Tickets $15 if bringing an appetizer, salad or dish (encouraged!), $20 otherwise.
Advance purchase required, limited seating.
Sunday, May 20, 5PM – 9PM
Trolley Stop 530 E. Fifth Street, Dayton, OH

Phil’s Famous In 13 States Chili
Delicious Cake by JulieCakes

Cash Bar

“House concert atmosphere and fun”
Contact Phil.Cheesebrough@gmail.com for more details, questions, and to purchase tickets.

Frank Simon (circa 1912)

In 1890, a new dry goods store opened for business in Middletown, Ohio located on First Avenue near Crawford Street. The owners were a German – Jewish couple named Solomon and Bertha Simon, newlyweds relocated from Cincinnati. Solomon Simon had tried several careers in other states before he settled in Ohio, including stagecoach driving and cow wrangling in Texas. Bertha was working as a dressmaker when she met Solomon. Their first son, Frank, was born in Cincinnati on November 26, 1889. A year later, the Simons set down roots in Middletown. In their new hometown, they quickly became prominent local citizens.

Frank exhibited a natural talent for music at an early age. At nine, he “found” a flute and taught himself to play. The boy soon persuaded his mother to purchase a cornet. When he was eleven, he began lessons with Q.C. Buckles, the local municipal band director. Buckles was so impressed by young Simon’s abilities that he invited him to play in The Middletown Band.

Undoubtedly, the most tragic event in Frank Simon’s childhood occurred on April 12, 1902. His younger brother and constant companion Leo, was riding his bicycle on a family errand along Central Avenue in front of the Strand Theater when a 3,500 pound, steam powered automobile lost control and ran over him. Leo Simon died within a few hours. This shocking event drew young Frank even closer to his mother.

The accident is also notable for two other reasons. Statistically, it was the second automobile related fatality in the U.S. Also, the car involved was one of three experimental models produced by the Miami Cycle Works of Middletown. After the accident, there was an outcry in the local newspaper about the dangers of automobiles on the cities streets. Soon the Miami Company shut down all manufacturing of cars in favor of bicycles.

When Q.C. Buckles moved away from Middletown in 1903, he appointed fourteen year old Simon as Director of the Middletown Band. He also arranged for Simon to continue his lessons with William J. Kopp who played first trumpet in the Cincinnati Symphony and served on the faculty at Cincinnati College of Music. In 1905, Kopp suggested that Simon audition for Herman Bellstedt. Bellstedt was also a member of the Cincinnati Symphony who had previously achieved fame as a cornet soloist and composer with the world famous Sousa Band.

Frank Simon (circa 1903)

For the next four years, Simon continued his lessons with Bellstedt by taking the train to Cincinnati every Saturday. During the rest of the week he attended school, practiced his music lessons and rehearsed with the Middletown band. It was now called “Simon’s Band” and despite his relative youth, Frank Simon had become a local celebrity.

Weather permitting, Simon’s Band played open air concerts either at the South School or atop the Hoist Bridge that spanned the Miami Erie Canal at Central Avenue. In addition to this, Simon performed two or three nights a week at Sorg’s Opera House with the Sorg Orchestra.

Frank Simon’s Early Band (circa 1905)

When William Kopp formed his own band in 1909, he hired Simon to serve as cornet soloist. The Kopp Band regularly played at the Cincinnati Zoological Garden and it was there that Simon’s playing piqued the interest of John C. Weber, a local saloon owner and conductor of Webers Prize Band. In 1910, Weber hired Simon to play with his band. The ensemble made two transcontinental tours, introducing Simon to the barnstorming lifestyle of a traveling musician.

During the winter of 1912-1913, Simon possibly performed with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Hired as an extra or substitute player on an occasional basis only, this experience seems to be over – emphasized in most biographies.

In 1914, Herbert Clarke, cornet soloist and assistant conductor of the Sousa Band, announced his retirement. Bellstedt, a long time friend of Sousa, arranged for Simon to join the band with the possibility of taking over for Clarke. Simon became an apprentice to the older performer learning more than playing skills; it was also an education in coping with the brutal demands of the Sousa schedule. Clarke retired from the band in 1917 and Sousa promoted Simon to take his place.

CLICK THE LINKS BELOW FOR VIDEO

Herbert L. Clarke talking about Frank Simon

Side Partners – Walter Smith & Frank Simon

October 3rd, 1919 was a memorable homecoming for Simon when the Sousa Band performed a sold out concert at Sorgs Opera House. The audience included his family, friends, and many local admirers who had followed Simon’s career.

