BlueStoneIvoryBlog

Take Me Out To the Ball Game...

We are really getting excited. It is 7 days to Opening day at the Great American Ball Park where the Cincinnati Reds will take on the New York Mets. If you are going to the game you will be entertained by BlueStone Ivory. We will be set up in the parking lot of the In-Between Tavern just across the street and facing the ball park.

The music starts at 11:30 a.m. and we will play our Rock-N-Soul, Rhythm-N-Roll till 1:00 p.m. and then again right after the game from about 4:30 p.m. till 6:30 p.m. Please stop by after the game and lets show downtown Cincinnati how our fans can dance to the music. If you don't go to the game come on down and spend the afternoon with us. We will be there throughout the game watching it on the many TV's in the In-Between Tavern.

 

 

This weekend we are at Jim & Jack's at 3456 River Rd on the West side of Cincinnati. We will be playing your favorite dance music from 9:00 p.m. till 1:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday. The food is great so come early and have dinner before doing all the dancing you will be compelled to do when we get started. We suggest calling ahead and making reservations. Call 513-251-7977.

Two weeks ago at Jim & Jack's we had a lot of excitement. We celebrated several birthdays and had a special guest stop in to share the stage with us.

Besides celebrating Keith (our drummers) birthday (March 13) his wife Jules came up on stage and performed two songs with the band. She sang "Saturday In The Park" and "More Today Than Yesterday".

They look really great together in this picture. It's like watching Captain & Tennille or The Carpenters performing on stage together. I have to tell ya though...don't get any ideas. She didn't just decide to sing with us and jump up on the stage. Jules is a professional vocalist and musician (pianist). She teaches music and voice plus performs a solo act all around Cincinnati for our elders in retirement homes. She keeps a very busy schedule. In fact it was hard to find time for her to come to one of our rehearsals and prepare for this exclusive performance with us. But she did and it was great. Super job Jules!

Besides Keith's birthday on Friday night one of our dear friends had her 60th birthday party at Jim & Jack's.

Carol B said she wouldn't have her birthday party anywhere else except where her favorite band and good friends BlueStone Ivory was playing. In fact she waited two weeks to have this party because we were not playing anywhere. She was very happy it was at Jim & Jack's. That's her favorite place to go and listen and dance to BSI.

There were several parties at J&J's that night. So if you want to throw a great party, plan to have it at Jim & Jack's they will take very good care of you and your friends. Call and talk to Ennie Jim at 513-251-7977.

Saturday the guys really surprised me with a very funny card filled with wonderful, heart warming and humorous inscriptions from all my BSI brothers. It was my (Gary's) birthday on March 25th. Being the bands birthday party planner amongst many other things the thought didn't even occur to me being three days from my actual birthday. This just shows you how close we are to each other. They didn't forget and that is really cool. Thanks guys.

For our complete schedule & directions to our gigs, or to listen to samplings of BlueStone Ivory or to view our hundreds of photos from past gigs go to www.BlueStoneIvory.com.

If you are interested in booking BlueStone Ivory for a party, dance or wedding call Gary Rossignol. Phone 513-777-2402 or toll free 800-670-2402.  email:Gary@BlueStoneIvory.com.

Wearing of the Green...we will celebrate this weekend!

Posing in this photo are a few of our regular leprechauns. This was taken at Snookers around St Patty's Day in 2007.

Snookers isn't there anymore but we are and so are many of our fans. We plan on celebrating St Patty's Day this Friday night at Jim & Jack's down on River Rd.

So come on out Friday and/or Saturday night to help us celebrate this fun holiday. You will love our brand new songs we have learned for you amongst several other surprises.

We are happy to announce a brand new gig for BSI. We will be playing outside at the In-Between Tavern at the corner of 3rd Street and Sycamore right across the street from the Great American Ball Park on opening day. We are there to entertain everyone on the way to the Cincinnati Reds first official ball game in 2009. We will also be staying there to continue the party right after the game. So come on downtown to the ball park on April 6th and stop in and party with BSI before and after the game.

 For our complete schedule & directions to our gigs, or to listen to samplings of BlueStone Ivory or to view our hundreds of photos from past gigs go to www.BlueStoneIvory.com.

If you are interested in booking BlueStone Ivory for a party, dance or wedding call Gary Rossignol. Phone 513-777-2402 or toll free 800-670-2402.  email:Gary@BlueStoneIvory.com.

