Calcagno Joe

Article by Sesi King
Indian Time
17 November 2016

This week, we are fortunate to read a story about the life of Joe Calcagno, the last surviving musician from the ever-popular "Thundertones," Akwesasne's own. Joe is the son of Dorothy Jock and John Calcagno and during the time he was a young tyke, his parents divorced in New York City. She brought her son back to Akwesasne and got him baptized at the St. Regis Catholic Church. Joe spent most of his young life with his grand parents Joe and Sarah Jock and attended school at St. Regis Mohawk School and the Bombay High School. Young Joe became musically influenced by his grandfather and
his Aunt Bertha. They each provided the guidance and teachings of musical notes and use of the piano for the beginning. Joe was a very good listener and he took to the instrument with much practice. By the time he was age 14, Joe was playing with pick up bands
around Akwesasne at barn dances, recreation centers, and dances.

In 1948, from high school, Joe entered the service of the army. He was in there for two years and then the Korean War broke out. Joe's battalion all left and he was asked to stay and be a drill Sargent to train new recruits so he never saw any duty in Korea. This is the time in his life that he picked up and learned the guitar by watching other men in his
barracks on their easy time off times. Joe got interested and practiced with them.

When he finished his service, he came home and met and married Joan Richmond. In about 1956, his life became busier as Joe began doing ironwork as a welder and his family began to grow. The couple traveled to various cities to find work and took their children.

It was during this period of doing ironwork that Joe began to meet up with other musicians and the Thundertones were born.

"Our band became quite famous. We even had our own segment playing on Plattsburgh TV WPTZ. We were al ironworkers and had very busy lives Some might remember the weekend when many Akwesasronon would go and listen and dance to the talents of
this band. At times it was difficult to be a musician and an ironworker along with booming out to our jobs," said Joe. Joe wanted to stay put at the city where the jobs were as well as keep his family with him as to cut down on the road travel. It didn't always work out that way. Joe was lucky to snag a job or two closer to Akwesasne at the missile sites to be close by his family. It was tough on a family to keep moving and for the
worker to be traveling each week. Anyway you look at the situation, it became difficult. Unfortunately, many factors played into the decision in 1963 to end the marriage because of the unhappiness of traveling and moving the children.

After a few years, Joe remarried and continued his life with Helen (Cole) and they were married for 47 years. She has since passed away 5 years ago. Joe keeps in touch with his children. During the time spent in Detroit, Joe played with additional bands and kept up his music. He gained much more experience playing his instruments within the venues they played. After leaving Detroit because of a work slow down, Joe got called to Arizona, and then to Napa, California, a beautiful city. Joe returned to Detroit for a couple more years before going to Florida to work his welding skills at Epcot Center. His work performance over six months was very impressive and it earned him a management position at Disney. It worked out very well up to his retirement in 1992. This is when Joe retired and returned to Akwesasne. Florida was much too hot for them to live in. Around about the same time, Joe's cousin Phyllis Point called him and advised him to come
home because his mom Dorothy was very ill.

So, more about the Thundertones that Akwesasne knew and loved. The original band that began to organize at that point was Sonny Cole, Tommy George, Joe Jacobs, Andy White and Joe Calcagno. Joe is the only surviving band member to date. After a while a few
others were asked to fill in the empty spots to continue playing for the public. Darmen Terrance and Eddie Lawrence were invited to play.

Joe is surrounded by so many guitars, it's very evident he totally loves what he does ... music. He plays guitar, piano and he can sing. This all began when he was only eight years old. That's when it all began for Joe. At his age of 85, he is still playing his music and sharing his talent with us ... 77 years of music.

Presently, Joe plays with the Crosswinds, John Francis' band, as well as other bands that can use him. He also has his own band called Minimum Wage. That band includes his chosen son George Tooker (base), Ron Lazore (rhythm), and Ray Burnett a drummer,
and the harmonica and violin with Jake Adams. The Timeline band is another active band from Massena and includes Terry Terrance, Ray Gardner and will include Joe.
"I've always had the influence of music in my life. I had a lot of good jobs with ironwork and welding but there was always this little music bug at the back of my brain saying, c'mon man pick up an instrument," Joe said. Other hobbies he enjoys are photography and cameras. He really knows the ins and outs of photography and printing. His wife and him were a good team while they ran a printing business. He added that times have changed with all the new technology and just about everything is computerized now.

Joe wants to continue his music as long as he can, but he does admit that the guitars and equipment are getting heavy. He loves to entertain, especially for the folks of the Nursing Homes watching the elderly and watching the tapping of their toes melt his eart.

I have really enjoyed hearing your story Mr. Calcagno and with this visit, brought back memories of the Thundertones at Tooties. Thank you so much for your time and hospitality as well as the serenade. That was a first for me. Take care and continue singing and playing those instruments.