award
Ronnie’s Early Bands
Spiegle’s Big Band Years
Spiegle’s First Trombone
Tex Roe’s 1970 Album

Thanks to all who have donated artifacts and provided information about Cortland County musicians. We look forward to further development of the exhibit. Here are just a few highlights of community support.

Singer-Songwriter Marc Ryan
Danny D’Imperio and his H.S. classmate Phil Tennant
Ronnie’s Cortland bandmates and friends.

Local musician Marc Ryan, lead guitarist and vocalist with the band M3, recently donated four first-press DIO albums for further development of our exhibit. Danny D’Imperio has provided artifacts and information about his music career and he’s given us a wealth of information about Cortland musicians dating back to the early 20th century. The Bertini family has shared more than a hundred photographs covering decades of Cortland’s rich music culture, including Old Timers Band performances going back to the 1960s. In March, 2023, a panel of Ronnie James Dio’s former band mates and lifelong friends – David Feinstein, Mickey Lee Soule, Butch Hyde, and Dick Bottoff, entertained a full auditorium with stories about their times with Ronnie. The information and artifacts they’ve provided have been crucial for development of the exhibit.

Spiegle Willcox’s daughter, Cythina Willcox Stubbs, along with his daughter-in-law and grandchildren have provided artifacts and information for the display. Ralph Dudgeon, SUNY Cortland Music Professor Emeritus, also provided artifacts and detailed information about the start of Spiegle Willcox’s career with early 20th century jazz musicians and bands.

Spiegle’s daughter, Cynthia Willcox Stubbs
Willcox family members visit the Spiegle Willcox exhibit.

Cortland Old Timers Band

1989 Sam Forcucci, Director
1994 Donna Yaccavone, Director
Old Timers Band, 2000
Arnald Gabriel and Ed O’Rourke, Band Director 2012-18

Music Events in 2023

In February, 2023, SUNY Cortland Emeritus Music Professor Ralph Dudgeon presented Spiegle Willcox’s early career as a jazz trombonist. In March, David “Rock” Feinstein, Mickey Lee Soule, Harold “Butch” Hyde, and Dick Bottoff entertained a full auditorium with stories about Ronnie James Dio and his early Cortland bands. In September, the Cortland Old Timers Band performed during a CNY Living History Center event.

Ralph Dudgeon on Spiegle’s Early Career
Visitors enjoying the music display at our Ronnie Dio event
Cortland Old Timers Band

Thanks to our supporters and partners:

The Bertini Family Foundation

The Siegle Foundation

The Homer Center for the Arts https://center4art.org/

Gary McCheyne at the The Cayuga Music Shop https://www.cayugamusic.com/staff.html