With Special guest...?

Sometimes we never know who is going to stop by and sit in with the band. It must be someone we either know or someone that can really perform. Not just anyone can jump on stage and play with us.

So far this year we have had our dear friend and past bass player Bob Wilson stop in at Jim & Jack's and was gracious enough to pleasure us with his golden voice.

We had Queenie (Bob Myers pet name for Charlotte) sing with us twice this year already. She has a dynamite voice. We had Bobby Myers himself, sit in on drums last month at Carlo & Johnny.

Jim from Northern Ky sang Mustang Sally with us on his 60th birthday...It's his party and he can sing if he wants to, Sing if he wants to, Sing if he wants to!  Great job Jim.

We have had Lee's nephew Brad sit in several times in the years past. He plays sax and added some bottom on Bari sax a couple of times and lately he brought his soprano sax on stage with us.

We can't forget our very own Lighting guy Mark. He wants to play drums so much that we let him up there every once in awhile. The same with Andrew Kastrup our sound engineer Dave's son. He is studying drums in High School band and with private lessons, so we have let him play with us a couple of times also.

It's all about giving them a chance. Especially the younger folks just starting out needing a chance to see what it is like on stage. So if you can carry a beat or a tune and would like to sit in sometime...by all means say something. If you pass the Ted and Jim test you may be able to have your dream come true.

We will have a another guest take the stage with us in the very near future. You have to come out to hear us to find out who. I'm sure you will all be surprised when you see who they are and what they can do.

Our next gig will be at Jim & Jack's on March 20 & 21. We will be somewhat rested after 3 weeks off. Although we have put in quite a bit or rehearsal time in the past week. We hope you enjoy the new songs we will be presenting to you soon.

Gary has been busy booking some very special gigs coming up soon. We will be playing at a club called Bar Seventy-One on April 11. It is a great restaurant and club located off Fields Ertle Rd near Mason Ohio. It is owned by the owner of Back Porch Saloon.

We will be holding our annual cabin fever reliever at the Sharonville VFW hall on Sharon Rd April 24th. We will have JD Hughes with us for non stop music from 8:00 till Midnight.

Gary has been negotiating for BlueStone Ivory to play before and after the Opening Day Cincinnati Reds ballgame on April 6th in the parking lot of the In-Between Tavern at 3rd & Sycamore downtown right across from the Great American Ball Park. We will provide party music right before the game from 11:30 am till 1:00. First pitch is at 1:05. We will then continue the party directly after the game from 4:30 pm till 6:30 pm. So you can plan on going to the Opening day game, see our Cincinnati Reds and BlueStone Ivory...all in one day. How cool is that.

Last bit of information. BlueStone Ivory will be Guests of the West Chester Symphony Orchestra on April 18th for the WCSO's annual fundraiser to be held at the Marriott Cincinnati North on Union Center Blvd. The fundraiser will be have radio legend Gary Burbank and many of his character's as MC. BSI will perform several specially chosen songs with the Symphony. That's right BSI with strings. How cool will that be. You'll have to come to find out.

For details about all these gigs. Go to the BSI web site www.BlueStoneIvory.com.

For our complete schedule & directions to our gigs, or to listen to samplings of BlueStone Ivory or to view our hundreds of photos from past gigs go to www.BlueStoneIvory.com.

If you are interested in booking BlueStone Ivory for a party, dance or wedding call Gary Rossignol. Phone 513-777-2402 or toll free 800-670-2402.  email:Gary@BlueStoneIvory.com.

Happy Anniversary Ted & JoLynne

Ted and Jo were off somewhere celebrating their 21st wedding anniversary. That is why we didn't see BlueStone Ivory play anywhere this weekend. Well, that was one of the reasons. The other is...we just need some time off!

Back to Ted and Jo. WOW 21 years! Actually, they got married on Feb 29th in 1988. That's right leap year. Therefore they have really only had the opportunity to celebrate their real anniversary 5 time so far, last year being most recent. Ted says they were told it was good luck to get married on February 29 (Leap year) so that's what they did. I don't think luck has much to do with staying together this long. I think true love has much more to do with this type of longevity than luck. 

Most every time we play "One In A Million" Ted always dedicates this to Jo. If she is anywhere in the building she will always come up on stage right behind Ted in a sweet loving embrace throughout the entire song. You can tell Ted feeds off her warm caring hug. When Jo is right behind him in this song he always sings it specially nice.

