Nearly two dozen area bands pay tribute this weekend to the late clubowner, Freddy Aboud
Longtime Syracuse clubowner Freddy Aboud, a tireless supporter of the local music scene, died June 24, at age 61.
Heart failure apparently took Aboud’s life as he slept at his home after closing his most recent nightspot, Fat Freddy’s Caf (c) in Mattydale, after a busy Saturday night which featured vocalist John Puma and Booty Inc.
Puma’s R&B quintet will be among the scores of performers who pay tribute to Aboud at Freddy Fest 2007, Saturday and Sunday Sept. 29 and 30, at Fat Freddy’s, 2810 Le Moyne Ave. Music starts at 2 p.m. each day and continues into the early-morning hours. Admission costs $15 each day.
Besides Big Daddy Puma up front, Booty Inc. features Sammy Award-winning guitarist Joe Porto, bassist Jimmy Simpson, keyboardist Steve Schad and drummer Bill McGillivray.
‘Boomer’
At all of the area clubs that he operated Aboud actively promoted the Syracuse music scene. When he owned Boomer’s (which was his nickname), at Geddes Plaza in Solvay, the tavern’s walls were decorated with a colorful array of local music memorabilia including concert posters and LP covers.
Some of Aboud’s other nightclub endeavors included his first, the Chug-a-Mug in Eastwood, and The Comeback Inn on Old Liverpool Road.
“Freddy loved live music and musicians,” observed John Brown, who performs with Stevie Wolf & The Blues Express. “He was one of Syracuse’s legendary supporters of live music.”
Now Aboud’s musician friends are banding together at this weekend’s benefit to help out his widow, Deborah, who continues to run the club, and his two sons, Nick and Danny.
Old friends and new
One of the group’s playing this weekend is the State Street Band which includes Aboud’s good friend, drummer Tommy Rozzano, who spoke on the telephone to Boomer a few hours before he died. The State Street Band also features vocalist Danielle Rausa, guitarist John LaTocha and bassist Chuck Sgroi.
Other bands which will perform in Boomer’s honor this weekend include After FX, The Coachmen, Soul Mine, Elephant Shoes, Stroke, The BlackLites, Thunder Canyon, T.J. Sacco, TimeLine, Scotty Trudeau & The Truth, Brass Inc., Gary Dunes & The Del-Tunes, the Maria DeSantis Band, Sharp-Dressed Penguins, Mood Swing, Branded, Childhood’s End, Ronnie Leigh, Jerry Cali, Mark Angiolillo, and members of Atlas.
For information, call Fat Freddy’s at 455-8063.
