{"id":101,"date":"2010-07-14T10:51:52","date_gmt":"2010-07-14T15:51:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dennischandler.afmadlib.com\/"},"modified":"2025-09-06T13:37:32","modified_gmt":"2025-09-06T18:37:32","slug":"stratophonics","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/index.php\/stratophonics\/","title":{"rendered":"Stratophonics – A Fraternity of a Band"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Memory of Rob Johnston …<\/strong><\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/h1>\n

Live – HIDEAWAY by Dennis Chandler & The Stratophonics<\/a><\/h1>\n

Live – HONKY TONK by Dennis Chandler & The Stratophonics<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Live Pianist DC Sings & Play Fats Domino’s “I’m Walkin'”<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Dennis Chandler\u2019s Fraternity-of-a-Band Called The Stratophonics<\/strong><\/p>\n

About the band:  In 1982 WHK 1420 am Radio <\/strong>became “The Oldies Station” in Cleveland for Malrite Communications<\/strong>. It was because of Jack Gubkin<\/strong> a mutual Motor City contact … that Malrite President<\/strong> Milt Maltz<\/strong> approached Cleveland-Musician-Dennis. MM wanted DC’s band … Steel<\/strong> aka Dennis Chandler Band<\/strong> … to become houseband<\/strong> for his Cleveland AM Radio … call letters … WHK. They would work in support of WHK\u2019s Oldies format. DC was open to it … he had done it before … in Detroit for the legendary<\/em> CKLW Radio<\/strong> … (more about that below).<\/p>\n

It was Dennis’ suggestion … to rename<\/em> his band The Stratophonics<\/strong> … later aka The 14K Stratophonics<\/strong>. It was Dennis’ nod to a sound he recalled from his early days of listening to WHK Radio. The station’s early “Reverberating sound<\/strong>“. It was something that … when introduced in 1959 … Youthful-Dennis got hooked on. Thus in 1984 … Young-at-Heart-Dennis … decided he could work under that banner, so to speak. Station executives eagerly agreed.        <\/p>\n

Back to the above hint that …  Dennis’ renaissance wasn’t new .. in \u201982. History was repeating itself. Another group of his<\/em> served as a radio station houseband, too. It was years earlier in \u201964.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s when he and a couple of childhood chums from Cleveland … got to work for the Detroit-Windsor regional radio powerhouse<\/em> \u2026 the legendary<\/em> CKLW Radio. <\/strong>Those earlier Detroit days … for Musician-Dennis made him adept. He could perform all types of music. Chameleon Chandler was made capable by his past circumstances. Dennis got to do keyboards and guitar, along with guitar virtuoso Glenn Schwartz<\/strong>, drummer Ronald Harkai<\/strong> and bassist Pete Dragas<\/strong>. The Pilgrims<\/strong> appeared to be aptly named for that place in time said Program Director Dave Shaffer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

So CKLW’s Shaffer had … this very young band … backing … some other very young performers … (LIVE in those days). <\/em>Dave Shaffer booked them … wherever he could.  <\/p>\n

Artists such The Isley Brothers, The Supremes, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Mary Wells, Ronnie & The Daytonas, Freddie Cannon, Del Shannon, Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, Dobie Gray, Little Eva, Gary & U.S. Bonds, Little Richard, Chuck Berry<\/strong>, to name just a few. Playing around the Detroit-Windsor<\/em> area in those days, made that scene \u2026 Dennis’ Music Graduate School. It earned him an early Doctorate in Diversity<\/em>, too, so to speak. (For more about that band … go to the webpage titled “The Pilgrims”).<\/p>\n

But, back to when Dennis Chandler left Detroit to return home to Cleveland. Becoming such a strong backup brought him lots of work (or shall we say play) with artists as diverse as … Jerry Lee Lewis, Bobby Vee, Fabian, The Cadillacs, The Coasters, The Crests, The Drifters, the Jive Five, Jan & Dean, The Rivingtons. <\/strong>He also got to play locally, briefly in Tom King & the Starfires <\/strong>later The Outsiders <\/strong>and then the early James Gang. <\/strong>His band was known as the Dennis Chandler Band<\/strong> aka<\/em> Steel<\/strong> later aka<\/em> The Stratophonics \/ 14K Stratophonics<\/strong>. They got gigs backing … Leslie Gore, Lou Christie, The Brooklyn Bridge, Vito & The Salutations, The Secrets and The Regents<\/strong>, to name just a very few<\/em>.<\/p>\n

