2023
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John J Adams
John Joseph Adams was born in Cleveland in 1951. He attended both Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland and Parma Senior High School in Parma, Ohio, where he played bass drum in band before graduating 1969. In 1975, he graduated from Cleveland State University.
John worked on computer systems for AT&T until being laid off in October 2016. John loved polka music and gave of his time and energy to raising money for many non-profit agencies. In 1978, he began volunteering at Cleveland State University, where he taught an aquatics class for people with disabilities. John also was a water safety instructor for the Red Cross, taught cardiopulmonary resuscitation and a music teacher at the West Side Irish-American Club. John volunteered his time as a member of the Kiwanis service club and the community emergency response team in his hometown of Brecksville, Ohio
John was best known for his drum beat for the Cleveland Indians. John began drumming at the age of nine and played the bass drum in the marching band. When he carried his $25.00 drum into Cleveland Stadium on August 24th, 1973, he could not have predicted the life changing commitment that would follow. John and his drum rallied the Cleveland Indians thru the 2019 season attending approximately 3700 games and only missing one game per year.
To the music community John was known for his involvement with the Cleveland Blues Society. John was a founding member, (#3 membership), and president for two terms. He was fundamental in forming the CBS Scholarship and Educational Fund and CBS Blues Cruise. The Cruise is our primary fund raiser for the scholarship program and general operating funds.
John suffered from health issues beginning in December 2020, including emergency triple bypass surgery and thyroid issues. He passed in Cleveland on January 30, 2023, at age 71. John willed his bass drum to the Guardians, and they sent a pair of his mallets to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York.
On August 24, 2023, the 50th anniversary of the first game John drummed at, it was announced the bleachers at Progressive Field would be named for John starting in the 2024 season. -
Michael BayMichael’s love of music began at an early age listening to his parents “Hi Fi record albums” and watching artists perform on TV variety shows in the early 60’s. His thoughts of becoming part of the music he loved began when he found his grandma’s old guitar under the couch he began teaching himself how to make it talk. Allowing the curiosity of this new musical part of his life to take over, Michael Bay began his uphill journey toward his present day profession – “I just play guitar”. That journey began over 40 years ago. Asked him what he loves about being a professional guitarist and accomplishing a dream “Being blessed to be able to make a living doing what I love and the ability to share it with others.”
Along his journey he has been inspired by his mentor and teachers, Ralph Russo and Phil Rizzo. He earned a Music Performance Degree from The Modern Music School while working a full time job as a welder to make ends meet. “I hated my day job and looked forward to playing out in the evenings after work. About 30 years ago, I felt I was ready to take the risk to begin my professional music career, and quit being a welder. I had studied and practiced very hard to get to that level and haven’t looked back since.”
Popular, as well as obscure artists, have inspired Michael Bay’s melodic sound and improvisational style. His musical influences have been numerous with them beginning in country and pop bands of the 60’s to rock, jazz and blues guitar greats, Glen Campbell, Eric Clapton, Jim Hall, David Gilmore, Eddie Van Halen, Joe Pass and Ed Bickert, to name a few. Michael Bay has paid the dues of a struggling artist honing his skills toward perfection. He’s the first to admit he is far from perfect, but ask his fans who having been coming out weekly for years… “It’s like his guitar has feelings, and he takes us all along for the emotional ride”.
Accomplishments include 30 years as a professional guitarist, a highly respected influence in the NE Ohio Music Community, Best known in the Jazz and Blues scene in Cleveland, “Jam Master” at Cleveland’s longest running Blues Jam at The Parkview Nightclub (Michael and his band, The Bad Boys of Blues, began this jam in the mid 1990’s). Michael’s career included being a guest guitarist on numerous CD’s, in live performances, and special events with artists both local and international.
