The "New Reformed" Country
Rhythm Band
Newsletter & Bios
Updated 5/01/2012
Dear
Friends, Fans and Customers,
Thanks to all the customers,
friends and band members for making 2011 another good year. Some major
changes,
in the band, have taken place, scroll down. We think that you will be
pleased with
the change. Our first show with the "New" band was Sept 18, 2011 at
Alburtis, with many friends helping us, and was well recieved. It's May
already and the guys have been working their buts off all winter and
are anxious to get to work. We are
here to please YOU and have FUN doing it, you can help us do just that
by going to our guestbook with suggestions and ideas.
A personal note from Ed.
For almost 19 years I have kept the band up and running to
the best
of my ability. Some of my choices over the years, may not have been the
right ones. I was forced to reform the band in September 2011 and I was
fortunate to find the right people to do the job. In a little less
then two weeks I found the musicans that could handle the challenge
and do the first job, less than two weeks later and 6 hours, at that.
Many thanks to them for their hard work and
dedication. It is very hard to find dedicated people to do the job and
not be concerned about money, up front. You will now hear the CRB like you never heard it for many years.
We will do our best to
entertain you, to the best of
our
ability and at the right price. A special thanks to Jimmy Kidd, Tim
Zappe, Herb & Phyllis Ruth and all the others, too numerous to
mention, who stepped up to the plate to help. Of course, we cannot
forget all the support partners, who help and support us.
We are looking forward to
working with Jack
to keep Alburtis Park
up and running. There are some people out there that think the park is
going downhill but we feel that Jack has made improvements, the last
couple of years, that should have been done many years ago. Change is
sometimes hard for people to accept but please give him a fair chance.
Unfortunatly with the changing times and the economy has forced the
long standing FREE entertainment to come to an end. Jack has lost money
the last three years and now he has to charge admission. We know this
has upset a lot of people but think of it this way, what is FREE
anymore. Granted there are some but the 87 year old tradition of
Alburtis Park will never be duplicated. Let's help keep this tradition
going for many years to come.
A special thanks to Uncle
Jeffrey, Herb and Phyllis from station WTAP for all the support and
publicity extended to the CRB and other local bands.
As always our prayers go out to all
who have lost loved ones, the sick and shut-ins.
Happy birthday to all who have
grown
a year older, or younger, as the case may be.
Stay
safe
and
well and we hope to see all of you soon.
Until next time,
The
Country Rhythm band
Many thanks to the following
two band members for their total dedication and for helping to make the CRB
as successful as it has been.

LouVanhauter Drums
Lou Van Hauter, Country Drummer. Lou is a self
taught drummer and is well versed in many styles of music. He learned
by listening and watching other drummers. He has played with a few
different bands over the years and says he was happy to accept the
offer to join the CRB. He enjoys studying guitar, building Nat American
drums, oil painting and writing poems. He lives in Allentown with his
wife and cats, Poo Poo, Pee Wee and Bushy Hanna. Lou has been with us since 2009 doing a great job and totally dedicated.

Scott Snyder, Rhythm Guitar & Vocals
Next is Scott. Scott gives us the
ability to do a lot of the top 40 songs as well as some of the
Traditional songs. He is singing lead, backup and is also playing
rhythm guitar.
He has dedicated himself to the band and his abilities have improved
trememdously through persiverence. He will now be the front person in the band.
He has been a regular member of the band for almost 10 years and doing a
great job.
Several of our previous band members chose to leave September 5th, 2011 to persue other opportunities.
Here are the new members. Please welcome them.

Mark Verzino, Lead Guitar & Vocals
Mark has played in many local bands as a Bass player for over 25 years.He has played opening acts for Merle Haggard, George Jones, Toby
Kieth, Johnny Paycheck , and more.He has now turned to his first love
of Lead guitar, and has become a proud and dedicated member of
The New Country Rythym Band.

Ron Scheidler Steel, Lead Guitar & Vocals
I formed my own 3 piece country band while I was in the navy. Had my own oldies and top forty band for 30 years. During that 30 years backed up groups such as the Drifters, Danny and the Juniors, etc. Also did in fill guitar with the Bill Black Combo. Won top student steel guitarist in 1958 and 1959 at the American Guild of Music Convention. Lived in the valley all my life except while in the service.

Scott Reppert, Bass Guitar & Vocals
I played
drums for about 20+ yrs with several bands and have and been tinkering
around with the bass for years. About two years ago, after listening to
many great bass players playing next to me, I gave into my inner desire
and asked one of the best country bass players I know, Mark V, to teach
me how to play. A year ago I retired from playing drums to concentrate
solely on the bass and now, here I am.

Rick Kocher, Video & Stage hand

Lastly there is Ed. He has managed
the band for the last 19 years, takes the bookings, runs the
sound
and
has managed to keep the Country Rhythm Band up and running, a promise
he made to Duane. There have
been
a lot of challenges over the years because of changes in players but he
has always managed to recover. You may even see and hear him doing his
recitations at times.