This photo was taken during that song, dedicated to Jo on New Years Eve this past year. Mary Jo was on the ball and caught the extra special loving hand clasp between the two of them. That is really sweet! 

What is this?...Now she's diggin for whatever money she can find in his pocket I guess. It looks like the love is gone from the look on Teds face. If you want a closer look just click on the photos...you can zoom in and catch the action.

My question is...Did Jo get anything from the obvious pocket picking she is doing? That is for her to know and for us to find out, I guess.

 

 

 

When I asked Ted what was the biggest event that has happened in their lives during the past 21 years of marriage he said that was an easy question. It was waiting at the hospital and then seeing their grand daughter, Ava Rose, for the first time.

Ted said "She's our only grandchild, so far, and is our pride and joy".

Other memorable events for Ted and Jo are two vacations that they've taken in the past few years. The first was a trip down to Ft. Myers, Florida with their Chihuahua's in 2006. They drove down and back which made for a memorable experience to say the least. They stayed at a hotel that allowed pets and the weather was great the whole time they were down there.

 

 

The other was their vacation cruise in November of 2007.

Ted says "Being our first Cruise made it very special to us, but also having a few BSI members there along with some friends & family made it our best vacation so far".

The photo to the right is Ted & Jo standing on the deck of the Cruise ship Carnival Imagination.

 

 

Another very big part of their lives are their four 4 legged kids.

My I introduce you to the Donohoue Chihuahua's, Baby Ruth, Josey, Thea and Gizmo.

Ted says "They keep us busy around the house, but it's worth every minute of it! Anyone who has a dog knows how much love, affection and companionship you get from them. Well, multiply that times four for us."

There you have the story about Ted and Jo. Here are a few more facts about Ted and Jo. Since that first cruise they went on, they enjoyed it so much they have been taken under the guidance and leadership of Chris Kastrup, BSI's resident cruise director, and started their own part time cruise brokerage business. So, if anyone is interested in taking a cruise anywhere in the world just see Ted on our breaks. Or you can email him at Ted@BlueStoneIvory.com. They will be happy to set you sailing with the finest accommodations available.    

Some of you probably wonder when Ted started playing the guitar. Well, I found this photo of Ted back in 1967 when we played in a four piece combo called Rene's Orchestra. That is one of Ted's first guitars. A Gibson cherry sunburst electric hollow body. We had fun back in those days playing the old standards for the K of C dances, wedding receptions and other various adult dancing events.

A couple of other interesting facts about Ted. He is quite a golfer. He has been playing since high school on Moellers golf team. That has been his number 1 sport and bowling his second favorite sport. In fact Ted bowled his third lifetime perfect game last Sunday night. That's right his score was 300. That is as good as it gets...all strikes. In fact his series that night was 820 something.

Well Ted and Jo, We wish you well this weekend. We also pray that you both live together long enough to see great grand children. I'm sure everyone that reads this will also hope you keep on playing guitar and singing in BlueStone Ivory for a long time to come.

BlueStone Ivory will be off a couple more weeks. Our next gig will be at Jim & Jack's on March 20 & 21. Until then we are learning some new songs and preparing for the West Chester Symphony Orchestra fund raiser on April 18 at the Marriott Cincinnati North off Union Central Blvd in West Chester. We will be performing with the Symphony. This is a new and very exciting endeavor for us. To play with a full orchestra behind is will be very special. Another highlight of that evening is MC'ing the whole event will be our friend, the legendary radio personality Gary Burbank.

This event is open to the public. Gary our sax player and business manager has played with the WCSO for eight years. It is a not for profit all volunteer community organization with the simple goal of spreading the joy of orchestral music to children and adults alike throughout Butler County year round. This fundraiser is the major event that helps the WCSO stay afloat financially. We hope to see many of you at the Marriott on Saturday night April 18. For Ticket information you can call Gary at 777-2402 or email him at Gary@BlueStoneIvory.com. We will post more information about this fun event in the next couple of weeks.

For our complete schedule & directions to our gigs, or to listen to samplings of BlueStone Ivory or to view our hundreds of photos from past gigs go to www.BlueStoneIvory.com.

If you are interested in booking BlueStone Ivory for a party, dance or wedding call Gary Rossignol. Phone 513-777-2402 or toll free 800-670-2402.  email:Gary@BlueStoneIvory.com.