That … ability to … “stand and deliver<\/em>” … back of so many diverse acts<\/em> … brought that earned invitation from Malrite<\/strong>. Thus DC’s band became WHK Radio<\/strong>‘s Houseband<\/strong>. In turn, Bandleader Dennis<\/strong> was delighted to be reunited<\/em> … with some of his early rock ‘n’ roll teachers.<\/em> An added bonus was \u2026 while playing in musical support of the station\u2019s oldies format \u2026 they were able to help collect over <\/em>200,000 of the 600,000 petition signatures <\/strong>for the all-media campaign to “Bring the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum to Cleveland<\/strong>“.<\/p>\n

CAN YOU FEEL IT (THAT ROCK ‘n’ ROLL) by DC & The Stratophonics <\/a><\/p>\n

(For more info … go to the webpage titled “Rock Hall Song<\/strong>“)<\/p>\n

Those radio station gigs also reunited<\/em> Dennis with some of his very<\/em><\/strong> favorite musical mentors <\/strong>i.e., rock pioneers<\/strong> Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry<\/strong> and Lonnie Mack<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Speaking CB … he often lovingly chided DC. The legendary songwriter-singer-guitarist Chuck Berry … was the headliner for the station’s concert commemorating the landmark … “Moondog Coronation Ball<\/strong>” That concert was held on March 21, 1952 at the Cleveland Arena. It is widely considered the first major rock and roll concert. Excerpt from Wiki<\/em> … ” Cleveland rock radio stations WHK & WMMS attempted to stage a revival of the concert in 1986 under the name “Moondog Coronation Ball II<\/strong><\/em>“… Then-program director John Gorman had intended for the event to serve as an oldies rock and roll tribute concert \u2013 part of the campaign to bring the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame<\/a> to Cleveland. For legal reasons, the event never materialized.” (End of Excerpt)<\/em><\/p>\n

So in 1986 … the station held a concert honoring the original. It was held in Cleveland’s Terminal Tower Train Station. Dennis’ band aka The Stratophonics opened. Then Den helped back Chuck. That’s when the legendary songwriter-singer-guitarist … shared with his audience the following fun tease. An often repeated adage of CB’s …  about DC … “Dennis Chandler … My Favorite … White … Piano Player!” <\/em> <\/strong><\/p>\n

Another adage by another artist? Why was Dennis Chandler dubbed “The Ed-U-tainer<\/strong>“? The term is rooted in a philosophy much like the late Marvin Hamlisch<\/strong> had. Marvin-the-musician was called “The Entertainer”. No doubt it was in nod to the Scott Joplin<\/strong> song of the same title. That early composer’s music was championed by Hamlisch-the-Producer to great success (as in numerous awards including Oscars for the Joplin-instilled soundtrack of the movie “The Sting”). But… most importantly, Hamlisch helped\u2026 to shine a spotlight\u2026 on how the earlier composers set the stage, so to speak, for America<\/strong>‘s original music<\/strong>. Marvin-the-entertainer’s example \u2026 espoused that philosophy of “Ed U-Taining<\/em>“… that … “One must entertain but educate, too<\/em>!”  Thus teacher Dennis\u2019 role is testament to the work Marvin and other mutual friends started back in the day \u2026 to recognize America\u2019s musical roots.<\/p>\n

By the way, it was in ’75 that the two entertaining-types first met … when they “played the Palace” (the one in Cleveland’s Playhouse Square). There was Dennis Chandler opening for Marvin Hamlisch, sort of. The dilapidated setting was just prior to Marvin performing a benefit concert … to help raise funds to further the restoration of the Palace. So, what did the two teachers talk about?.. Which vaudevillians <\/strong>must have treaded those boards when they came to town? And what performers must have played “Uptown at East 1-0-5” while doin’ the Chitlin’ Circuit?<\/strong> Talk ’bout the Blues … <\/em> <\/p>\n

