DANVILLE -- They clapped, sang along and tapped their toes to three harmonicas accompanied by an accordion.
"You have a special place in our hearts," Fritz Fedorko told seniors Wednesday at the Montour County Senior Center, along with others seniors from Catawissa and Wilberton. It was five years ago he and his Mid-Penn Harmonica Club played its first performance at the former Washingtonville Senior Center.
Fedorko formed the Montoursville-based club after joining a harmonica club of about 40 members while spending winters in Florida. "It was amazing to sit in a roomful of people playing. It renewed my interest. I went to an annual convention," said Fedorko who has played harmonica since high school. "It was a family thing. My two brothers and sister played," he said.
When he came back to Pennsylvania, he got Gene Boyles interested who encouraged others to join. He met Boyles while his harmonica collection was on display at a museum in Williamsport. "We've had as many as 12 members, but a few have died and others have moved away," said Fedorko who now plays harmonica with "country jam" in Florida in the winter.
Besides Fedorko and Boyles, who is the retired Montoursville borough secretary and currently a borough councilman, the other harmonica player is Harold Adams, who worked with Fedorko at Sylvania. Rick Maietta, who is retired from Darling Valve, accompanies them on accordion. Boyles.
Adams has played harmonica since he was 7 when his uncle gave him one. He played sax in a dance band until rock n' roll came in.
"I bought mine in 1959 when I was in the Navy," said Boyles who also played the baritone horn in high school.
During their performances, they do polkas, tunes from the "Sound of Music," a military medley and numbers such as "Alley Cat" and "When the Saints Go Marching In."
"We are interested in a variety of music, and it's fun to entertain other people," Boyles said. They provide song sheets so audiences can sing along.
They average 20 shows a year from May through November, covering areas including Williamsport, Milton and Lewisburg. "We do a lot of nursing homes," Adams said.
They ask for a donation to cover gasoline costs.
To book a show, call Fedorko at 433-4352 or Boyles at 368-8417, or e-mail fritz@fedorko.com or eboyles344@comcast.net.
n E-mail comments to kblackledge@thedanvillenews.com.
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Harmonica, accordion players entertain seniors
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