Members Biography

Rick Foster – Cornet / Trumpet & Vocals

Rick is married, and makes his home in Attleboro, MA. – Early in his musical career, he idolized Louis Armstrong, when all his friends wanted to be the next big thing to replace the Beatles.   Forty years later, "Hello, Dolly" is still his favorite song.  Rick’s career is a perfect fit for the Dixie Diehards.  As a practicing music journalist, and songwriter, he also performs in a blues/gospel duo with his son and guitarist-arranger David -- who also happens to be the bass player for the Boston rock band Final Hour.  Rick also is a member of the Stone Street Strummers.

Alan Shapiro, trumpet, discovered his love for Dixieland jazz playing in his college jazz band, the Dartmouth Indian Chiefs.  The Chiefs went on to achieve some success, playing in Symphony Hall, Carnegie Hall (twice), the Steve Allen Tonight Show, Jimmy Ryan’s Tavern on 52^nd Street, at numerous New England colleges, and a glorious week at Bermuda’s Elbow Beach Hotel.  Since college, Alan has kept his chops in shape playing in society orchestras, various jazz groups and big bands, and for the last 20 years in his hometown Sharon Community Concert Band and the Roy Scott Big Band.  Alan lives in Sharon with his number 1 fan, his wife Marcia.

Paul Peterson - Tenor Saxophone Our tenor sax player started learning the reeds in the 4th grade.  During his formative years on the reeds, he was a member of both All-State and All-New England Championship Bands.  In fact, his musical skills were of a level that he was invited to play in a local college band while still in junior high school.  After graduating high school, Paul joined the Massachusetts Air National Guard, and served in Viet Nam.  He spent 30 years in the Guard, and played in several military bands.  During that time, he added flute, trombone, and trumpet to his expanding musical skills.  For the last 34 years, he has been teaching music in the Bridgewater–Raynham School District.  He has been a member of many bands (too many to list), however he plays regularly with the Downtown Players, a blues band from Bridgewater.  He and his wife Kathy reside in Taunton.  They are parents of a son and a daughter, both young adults.  We are delighted that Paul finds time to add his unique touch to the Dixie Diehards.  His sax solos never fail to put a big charge into an audience.

Steve Shaw - Tuba   Steve Shaw has recently joined the band as our Tuba / String Bass player.  Steve has been playing an instrument since the 4th grade, and brings a wealth of playing experience to the band.  He was a student of Harvey Phillips and John Coffey.  He has been a member of the South Shore Circus Band since 1966, and the United Brass Band ( South shore area) since 1978.  Since 1995 he as been a member of the Marion Town Concert Band during the summers, and free lances on the string bass with many musical theatre productions throughout New England.   Finally, Steve is a member of  the Peasante Brass, a tuba quartet. Steve resides in Taunton, and runs his own appliance business, when he's not performing.

Bill Dube - Clarinet   Bill grew up in Rhode Island where he played sax and clarinet in swing combos and big bands. His primary teachers were Bill Rossi and Attilio Poto. In the 1970’s he played with various rock-and-soul bands, commercial combos, the USMA Jazz and Concert Bands, the 88th Army Band, and Jack Jessie’s Big Band. He took a few years off from music (1980-2002) to pursue research at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, where he currently conducts NIH-funded studies of learning and attention problems in intellectual and developmental disabilities. Since his musical re-start, he’s played with several community bands, currently the Sharon Community Concert Band and Roy Scott Big Band. This is Bill’s first outing with a traditional Dixieland jazz band, and he’s having a ball.

Jim Kelleher – Trombone  / Personnel

Jim is a retired English teacher who resides in Taunton, MA.  He has played in the Taunton Festival Orchestra and the Southeastern Massachusetts Wind Symphony, primarily playing classical music. He has also played in the Taunton City Band and various dance bands.  He was a member of the Stone Street Strummers band.   Now he’s turned his attention to Dixieland, his true love, and he's never had so much fun. In addition to Dixie Diehards, he plays regularly with the Cranberry Jam, an oldies / trad jazz band. When not playing music, he's playing with his three grandchildren in Potomac, Maryland.

Dick became interested in the banjo during the mid 60s while employed as a waiter at The Banjo Room in Cambridge. He bought his first banjo from the world renowned Pat Terry, who played at The Banjo Room before heading to Disneyworld, where he ended his career. Dick is now in his 20th year with the Stone Street Strummers. He is a retired science teacher who, with his wife Cindy, divides his time between living in Plymouth, MA and Ft Myers, FL. He recently formed a Dixieland band in Ft Myers called The DixieLanders. In his spare time, he enjoys playing tennis and golf.
 

Dolly Fruzzetti - Vocals & Piano

Dolly has a long and impressive list of credits as a piano player and singer.  She is well known all over Southeastern Massachusetts.  She and her late husband Bob performed together for 45 years.  They worked as a duo, with Dolly on piano and vocals, and Bob on string bass.  They did a lot of charitable work with this duo, often playing for patients in nursing homes.  Bob was also an accomplished sax and clarinet player, and was leader of the highly regarded big band, Old Kids on the Block. 

Dolly worked with numerous four and five piece groups, and as a soloist.  In 1992, Dolly and Bob started a 22-piece dance band, playing music of the 1940's.  In 1999, they started another dance band of 12 pieces.  Dolly was the singer in both of these bands.  Both bands are still playing and having fun. 

A couple of years ago, before Bob passed away, Dolly recorded a CD of 23 songs because Bob asked her to do this for him.  She plays and sings on this beautiful album, which is truly worth listening to. Dolly says she loves playing with the Diehards, and there's no doubt at all that the feeling is mutual.  The Dixie Diehards are blessed and lucky to have Dolly.

Lorri Inglis

Drums

Lorri  has been playing professionally since 1982. She was involved with school bands, and then started her own. She started out playing percussion, then quickly graduated to a full set of drums. She’s played in Rock, Top 40, and Country bands, but right now she says she’s having the time of her life playing with the Dixie Diehards. In her words, “This music is fantastic!”  

Lorri has owned her own drum store and recording studio, and done sound for bands. She now teaches drums and other instruments. She’s a well known DJ, and hosts comedy shows at Monponsett Inn in Halifax. The Diehards are happy to have Lorri on board. Her energy and enthusiasm help keep the band going, and she’s a great help with the band’s audio needs.  

Bob Paul   ( Drums, Tuba, Clarinet & Trombone )    
Steve Caddick (Banjo )          Tom Fee      ( Banjo )
Dick Leggee     ( Tuba )          Alice Caldwell  ( Tuba )          Don Pine    ( Drums )              Art Love ( Drums ) 
Paul Poirier      ( Banjo )