History Of Music In Windsor Locks Featured In New Book

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — Music has always played a large role in the lives of Windsor Locks residents. From well-known acts such as NRBQ's Big Al Anderson, who hailed from neighboring Windsor and played in town on numerous occasions, "Phantom of the Opera" star Tom O'Leary, and the Savage Brothers Band, still rocking after nearly four decades, to lesser-known yet equally renowned performers such as guitarist/songwriter Dan Tracey of the Alan Parsons Live Project, world-class drummer Jim Arnold and singer/actress Kathryn Morris, the small town has produced some remarkable musicians over the years.

Former Windsor Locks resident Mel Montemerlo has compiled interviews with and photos of many of the great musicians who have graced the town throughout the past 90 years. His newly-published 244-page book, "Windsor Locks Musicians," features a wide range of musical talent, from orchestras to rock bands to the instructors in the Windsor Locks high school and middle school vocal and instrumental music programs.

Montemerlo, who now lives in Bel Air, Maryland, said, "Of my four books on Windsor Locks, it is, by far, my favorite. There are a lot of great and true stories in there, and I had fun getting those stories from the musicians. I was blown over as I learned how many Windsor Locks musicians there are. I was impressed by the stories of their careers and the photos they provided. I am proud of our Windsor Locks musicians and the school system that gave them their start."

The book covers the time period from the 1930s to 2021. There are stories of a few bands and drum corps from prior to 1950, but most of the chapters are about musicians from the 1960s to 2021. The chapters average about seven pages each, and include photographs. The goal was to give an overview of the career of a musician or a band.

Most of the musicians are or were professionals; that is, music is their profession. However, a number of amateur musicians with interesting stories were also covered. There is a chapter on drum and bugle corps, which existed in Windsor Locks from the early 1900s to the 1970s.

Arnold, a 1987 graduate of Windsor Locks High School, got his first set of drums at 17. He has toured the U.S., Europe, Africa and Japan, playing in bands such as Mass Conn Fusion, Soul City and Decades by Dezyne.

"It is a tremendous honor to be featured in this great book, along with so many other inspiring musicians and bands who are all from a great and loving town called Windsor Locks," Arnold said.

Tracey, whose given name is Daniel Tracey Castonguay, has played, sung and written music for the Alan Parsons Live Project for a dozen years, performing all over Europe and the U.S. Morris, who starred in the CBS television series "Cold Case" from 2003 to 2010, also has been featured in nearly two dozen films, including playing the wife of Tom Cruise in "Minority Report."

Polka orchestras, hard rockers, vocalists, cover bands, country and western groups - you name it, they're here.

Free copies of "Windsor Locks Musicians" may be downloaded from archive.org.

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