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


Bios

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.