In the late 1980’s Michael Bay took his skills to the next level and began teaching guitar at DiFiore’s Music in Cleveland, The Broadway School of Music (satellite of Cleveland Music School Settlement) and various other music stores and colleges in the Cleveland area. 2000 brought Michael Bay the opportunity to branch out on his own and The Guitar Conservatory, under his direction, began. “I was blessed to have the parents, teachers and mentors I had who encouraged me. Teaching is my way of giving back to them and encouraging the dreams of others.” -
Mike DeliaMike (aka Daddy Sweet Roll) was born in Cleveland on February 10th, 1953. He lived in Canton, OH from 1956 – 1971 and North Royalton from 1975 – 1988. He currently resides in Brunswick, OH since 1988, and has lived in Northeast Ohio his entire life.
Mike started playing the drums at 8 years old. He heard The Yardbirds song, “I’m a Man”, then heard the original Muddy Waters version of it and was hooked. He saw The Beatles with Ringo Starr on T.V. when he was 10 years old and knew then that he wanted to play drums full-time.
Mike learned to play the drums from listening to recordings, having private lessons and from “the street”! He was in teen bands throughout high school. He joined “The Union” when he was 16 years old and played in night clubs and at weddings. Mike received a scholarship to Memphis State University, but instead went on the road to tour with bands all over the U.S.
Mike’s main instrument is the drums, but he can also play guitar. He plays many styles of music, blues, swing, R & B, etc. His biggest musical influences were B.B. King, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, Buddy Miles, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Vaughan, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert King and Albert Collins. Mike enjoys singing in the different styles of singers such as B.B. King, Otis Redding, Ray Charles, and Dean Martin.
Some of the musicians that Mike’s had the opportunity to play with are Robert Lockwood Jr., Tony Monico, Big T, Tony Lovano Sr. , Gene LaMarca, Abe LaMarca, Duke Jennings, and Glenn Schwartz. He has recorded music with Mr. Downchild (Steve Brazier), The Stokes Brothers, Vic Walkus, The Bluescasters, Gaetano Letizia and Frankie Starr. Mike also writes his own material of both originals and his arrangements of covers.
Mike has been playing gigs, drumming and often singing lead vocals for what seems forever, as he puts it! He says he’s a real “Blues man”, that he has “the life scars on his soul” to prove it and could not play The Blues without having lived the life that he’s lived! Mike humbly thanks Jesus for giving him his musical talent to sing and play the way he has for 63 years. -
Bob Frank
About Bob Frank Cleveland Magazine said, “Aside from being an accomplished guitarist, Frank boasts a encyclopedic knowledge of old-time country, blues and bluegrass music.” The Free Times added, “Frank is a first-class guitarist and vocalist.” Jazz and Blues Report added, “A sure-fingered, veteran player, skilled in a wide spectrum of black and white roots styles, Frank comes off as a performer with a strong sense of identity.” And in a recent cd review, Vintage Guitar Magazine said, “Frank is a first rate songwriter and a champion guitar player.”
A lifelong resident of Cleveland, Bob spent eighteen years as the leader of the Hotfoot Quartet, touring throughout North America and recording several albums. As a sideman he has worked with Robert Lockwood, Wallace Coleman, Candye Kane, fiddler Howard Armstrong, the Falls City Ramblers, and British bluesman Long John Baldry.
Bob has played many different kinds of music including bluegrass, old-timey, swing, rock, reggae and Caribbean, but is known these days as an expert in a wide variety of blues styles.
Between 1995 and 2019 Bob served as guitarist, vocalist, arranger, and producer for the eight-piece band Blue Lunch. Under Bob’s leadership the band recorded and released eight highly acclaimed cd recordings.
During the day Bob works through Center for Arts-Inspired Learning, performing traditional American music workshops and assembly programs for children. He has done over 3500 of these programs in schools throughout the United States and Canada.
Bob was an original board member and founding member of the Cleveland Blues Society and continues to support educational, historical, new letter author and Hall of Fame committees, producing our 5 previous Hall of Fames.
In 2018 Bob released his first solo cd, True Stories and Outrageous Lies, featuring all original compositions and Bob singing and performing on several instruments. The cd was widely acclaimed and has been nominated for several awards.
