Dennis Chandleraka Piano Man / Guitar Man… Cleveland's Musical Chameleon

Update posted May 16, 2012. AGAIN… Glenn SOARED in his guitar playing. Just ask Beachland owner CINDY BARBER and NICK AMSTER… Or… you can check out the newest YOU TUBE posts that GLENNITES put up (and see for yourself).

Plus, you can see sitting in on drums the talented, GREG CAMPOLIETI (and one of Glenn’s olde drummers). Last name sound familiar? That’s also the last name of the dear, late HELEN SVGRA CAMPOLIETI. Back in the day she was a producer of many projects including various variety shows, promotional events including shows for BILL GORDON aka BILL SMOOCHIE GORDON. “Aunt Helen” to her nephew GREG CAMPOLIETI; she also went to school with Dennis Chandler (and used to book him, too). Small world, in deed. Schwartz Brothers, in deed.

GLENNITES UNITE… Friday, June 1, 2012, Paul, Gene, Glenn & Den aka Schwartz Brothers Band play THOMPSON DRAG RACEWAY. Plus awarding-winning dragster Gene Schwartz races the next day at the track!

Then on Saturday, June 9, 2012, the Schwartz Brothers Band returns to Beachland Tavern (a later start time at the Beachland for Dennis Chandler & his Stratophonics band play HOLY REDEEMER earlier that day). A fun time will be had that day for Den, eh? Schwartz Brothers, in deed.

Signed, Liz Chandler (Web Writer)

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GLENN & DEN: Here’s a bit of their history together… and why these “brothers” have many local folks looking forward to seeing them play together again. Both were friends from their childhood days (raised in Euclid, Ohio). Both were bandmates in their youth, in their band called THE PILGRIMS. They, along with drummer RON HARKAI and the late PETE DRAGAS on bass became a popular regional band in the ’60s.

Then when THE PILGRIMS started playing around the DETROIT/ WINDSOR area; they were asked to serve as RADIO POWERHOUSE CKLW’s HOUSEBAND. Those Detroit days made BANDLEADER DENNIS learn how to “stand and deliver”, so to speak. (More background is detailed in a longer bio on this website.)

As for GLENN SCHWARTZ… he too kept growing. He soared in his artistic approach on guitar (and that’s when Den dubbed him “Glenn Guitar.. A gift from God”.) The band’s growing popularity saw The Pilgrims-as-houseband not only open; but also play backup to many new musical acts; that later became musical legends. Why? The powers-that-be at HITSVILLE and later MOTOWN were booking via CKLW. That’s how the PILGRIMS got to open a sold-out ROLLING STONES concert (at Detroit’s COBO HALL).

What happened to the Pilgrims next? Untimely served draft notices caused them to disband, pardon the pun. Thus that promised contract to be the first white band signed to MOTOWN.. went unsigned. When they returned to Cleveland after their stints in the military, they briefly reformed a version of The Pilgrims, and then formed a band called THE BEAT RATS. (Incidentally, that band’s first booking was for the Grand Opening of Diamond Jim’s in the Flats; not too far from Hoopples.)

Then they both went playing in other local bands. They both did go through revolving doors of JIMMY FOX’s rock group, the early JAMES GANG. Dennis preceded Glenn who preceded Joe Walsh, who, well, you get the idea. Of course, that’s the configuration most famous the one with those respected rockers and friends of both Glenn and Den… Fox, Peters and Walsh. (Sounds like a law firm, eh?) Speaking of sounds like… Check out the WKYC NBC show called “Soundcheck”. Go and Google it. Fox and Peters give an in depth history of that band because of all the interest they get, deservedly. Rock on, guys!

Back to about Glenn. Called by critics, “Heir apparent to the JIMI HENDRIX throne”, being heard by many guitarists who came to Cleveland just to hear him… Glenn continued to soar in his guitar-playing. Then he left the North Coast for the West Coast. He joined PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC (the band not the power company) and became a power rocker himself. (Glenn guitar, indeed!) They had the hit recording “ARE YOU READY?” Much has been written about those years so suffice-it-to-say here, I’ll research what relates, get the right info, what’s pertinent to the coming creative project(s). Can you say “Movie/ Documentary?”

