Oswego Music Hall of Fame Announces their Second Round of 2025 Awardees

by Contributor | January 19, 2025 12:18 pm

OSWEGO – The Oswego Music Hall Fame is proud to announce second round of its awardees for their 2025 Induction Ceremony. This is the second of three induction announcements from the Oswego Music Hall of Fame. The 2025 Induction Ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 23, at 1 PM at the Oswego Elks Lodge. The event will feature a buffet of ziti, meatballs, Italian bread, salad, coffee, and tea. There will be a cash bar during the event. Tickets are $40 per person and can only be purchased before the event date.  No tickets will be sold at the door on the day of the event. Adding to the excitement, some of this year’s inductees will provide live entertainment, making it an afternoon of music, celebration, and inspiration.

Your tickets sales directly fund scholarships for High School Seniors, free music lessons at local Oswego County music schools, and essential resources like musical instruments for Oswego County children. With your help, we can continue providing life-changing opportunities for young musicians while honoring the incredible talent in our area.

Over the years, we’ve achieved remarkable milestones, such as: Donating hundreds of musical recorders to local elementary schools which are often a child’s first musical experience. We have funded countless hours of music lessons for students at local Oswego County music schools. We have also awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships, including the prestigious Joseph P. Spereno Scholarship for aspiring students pursuing music in higher education.

One of the 2025’s awardees includes DamDog. In 1977, the Kyle brothers banded together to play music in the Sterling Valley. What started as a typical garage band has evolved over the years to become a work of art and a labor of love. With Dave on bass, Craig on drums and Larry on guitar, the Kyle brothers have honed their craft through countless practice and performances to become the polished musicians they are today. DamDog have played festivals and venues both large and small, to captivated crowds all over New York State. They have had opportunities to open for national acts such as J. Geils, Bob Margolin, Max Creek, Devon Allman, Robert Randolph Family Band, Guy Davis, Dickey Betts and Jonathan Edwards while maintaining a strong and faithful presence at local venues. They are recording artists on the Coon Dog record label and have released their fifth all original music C.D. entitled “Sterling Valley.” After forty-eight years and counting they are still tearing up town after town and gaining new fans every day! They have become CNY’s premiere blues band and are out working the blue collar trail every week. DamDog will be awarded the Joseph P. Spereno Hall of Fame Award for their accomplishments as a Blues band.

Another 2025 awardee is Pat Hillman. Pat’s musical career started in 3rd grade with classical piano training. As a young man armed with a Farfisa compact organ and an Ampeg B-18 amplifier, Pat auditioned for the local band The Shadowman. The band later traveled to New York City to compete in Macy’s Battle of the Bands. The Showman won the contest which included a deal to record a whole album. As time went on, Pat performed with many other bands, local bands, most notably Tangerine and Crystal Ship. Pat has played on many stages, including the Carrier Dome, and HarborFest stage with his good friend Sam Domicolo. A highlight of his career was playing at the Thousand Islands Music Festival in front of 13,000 people. Of all the bands and musicians that Pat Hillman has played with, he has learned something from each and every one of them. Even at the age of 76, Pat is still learning and will continue to do so. He is humbly honored to be inducted into The Oswego Music Hall of Fame. Pat Hillman will be awarded an Enrichment Award.

Joe Trionfero will be awarded this year’s Educator Award. Joe was born in the City of Oswego. Early in his music career, Joe was in a band called Side by Side and that band was on the road all around New York State for several years. Joe Trionfero was the lead guitar player of Side by Side. They cut their first record which received a lot of airtime on the local radio. Joe Trionfero transformed himself from a professional musician into a motivational speaker for schools, conferences and businesses. Over the past twenty-five years, Joe has entertained audiences with his “Show Of Love”. His motivational speaking is always entertaining, educational and has one-hundred percent audience participation. Joe is the father of five children and currently lives in Baldwinsville with his wife Denise.

 

Tickets must be purchased by March 15, 2025, or until they are sold out. No tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets can be purchased either by check or money order payable to Oswego Music Hall of Fame, Inc. to 94 Mariposa Dr., Oswego, NY 13126. Please include the number of tickets you’re purchasing, your name and specify if they are for General Admission or the Honoree section. If you would like to order tickets, please contact Nancy Spereno at 315-480-3327 to confirm your payment or for assistance.

Tickets can be picked up on March 7, 8 between 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM and March 9 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM 2025, at the Oswego Players Box Office at the Oswego Civic Arts Center, Barbara Donahue Dr., Oswego, NY 13126. Sonia Lough-Berlin will distribute prepaid tickets during these dates so be sure to include your name with your payment and if you plan to pick them up at the Box office. If you need to arrange an earlier pickup, please contact Nancy Spereno.

The 2025 Induction Ceremony at the Oswego Elks Lodge will be a memorable day. The 2025 Induction Ceremony will feature heartfelt performances by inductees as they shine on their special day. It’s a unique opportunity for friends, family, fans and public to witness the passion and artistry of the award winters while celebrating the legacy of Oswego’s music community.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/entertainment/oswego-music-hall-of-fame-announces-their-second-round-of-2025-awardees/

---