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Fred Grupe - Bass
Fred Grupe, bass, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised by his adoptive parents in Euclid, Ohio. Fred was deeply involved in Christian activities at an early age which included his first brush with music as he sang in the church youth choirs. While in elementary school, Fred developed a love for classical music which he still holds dear today. While other kids hoped for cap guns at Christmas, Fred was extremely pleased to find a Wagner album among his gifts.
Fred then attended Baptist Christian school for his 6th-8th grade education and was in a very small classroom environment, as his 8th grade class only had three (3) boys and a total of 12 students. Fred then transferred to Shore Junior High in Euclid where he continued his friendship with a boy named Art Iacofano, who is still among Fred's very best friends. Football, basketball and track all enticed Fred with a
fervor for a love of sports which is still dear to him today. During this time in his life, Fred took guitar lessons from Vincent Valente at Petromelli's Music on E. 185th Street in Cleveland, Ohio. One of the first songs learned that wasn't from the old Mel Bay guitar book was Danny Klawon's "It's Cold Outside", which was a radio hit recorded by the Choir.
Upon graduating from Euclid High School, Fred went on to Malone College in Canton, Ohio, where he
actually participated in intercollegiate basketball and track for Malone. At this time, viewpoints were vacillating and among the rubble of the Kent State slayings, Fred sincerely questioned values and principles and actually had no permanent residence for quite some time. In fact, Fred lived in the woods and on friends' kitchen floors, eating whatever one would donate or whatever he could work for, but all of these were not oppressive to Fred Grupe... they were a Nirvana.
Later, Fred became friends with Mike Vahella and Hook and they formed a rhythm and blues band. Mike and Hook played some gigs at Kent State with the Measles and the James Gang. Fred still remembers friends playing Cat Stevens, Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor, Carole King, etc. around camp fires and in friends' living rooms, and they were etched in his heart with indelible ink. Upon his early exit from
Malone College, Fred then hitchhiked across the midwest and to the east coast several times. He then moved back and holed up in his parents' basement in Euclid and enrolled at Lakeland Community College.
At Lakeland, Fred met Denny Carleton, and they hit it off immediately. They eventually formed the Fa Band, with Denny, Mac Chafer and Fred. Playing at first at YMCA dances and other teen venues, they
branched out to playing at smaller clubs and parties. Mac wanted to be in a better situation, so he left the band and Fred and Denny continued the Fa Band using different drummers and lead guitar players. During these times, Fred, with the help of many of his mates, produced multi-act shows billed as Fa & Friends Jam Nights, which included musicians such as Mike O'Neill, Rick Harrison, Tom Foster, Ron Bell, Mac
Chafer, Anthony Vacarro, Joe Horvath, Chris Butcher, Bob Kruk, Wally Bryson, Danny Klawon, Todd Weaver, Dave Thomas, Steve Doman, Randy Klawon, Jim Morgan, Jay Woodford, Ronny & Bobby Carroll, Jack Freeman, Dave Alexy, Al Globokar, Mike Wey, Rey Jesionowski, Dave Smalley, Jim Burkhart, Ralph Viviano, Billy (Skin) Conklin, Dick (Big Daddy) Gleason, Richard Anderson, Mike Marshall, Joe Balazic, Artie Peeler, Steve and Mark Jocum, Mike and Steve Walzak, Danny Schneider,
Dave Nida, Eric Robertson, Ted Aquilla, Dave Burke, and many, many more.
Early on, Fred had the great opportunity to play on WMMS Coffee Break Concert with Denny Carleton and Randy Klawon. The show was hosted by Matt (the Cat) Fisher and was held at WMMS's studio in Cleveland, Ohio.
Following the original Fa Band was a revised edition of the Fa Band which included Danny Schneider,
Ralph Viviano, Denny Carleton, Joe Balazic and Fred. They continued to play at various clubs and shared billing on many gigs with Peter Panic, a band formed by Danny Klawon which included his brother Randy, Wally Bryson, Todd Weaver, Steve Doman and Dave Thomas.
Next came their band Inner City, which included Danny Schneider, Denny Carleton, Pam & Bruce Moore and Fred. Inner City raced to instant popularity and became the house band at the Phantasy Night Club in
Lakewood, Ohio. (Pam went on to do work with Gary Wright, Bob Seger and Meatloaf, Danny signed a songwriting contract, Bruce formed Moonlight Drive [Doors tribute band] with old friend Bill Pettijohn, and Denny created his own record label - Greenlight Records.)
At the demise of Inner City, a new band was formed (more of a recording band), called Back Alley. Back Alley consisted of Steve and Mike Walzak, Danny Schneider, Ted Aquilla and Fred.
After Back Alley came Patchwork Blue with Verne McClelland, Dan Brady, the late Bill (Mike) Perry, Kevin Weinbrecht and Fred. Patchwork Blue was a fun-filled band that played many different styles of music, and Fred recalls it as really the most fun of all the bands... at least for a while.
Next came a period of time when Fred just jammed around and wrote several songs that received some
air play. "The Christmas Star" and "Because Thou Art Perfect", recorded by Pam Stonebreaker, received air play on WCRF, a Cleveland Christian radio station, and Patchwork Blue's recording of "Good Old Country Rock & Roll" received some Ohio air play as well.
Fred then formed a partnership with long time friend Chris Butcher and they are, as this is written, working
on completing a two year project C.D. which will feature songs written by Chris and Fred and include performances by Justin Butcher, Tim Facemeyer, Bob Yocum, Verne McClelland and Rich Branham (to name a few). So be on the lookout for this C.D.
All of this led to the formation of Abbey Rodeo and Fred fully enjoys the camaraderie, musicianship and brotherhood/sisterhood of this group.