Bill OBoyle: The Buoys really were back in town
May 15—WILKES-BARRE — About halfway through Saturday night's reunion concert, Bill Kelly, front man for the iconic band The Buoys, put it all in perspective.
"You know why today's music sucks?" Kelly asked. "Because it's not this."
More than 700 children of the '60s and '70s roared in agreement at Genetti's Hotel and Ballroom. They came to see and hear the songs of their youth and to sing along.
The Buoys didn't disappoint, playing their chart-topping hit "Timothy" to end a night that those attending hoped would never end and also made it clear that they would love to see more of these events featuring the great bands of Northeastern Pennsylvania's past.
Three guys put it all together — Joe Nardone, Thom Greco and Jim Della Croce. Kelly now lives in Nashville and he was joined by Fran Brozena, who traveled from North Carolina, John Buckley, from Florida, Bob Gryziec, of Plymouth, and Chris Hanlon, a Kingston native who has a restaurant in Meshoppen.
Kelly also acknowledged former band members Jerry Hludzik and Steve Furmanski who are deceased and Carl Siracuse who was unable to attend.
Shadoe Steele, former WKRZ DJ, served as master of ceremonies.
Like Kelly said recently, the reunion concert would be a celebration of the band, the music, the fans and the era.
"The true legacy is the music," Kelly said. "And what that music meant to our fans — from Lake Winola to King's College to everywhere in between."
And he was absolutely correct. The crowd sang along to every song. They loved every minute of the hour and a half long performance. Many got up and danced like it was 1969.
Whether they played The Eagles, The Beatles, the Everly Brothers, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, or a rendition of "Heat Wave by Martha and the Vandellas, the crowd loved it. And when bass player Bob Gryziec broke into "Gloria," every person sang along — "G-L-O-R-I-A!"
For most of us, it was a trip down memory lane to a time when the world was changing, especially the music. And with that music — like none we had ever heard before — the world was changing as well. Fashion was changing, hair got longer, authority was being challenged, song lyrics became more meaningful, more poetic, and this counter-culture was born.
And The Buoys were Northeastern Pennsylvania's poster group of that time. There were a lot of great groups back then, but The Buoys set the standard.
The Buoys rocketed to national acclaim in 1971 with the Rupert Holmes-penned smash hit "Timothy." The controversial song stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for eight weeks and peaked on April 17, 1971, at No. 17. The song reached No. 9 in Canada and No. 13 on the Cashbox charts.
The Buoys recorded on Scepter Records and Holmes produced their debut album, which included their follow-up hit "Give Up your Guns."
The Buoys hit the big-time and toured far and wide together for over five years performing at major rock festivals, colleges and famous venues like Hollywood's Whiskey A Go-Go and Delaware's Stone Balloon.
"I love that music," Kelly said. "And as long as I can sing the notes, I'll show up."
It was a night to remember for sure. And, like most good things, it left all of us wanting for more. These trips down memory lane are good for our souls. They remind us of how it used to be and of just how great those years and those songs were.
More than 700 people at Genetti's Saturday night got a great dose of nostalgia and they were taken back to a time when life was much more simple and care-free.
"Timothy," the song, where on earth did you go?
We all found out Saturday night that the songs have never left us — and we want to hear them again and again.
Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle, or email at boboyle@timesleader.com.
