My Dream of Becoming a Rock Star and How It Led to a Lifelong Career at I-95

Fresh out of Ithaca College, where I graduated in 1973 with a BA  in Communications, I was eager to pursue my first full-time gig when my singer/songwriter friend, Garry Manuel, asked me if I would be interested in forming an acoustic duo.

I was 22 and fresh out of college, and I knew if I didn't explore the possibility of becoming the next 'Seals & Crofts,' I would regret it for the rest of my life. Our repertoire was comprised of original and cover tunes from artists like Neil Young, The Eagles, Seals & Crofts, etc.

We worked various jobs during the day to make ends meet, and in the evening, we strapped on our acoustic guitars, worked for hours choosing our set lists, and then finely crafted the arrangement and vocal harmonies for each tune. As a result, this Seals & Crofts of 'We May Never Pass This Way Again' was one of our favorites to play out live.

Because Sunup had played several live radio concerts on Rochester's rock station, WCMF, I had befriended the station's Program Director, Bernie Kimpal, who sadly passed away in 2017. Through our casual conversations, he learned I had attended Ithaca College and majored in Communications. So when he asked if I was interested in a weekend air shift, I jumped at the chance! My story continues in the photo gallery below.