Autumn Years Summer 2023

David, who lives in Fair Lawn, is the youngest of five, with two older brothers and two older sisters. All five kids and his parents sing and play musical instru ments, says David. “My father has a gor geous voice,” notes David, who has been playing with bands since he was 13. He started out playing guitar for about 5 to 10 years and has played keyboards for the

‘real’ job as a court officer in New York City. I had a great career and was even tually promoted to Senior Court Clerk.” He retired some 31 years later in 2017. Like Joe, retirement has allowed Ken to get back to playing music in public again and to make new connections. Bruce and his wife Rose live in Valley Cottage, New York, and they have many

a wide variety,” says Ken. That variety included Big Band, Broadway show tunes, ethnic music, Hank Williams, Sinatra and Deano. His older brother and sister contributed early rock to the family record collection, and Ken is a big Beatles fan. He experimented with guitar, bass and drums and ac companied his brother’s accordion as

Ken Conti

Bruce Pollack

Stu Iselin

past 45 years. Ten years ago, he picked up bass guitar as well. David’s first “day job” was as an airplane mechanic for Conti nental Airlines. After getting laid off in the early ‘80s, David got his electrician’s license and then ran his own business for 30 years. He is now retired and, like his bandmates, is enjoying having the time to perform more. Barney describes himself as a guitar ist, composer, singer and teacher. Origi nally from Uniondale, Long Island, New York, he played guitar and sang with sev eral rock bands while attending Nassau Community College. He continued per

northern New Jersey connections. Rose grew up in Glen Rock. Bruce graduated from Upsala College in East Orange and earned his MBA from Fairleigh Dick inson University in Teaneck. Bruce had a full-time “day gig” in the electronics field for more than 40 years, including 36 years with Bergen County-based Sharp Electronics Corporation. He started per forming with bands in the late ‘60s and never stopped. Over the years he has per formed steadily with area rock, Motown/ R&B and oldies acts.

a drummer at local parties and sum mer weekends in the Catskills. As a freshman in high school, Ken told the band director he wanted to play the drums. The band director told Ken he had enough drummers and urged him to give the clarinet a try. So, he did. After graduating as first chair clarinetist, Ken went on to study music at Herbert H. Lehman College, CUNY and picked up the sax. He played with local rock bands at clubs in the tri-state area and at colleges. “That was a blast!” recalls Ken. “Then I took the civil service test and got a

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