Who Remembers Eric ‘ET’ Thorngren & The Chessmen?

Like most of the stuff I throw up on this blog, I get sparked from something I see on my Facebook feed and this find is a true piece of Oldiez nostalgia! The video featured a 45 spinning on a record player of a band straight out of Utica in the 60's called Eric and The Chessmen...

Born out of state in the late 70's myself, I have no memory of these guys, so thanks to the wonderful archive of the the internet I had some investigative fun. Turns out this band had seen many incarnations, but at least two people of note emerged whose impact can still be heard today...

The first of course is Eric Thorngren himself (third from left in the above photo) who hailed from Carlisle Street as a late teenager at the time. He is now a renowned producer and recording engineer working with the likes of Chuck Berry, Bob Marley, The Talking Heads, The Eurythmics, Robert Palmer, Cyndi Lauper, Lou Graham, David Cassidy, Huey Lewis, Violent Femmes, Cher, O.A R. and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, just to name a few on this virtual who's who list. Here he is chatting shop with another music 'mixologist' about recording guitars in-studio.

From Albany Street, the other guy that went on to more musical fame as well, although comparatively of a local nature is Freddy Faccioli (extreme left in the band photo above and seated at the keys below.) Sometime after the Chessmen disbanded, he started a horn band in the 70's called 'Ascension' and with former Ascension bassist, Greeley Ford started another horn band in the 90's that you've come to know and love, 'Classified'.

This is by no means an exhaustive informational post, but merely a snapshot to take you down memory lane, or educate you quick on some more talent that this town birthed quite some time ago. I invite you to share your memories of the Chessmen or any other player or band or from Utica's past in the comments below, I'd love to hear more about the good 'ole days... Chess anyone?