[ Vincent Fondale ] [ Recess ] [ Julian's Band ]

CLEVELAND'S CLASSIC ROCK KID'S BAND *

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Recess is a classic rock kid's band from Cleveland OH, who gained worldwide recognition in April 2009, for a video performance of Journey's "Separate Ways" recorded at a performance at Great Lakes Mall in Mentor for the 11th Annual Kids Show.  Yahoo.com featured the video on it's front page, and the video received over 700,000 views within a week, becoming a worldwide hit overnight.  The video was mentioned on national TV and radio broadcasts such as Rachael Maddow of MSNBC, WABC TV in New York, 97ROCK in New York, and others stemming across the US.  Locally on channel 19 Action News, Q104 with Wilde and Fee, and WDOK 102.1, as well as many other internet sharing sites.

The band features 9 yr old vocalist, Vincent Fondale, 12 yr old Alex Raz on guitar, 10 yr old Joey Samson on drums, 13 yr old Anthony Fondale on Keyboards, and 12 yr old Alexis Shook on bass.  Vincent and Alex were also featured on Yahoo.com's front page in 2007, and their video's since then have had over 3 million views on youtube and yahoo video.  Recess' live performances have shocked and amazed crowds all over Northeast Ohio in the summer of 2009. The most commonly heard response from those who have never heard or listened to the band is WOW!

Band Members:

• Vincent Fondale - vocals - 10 yrs old

• Alex Raz - guitar - 12 yrs old

• Anthony Fondale - keyboards - 13 yrs old

• Alexis Shook - bass - 12 yrs old

• Joey Samson - drums - 10 yrs old

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FUTURE PERFORMANCES                        

                         Sunday, October 18 @ 8pm

                         International Association of Business Communicators Regional Conference

                         Downtown Cleveland Marriott

                         Saturday, October 24 @ 6pm

                         Ghoulardi Fest - www.ghoulardifest.com - Hopkins Airport Marriott                     

Featured story in The Independent Massillon newspaper:

The video may be a little grainy and the bright stage lights drain all the color for the set, but the YouTube video proves one thing: Nine-year-old Vincent Fondale may not be a Massillon native but he can belt “Eye of Tiger” with the best of them.

Vincent fronts the Cleveland-based band, Recess, a classic rock cover band comprised of kids all under the age 14.

“They play like grown-ups,” Vincent’s father Tony Fondale said. “A lot of times (a venue) will bring them up on stage and you can see the audience look at them, roll their eyes and go, ‘oh, OK.’ But by the time they play their first song, the looks on everyone’s faces is like ‘oh my gosh.’”

When the band – keyboardist Anthony Fondale, 13; drummer Joey Samson, 10; bass player Alexis Shook, 12 and guitarist Alex Raz, 11 – takes the stage with Vincent this afternoon, they’re going to rock Massillon’s downtown as part of the annual Cruise-On-In & Dance Party.

Tony Fondale, father of both Vincent and Anthony, would bet with anyone. By the end of the first song, they’ll be a crowd around the stage like you wouldn’t believe.

“As soon as they start playing, it’s unbelievable,” Tony Fondale said. “The people just flock. The whole tent will be full by the time he’s halfway done with the song.”

Vincent Fondale got his start on the big stage four years ago. Tony Fondale, a musician himself, was a member of a Journey cover band and little Vincent couldn’t resist grabbing the microphone and singing a long. It didn’t take Tony Fondale long to notice that his little boy of his was singing both melody and harmony.

He also had the rock star swagger.

“He did it mostly on his own,” Tony Fondale said. “As soon as I saw the ability was there, I started putting the band together.”

While there may have been a lot of doubters along the way, the kids in the band were determined to show they had something to offer. They weren’t going to be dismissed so they tackled some of the songs that adults wouldn’t believe they could play.

“They like the classic rock, the older music,” Tony Fondale said. “That makes me pretty proud.”

They didn’t expect much when they posted the video of the band on YouTube, but before they knew it, people from all over the world had taken notice of the kid rockers.

“It was an overnight thing,” Tony Fondale said. “The radio stations started calling and it took off.”

Since their debut performance last year, the band has played all around the area have been featured on radio and new stations in Cleveland and New York.
They’re set to make two appearances in Massillon this summer. They’ll hit the stage at the car show at 6 p.m. today and return to town July 17 through 19 for the Clay’s Park Rock-n-Resort.

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Erin Pustay
The Independent
 

Pics and Video footage will be updated soon.  You can also see videos and pics on Yahoo Video, YouTube, or My Space for Vincent Fondale or Alex Raz.

* New e-mail added!  For feedback or more information, please e-mail us at  info@recesskidsband.com

Past Performances

The RECESS band was featured on Rock Me TV - WOAC cable channel. We extend our thanks to John Gabriel of DeMarco Productions for making this possible!

Below are pics from the Holy Family Festival in July 2008