To this day, Dennis still shares that deep feeling about the Blues. <\/em>It’s in whatever the band does musically … and at all gigs, big or small. It pleases him that the living-room-learning-format<\/strong>  he utilizes to give … a little history behind those hits <\/em>from the past … goes over so <\/em>well … with audiences of all<\/em> ages. Again, why Dennis was dubbed “The Ed-U-Tainer<\/strong>“.<\/p>\n

Speaking of “Ed-U-Taining”… a few years back in the ’80s and \u201890s, Dennis had done his brand of a “Blues in the Schools<\/strong>” concert \/ lecture series. Their “tour” took them from inner-city<\/em> to outer-suburb<\/em>, teaching children where the music of today<\/em> came from … yesterday’s blues<\/em>. That’s how he got to pass the music on. Music, Dennis was taught … in most part … firsthand<\/em> by the BLUESMASTERS<\/strong> themselves. To explain …<\/p>\n

It was through their time-honored Oral Tradition<\/strong>, that bluesmen would invite Dennis to “Come, sit, learn<\/strong>” at their knee, so to speak. Albeit his baptism-by-fire,<\/em> he holds precious <\/em>the many memories that included lessons hard-learned <\/em>but always lovingly<\/em> taught, “Good, good … now try it this way”. Great respect was earned for America<\/strong>‘s original music <\/strong>… for the musicians who made the music <\/em>… and for those who shared the music with him … <\/em>Muddy Waters, Luther Allison, Albert King, James Cotton, Roosevelt Sykes, Sunnyland Slim, Mike Bloomfield, Charles Musselwhite, Paul Butterfield, Elvin Bishop, Bill “Honky Tonk” Doggett, Robert “Jr.” Lockwood<\/strong>. Of course, I\u2019d be remiss to not list \u2026 Dennis’ “second father”, B.B. King<\/strong>. The King of the Blues was more<\/em> than a teacher to him. B.B. said Dennis was, “A fabulous <\/em>musician. I call him my adopted son ’cause I like to think I <\/em>raised him” (and for over 50 years he did). How does one repay such caring<\/em>?  By helping to fulfill their wishes. Example … a promise made in ’65 … became a promise kept in ’80. That\u2019s when Dennis felt he perhaps got to pay \u201cPoppa BB\u201d back, a little. (Talk about an adventure \u2026 and what it took \u2026 for \u201cadopted son Dennis\u201d to help make happen the B.B. King Lucille Gibson Guitar production line model \u2026 go to the website page tiled \u201cBB King \/ Lucille\u201d to learn more). Now how does Dennis repay such sharing<\/em>? By … “Playing it forward”.<\/p>\n

In closing \u2026 Special thanks to all the horses in the stable \u2026 thoroughbreds that they are. And to those past, present and future members of DC\u2019s fraternity-of-a-band called \u201cThe Stratophonics\u201d. Playing such events associated with Roots Rock and Blues <\/strong>has enabled many of the original bandmembers to return often \u2026 to their love of making music<\/em>. So … Let them “Ed-U-Tain”<\/em> you \u2026 and as the song lyric sings \u2026 \u201cAnd you\u2019ll have a real good time!\u201d<\/p>\n

