Friday night, July 18th 1968, RRC's first show... Forty years ago... for some people, a lifetime. Funny thing is, I can remember that first gig as clearly as if it was a month ago.

There are not many bands that will ever celebrate their 40th. They will never meet the amazing people, and enjoyed the fan support we have over the course of that time span. We were lucky to pass through the 70's and be part of the Live Concert Rock scene in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and of course, Westchester and Long Island, both of which became our homes. How fast time flies by, listening to my favorite music, (most of it 30 years old) reminds me of my dad (rest in peace) who told me how great his generation of music was compared to mine! When I listen to a lot of today's popular music, it makes me wish for one old weekend at Hammerheads! As life goes... we were having so much fun, the years just flew by. Have no fear! We're not done yet!

But while we look back... Isn't it easy to flip a switch in your mind? And, it's a hot sweaty night at Glen Island, Ubies OTJ's free beer, Pete and Moe at the Rising Sun, La'Mours, Gemini, The Mad Hatters, The Aft North on a Sunday (where the band had to immediately head back out to Southampton for rehearsal on MONDAY!) It's remembering a good laugh on a wild night at Speaks, or Beggars Opera, Mitty's General Store (if you go back THAT far with us). So many familiar smiling faces, all the excitement, the PA was REALLY LOUD, the places were packed and everyone was having a great, great time.

That's how I remember 40 years of gigs flashing by. I was there for every one of them.

But... There's the melancholy side... Sentimental moments, friendships that ended, people that have moved on. Some of our people have passed away, leaving only their memories. Bob Catapano, Karen Caruso, Joe Lennane, Steve Compton, Bob Hanley and Bob Mayo, all dear friends, management, or Rat Race Choir musicians. Their contributions , their talents, ideas, creativity and love, can never be replaced. I wish I could have Thanked them all for the happiness each one of them brought into the band, and my own personal life. But they will be here in my mind, and in my heart forever.

I was 17 in 1968... This is the 40th Anniversary. Rat Race Choir has been my life, and though I gave up a lot of things most people attain in pursuit of their "American Dream", I let that all go by the wayside because of the inner joy this band brought to me. So, I will stay here, and continue on with Rat Race Choir. I have a lot of promises to keep and feel I owe those who have supported us for so many of these 40 years. My fire still burns strong inside, RRC's music always brought me to a higher place inside my mind, it is total energy, meditative, a blissful state of mind. This is something very special that we shared as musicians, it's something that we learned to control and sharpen.

It was on a higher level, it was spiritual.

Every musician that ever played in this band ~was/is~ a musical spirit. How blessed am I... to have played with every one of them.

I will never forget OUR FANS, without whom, we could have not existed for so long.

Thank You all so much!! I want to thank every musician who contributed their talents to Rat Race Choir, the best musicians I've ever known, the best friends I've ever known. I want to thank every crew member, who worked so hard day in and day out, year after year whether they were behind the mixing board, lighting board, a back-line of amps, or our truck's steering wheel.

What does the future hold??? More Rat Race Choir, of course! We would love to return to Long Island for some Live Shows!

This is our 40th Anniversary year, I think we should celebrate. There is enough material for at least a couple of CDs (long awaited) that need to be released to the public. There are also new songs in the works. RRC has access to a State of the Art recording studio, thanks to Jay at ConcertD Studios in Armonk, NY. Allen Ade' our original engineer has agreed to help us re-mix the music he recorded.

Perhaps there will be a special "Meeting of The Spirits!"
Who knows, after all, it IS... The Year Of The Rat.

-Dave