As for when Glenn and Den got together again? They can’t recall. But, it wasn’t until the mid-’90s that the two played together again. It happened when GENE SCHWARTZ (an award-winning professional dragster) went car cruising with BROTHER GLENN. He brought him out to a classic car cruise where Dennis was playing. Both Schwartz brothers had their guitars with them. With Mitch Renko on drums, Gene on bass, Glenn on guitar, Dennis doubling on guitar and later keyboards… it was just like the old days. It was a wonderful night of fun and fellowship. One can see the JOY in their eyes… Just look at the photograph of the two of them… and Glenn is looking right at you! (More about that photo in the post-script below.)

Next time was a sad occasion that the Schwartz brothers and Dennis Chandler saw one another; the funeral of Robert Lockwood. Gene, Glenn and Den had known the pioneer bluesman both as a friend and mentor. Plus they all had played in Robert Jr. Lockwood’s band at one time or another. (Robert Jr. is what he was called back in the day; the stepson of the great Robert Johnson. He was the folkloric blues figure at the center of the “Crossroads” myth). But, it was as BB King’s teacher that Robert Lockwood was first introduced to Dennis.. By BB King. And tracing the threads even farther back… it was Glenn Schwartz who first introduced Dennis Chandler to BB King. (He and another mutual childhood friend, George Foster, snuck Dennis into a Cleveland nightclub called Gleason’s to “hear this guy called BB King”. Talk about the threads in God’s Tapestry!)

But, back to the future… What happened when Glenn and Den got together again on Sept. 9, 2011.. This time playing? Well… “They raised the roof”, so to speak. (Pardon the pun but, it was in a barn, after all!) Here’s what one reviewer said about the first time they played (at MIKE’s BARN aka MIKE’S JAZZ COLLECTIVE in Elyria, Ohio). To quote “TZ” in part… “As the song ended, Glenn Schwartz told the cheering crowd, “This is a VERY SPECIAL NIGHT. ONE THAT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE IN A LONG WHILE, PERHAPS ONLY ONCE IN A LIFETIME! We’re going to play ’til morning!” (More roaring approval from the crowd). One must read the whole review to understand the setting and the mood of that evening. There is a brief albeit dark impromptu video on YOU TUBE. (Enough to bring back the memory for those in attendance that night, this writer included).

So now about what we’ll call current-era-gigs: Those attending will get to see and hear Glenn Schwartz, along with bass-playing brother GENE SCHWARTZ, drummer PAUL O’BRIEN and now Dennis, take the music to a higher place and their audiences, too. Both young and old alike… it is amazing to see. Their playing on these engagements is special indeed, to say the least. Just ask those olde loyal followers of SB BAND. Just ask those new followers of SB band. OR you can just ask the following (pun intended) club owners… Mike’s Barn owner MICHAEL YATES, Beachland Ballroom & Tavern owner CINDY BARBER and Major Hoopples.

So, to Widow MARY LOCKWOOD, much thanks for being the facilitator behind that special reunion and this new bonding of these blues brothers. To all other mutual friends and musician-friends… past and present… looks like prayers have been answered. Come and enjoy GOD’s Gift of Music through these “BROTHERS”.

(A joyful footnote here… That ANGEL ROBERT LOCKWOOD must be watching over the guys and his old Fender amp, too. How happy he must be that it’s Glenn who’s got it. We know we are.)
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P.S. (About that photograph… Folks are amazed that “Glenn let you take his picture! How?” To explain their question.. Apparently they said he conveyed to them that he was almost Amish-like in his aversion to having his picture taken. Unbeknownst to me, as a photographer I found myself instinctively looking through my camera’s lens. Then I heard him say, “Well, c’mon now, Liz… Take the picture!” So, I did. (That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it, as is sometimes said.) Seriously, he is such a GRACIOUS, HUMBLE man. That shot brings back for me those precious moments. But, more importantly, I’m so glad others are enjoying the photos. Perhaps then, folks will get a glimpse of this man’s sweet soul. Or better yet, they can come, see and hear for themselves… “Glenn Guitar, a gift from God”.)

Liz Chandler, Webwriter
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Dennis Chandler
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