Of course, band members knew that life on the road was often strenuous but sometimes enough was enough. On one American tour in 1920, they arrived in Winston-Salem, North Carolina only to find someone had neglected to make the train and hotel arrangements. Tired, hungry and homeless, the men called a gripe session and elected to boycott the matinee concert the following day.

Simon’s role in this labor strike isn’t clear but when Sousa sent contract invitations for the next season, he was not included. He was unemployed, probably despondent, and living at home when the executives at Armco made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

MORE TO COME…

Hoffman will discuss his extensive musical career, projects past and present and will also make a very special announcement during the program.

If you’d like to come see the taping in person you can stop by the TV Middletown studios on Central Ave. on January 6th at 5:00 pm.

Whether you’re a fan of the original coal miner’s daughter or just feeling a bit nostalgic this is the concert for you and our definitive concert pick of the month if not the year.

Loretta Lynn
January 28th
Belterra Casino | Florence, Ind.
Tickets $40 and up | Get your Tix

Membership is as easy as choosing a username and we’ll send you your new account password via email. Your profile will allow you to see your latest downloads, read your own reviews and more. We are very proud of the latest edition and hope that all of you will enjoy our new features.

Saturday night December 10th I had the honor of witnessing the songstress weave her craft in an intimate setting in Dayton, Ohio. Her exotic melodies and poigniant lyrics were perfectly accentuated by guitarist and partner Gus Berry. The duet performed absolutely stellar cuts from her evergrowing collection of music and filled the between times with beautiful stories about love and loss. The evening was a rare opportunity to see the perfect artisan in an intimate venue delivering the proverbial goods. Liz Longley you absolutely rock and if you get the opportunity treat yourself to a talent who is assuredly in line to be the next best thing from Beantown.

We arrived at the venue in time to catch Neko Case doing her soundcheck and it was completely awesome to hear the siren-esque vocals from the folk goddess as she honed her show. Before we knew it the gates were open and we were among the clammering crowd heading into the venue for our seats. Oh-did I say seats again?. We make our way to the pit but not before stopping off at a beer tasting event for a variety of microbrews and a genuine great warmup for the show. As we enter we notice that there are no seats in the pit. IT’S LITERALLY THE PIT! Now pardon my naivety kind readers, I’ve been an avid concertgoer since the 70′s. When I bought my tickets it specifically showed seats. I simply asked the bot for the best seats available and it produced a beautiful jpeg showing us our seats.

We wander to the floor and find our place and begin to chuckle at the fact that we may have quite possibly been the oldest people in the pit if not the entire venue. You see, Neko was warming up a band called My Morning Jacket. Now while I’m familiar with the young hipsters, and their attempt to monetarily benefit from the music of forefathers Phish and dare I say the Grateful Dead, they were not, however, the reasons that we purchased our pit seats. They very well may have been the reason that the other 5,000 or so fans did though. We simply wanted to see Neko.

As Neko, and crew, took the stage we stood sipping our beers and smiling from ear to ear as the rusty-haired genius of Neko unfolded before our very eyes. Performing tracks from her latest release she delivered a set that was classic NC with amazing musical artistry and enchanted and haunting vocals. We were in Heaven! I stand corrected…we were in Heaven’s armpit! The set was amazing, there was no moshing, and it was over way too soon for our tastes. Hearing her belt out her uniquely crafted handyworks was one of the highlights of my concert experience’s and that says a lot my children.

Oh-and My Morning Jacket was alright too!

The evening will begin with a meet and greet for featured artists Justin Tharpe and Marissa Lynn Johnston. Visitors can walk through the gallery meet the artists before the music kicks off around 7:00pm. Following the band will be a multimedia performance from visualist and artist Justin Tharpe entitled The Elixir Of Transfiguration. The piece is centered on the Heaven’s Gate cult and their subsequent mass suicide. Tharpe will challenge the audiences perception with video and a performance piece with a surprise ending.

The show is free and will be held as part of Middletown’s First Friday festivities on Friday, October 7th from 6-9pm on the second floor of Beauverre Riordan Studios in Middletown.

Get more info at their Facebook page here.

The UDFS performance is $50 a person and includes dinner at the beautiful stained glass studio located at Central and Broad in downtown Middletown’s art district. The show is on Saturday night, October 29th, and it promises to be a good one. Call (513) 425-7312 for ticket information.

“I’ve received nothing but positive responses from the track and am pleased that things are progressing well, ” Hoffman said of the recent submissions. ADR hopes to have the track on European radio by the holiday season.

Stay tuned for more news.