Liz Chandler, Web Writer <\/p>\n

email:  googoo@en.com  <\/p>\n

 <\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In Memory of Rob Johnston … Live – HIDEAWAY by Dennis Chandler & The Stratophonics Live – HONKY TONK by Dennis Chandler & The Stratophonics Live Pianist DC Sings & Play Fats Domino’s “I’m Walkin’” Dennis Chandler\u2019s Fraternity-of-a-Band Called The Stratophonics About the band:  In 1982 WHK 1420 am Radio became “The Oldies Station” in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-101","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nStratophonics - A Fraternity of a Band - Dennis Chandler<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/index.php\/stratophonics\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Stratophonics - A Fraternity of a Band - Dennis Chandler\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In Memory of Rob Johnston … Live – HIDEAWAY by Dennis Chandler & The Stratophonics Live – HONKY TONK by Dennis Chandler & The Stratophonics Live Pianist DC Sings & Play Fats Domino’s “I’m Walkin'” Dennis Chandler\u2019s Fraternity-of-a-Band Called The Stratophonics About the band:  In 1982 WHK 1420 am Radio became “The Oldies Station” in […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/index.php\/stratophonics\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Dennis Chandler\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-06T18:37:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/dennischandler.afmadlib.com\/files\/2024\/02\/DENNIS-CHANDLER-CHUCK-BERRY-MOONDOG-CORNATION-COLLAGE-940x788.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dennischandler.com\\\/index.php\\\/stratophonics\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dennischandler.com\\\/index.php\\\/stratophonics\\\/\",\"name\":\"Stratophonics - A Fraternity of a Band - Dennis Chandler\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dennischandler.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dennischandler.com\\\/index.php\\\/stratophonics\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dennischandler.com\\\/index.php\\\/stratophonics\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"http:\\\/\\\/dennischandler.afmadlib.com\\\/files\\\/2024\\\/02\\\/DENNIS-CHANDLER-CHUCK-BERRY-MOONDOG-CORNATION-COLLAGE-940x788.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2010-07-14T15:51:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-06T18:37:32+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dennischandler.com\\\/index.php\\\/stratophonics\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/dennischandler.com\\\/index.php\\\/stratophonics\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dennischandler.com\\\/index.php\\\/stratophonics\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/dennischandler.afmadlib.com\\\/files\\\/2024\\\/02\\\/DENNIS-CHANDLER-CHUCK-BERRY-MOONDOG-CORNATION-COLLAGE-940x788.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"http:\\\/\\\/dennischandler.afmadlib.com\\\/files\\\/2024\\\/02\\\/DENNIS-CHANDLER-CHUCK-BERRY-MOONDOG-CORNATION-COLLAGE-940x788.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dennischandler.com\\\/index.php\\\/stratophonics\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dennischandler.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Stratophonics – A Fraternity of a Band\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dennischandler.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dennischandler.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Dennis Chandler\",\"description\":\"aka Piano Man \\\/ Guitar Man... Cleveland's Musical Chameleon\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/dennischandler.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Stratophonics - A Fraternity of a Band - Dennis Chandler","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/index.php\/stratophonics\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Stratophonics - A Fraternity of a Band - Dennis Chandler","og_description":"In Memory of Rob Johnston … Live – HIDEAWAY by Dennis Chandler & The Stratophonics Live – HONKY TONK by Dennis Chandler & The Stratophonics Live Pianist DC Sings & Play Fats Domino’s “I’m Walkin'” Dennis Chandler\u2019s Fraternity-of-a-Band Called The Stratophonics About the band:  In 1982 WHK 1420 am Radio became “The Oldies Station” in […]","og_url":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/index.php\/stratophonics\/","og_site_name":"Dennis Chandler","article_modified_time":"2025-09-06T18:37:32+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"http:\/\/dennischandler.afmadlib.com\/files\/2024\/02\/DENNIS-CHANDLER-CHUCK-BERRY-MOONDOG-CORNATION-COLLAGE-940x788.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/index.php\/stratophonics\/","url":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/index.php\/stratophonics\/","name":"Stratophonics - A Fraternity of a Band - Dennis Chandler","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/index.php\/stratophonics\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/index.php\/stratophonics\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"http:\/\/dennischandler.afmadlib.com\/files\/2024\/02\/DENNIS-CHANDLER-CHUCK-BERRY-MOONDOG-CORNATION-COLLAGE-940x788.jpg","datePublished":"2010-07-14T15:51:52+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-06T18:37:32+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/index.php\/stratophonics\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/index.php\/stratophonics\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/index.php\/stratophonics\/#primaryimage","url":"http:\/\/dennischandler.afmadlib.com\/files\/2024\/02\/DENNIS-CHANDLER-CHUCK-BERRY-MOONDOG-CORNATION-COLLAGE-940x788.jpg","contentUrl":"http:\/\/dennischandler.afmadlib.com\/files\/2024\/02\/DENNIS-CHANDLER-CHUCK-BERRY-MOONDOG-CORNATION-COLLAGE-940x788.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/index.php\/stratophonics\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Stratophonics – A Fraternity of a Band"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/","name":"Dennis Chandler","description":"aka Piano Man \/ Guitar Man... Cleveland's Musical Chameleon","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/101","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101"}],"version-history":[{"count":74,"href":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/101\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6070,"href":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/101\/revisions\/6070"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dennischandler.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}