In recent years Bob has produced and written the podcast, Blues You Should Know, which is available on Amazon, Apple, Google, Spotify and other popular podcast platforms. At present there are over 36 episodes available, and the podcast has listeners on every continent, except Antarctica.
Bob and his wife Ellen reside in Sharker Hts. and have two grown children. -
Alan Green
Alan Greene, a lifelong Clevelander, born in Cleveland on May 15, 1947 and is a founding member of the Cleveland Blues Society. Growing up in Shaker Heights and graduating from Shaker High School, he became a musician early through private trumpet lessons along with being a part of his high school band. Learning to play trumpet allowed him to learn how to be a part of a large ensemble; he learned to hear what others were playing and to add to it. Guitar was not his first instrument, a self-taught player, Alan says the guitar spoke to him with a passion.
Huge influences for Alan include Clapton, Hendrix, and of course Cleveland’s own Glenn Schwartz. They were all doing things which struck a chord with Alan. He wanted to learn how they made that sound and “What were they using to get it?”
Alan Greene has been a fixture on the Cleveland music scene since the late 1960’s and started playing blues in the early 1970’s with Jimmy Ley and the Coosa River Band. He has played with the Gang Green, The Coosa River Band, Breathless, The Gangsters of Blues, The Innocent (Trent Reznor), Mr. Stress Blues Band, Jerry Shirley’s Humble Pie, The Alan Greene Band featuring Mr. Stress and the current lineup of The Alan Greene Band featuring T.C. Odegard, Justin Butcher, Rob Luoma and Mr. Alan Greene.
Additionally, he has held court at Cebars Euclid Tavern for over 20 years, until Covid, for the Sunday Night Jam. Alan started the Cebar’s monthly Sunday jams, played on the First Cleveland Blues Society Blues Cruise and was the Winner of the Self-Produced CD for the Memphis Challenge in 2013. He was the host of O’Wow’s Blues Time Radio show untill 2021.
He has collaborated with writers to produce “Angel Love”, which was originally recorded for release by Santana for the Supernatural Album. He has produced CD’s with the Alan Greene Band, The Innocent, Mr. Stress Blues Band and played on CD’s with The Innocent and Breathless.
Alan has shared the stage with most players in this town, opened for Robert Cray, Tinsley Ellis, Savoy Brown, Kiss, Foreigner, and others.
Words do not really express or adequately describe the impact of Alan Greene’s music on the Blues Community. He has a wicked sense of humor, loves chocolate, has traveled internationally with his music, and is a masterful player who speaks and sings through his guitar playing. -
Norm Plonski
Norm was born in Cleveland on March 29th, 1946 and has lived in Northeast Ohio his entire life.
The first time Norm heard Blues was in the 60’s, but he really became hooked when he heard the Mr. Stress Blues Band play at The Brick Cottage. He also heard Glenn Schwartz perform at The Rockwell Inn and says he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
Norm bought Hoopples in 1981. Glenn Schwartz started playing there every Thursday around 1995, and around 2010 he quit playing for about a year. The thing Norm remembers Glenn saying when he returned a few years before he passed away was “It’s good to be home”.
Over the years many famous musicians stopped in at Hoopples. These included Joe Walsh and David Byrne and probably others Norm didn’t recognize. David Byrne even wrote on his blog about “the man with the magic fingers”, referring to Glenn.
Norm bought The Parkview in 1992 and started having various types of music soon after. Since he loved Blues, the music soon turned into just Blues on Saturdays.
Norm had seen The Bad Boys of Blues jam previously and when they became available, The Parkview brought them in to play regularly. Norm says it was a ‘marriage made in heaven’! They helped make The Parkview the best place to hear the Blues in Northeast Ohio. All the bands that performed there on Saturdays made it even more so, and The Bad Boys of Blues rocked on there until 2015.
One night even Michael Allman, Gregg’s son, stopped in during a jam.
Many people agree there was something about The Parkview that made it a special place to play. Over the 20 plus years The Parkview had the Blues there, they became a family, often watching young Blues players develop their musical skills, or celebrating someone’s birthday.