Joe’s Place – “Where Music Lives”

What seems like a long time ago, I was 12 years old (actually it was 60 years ago) that I went to my first dance in the basement of St. Theresa’s Church in Port Colborne. This was put on by a church youth group that my older brother John belonged to.
It was there that it happened for me.
I fell in Love.
Playing that night was a band called “The Beanies”. A 3 piece band featuring Al and Neil Lacroix on Bass and Guitar and Mike Manger on drums.
It was the greatest moment in my short existence. It was then that I decided I would be a drummer, and music was going to be my greatest Love for the rest of my life.
I convinced my parents to buy a set of Silver Sparkle Coronet drums displayed at Mione’s Radio Shop in Port Colborne.
And that was the beginning.
Needless to say, that was the start of a journey I will never forget. I am not about to write an autobiography (maybe another day), but music has been a part of my life in various forms since then.
Musician, Promoter, Agent, Night Club Owner, Restauranteur, Producer, Music Buyer, Music Society Chairperson, Music Competition Judge, Entertainment Consultant, Stage Management, Festival Organizer and my most important role MUSIC LOVER.
While raising a family in Port Colborne, ON and earning a living working in manufacturing, I was performing in a variety of different bands and enjoying many of the greats at concerts on a regular basis.
And that’s another long story.
After my 25+ years in manufacturing, playing music as a hobby and attending concerts by the greats, it was time for a change of careers.
Hello Joe’s Place Restaurant/Nite Club featuring Live Blues & Jazz/Thai and Italian cuisine.
So I now became a Restauranteur, Music Buyer, Promoter and continued with my love affair with Music.
Once again I have to say that the Joe’s Place adventure is a story in itself, and I am not writing an autobiography.
But I do want to share with you the amazing performers that entertained us on a regular basis. Below is a gallery of photos of most of the performers (I don’t have photos of all so those are mentioned at the bottom of the gallery}
Move your mouse or tap on a photo to find out who they are. Click to view larger image.
ENJOY! And feel free to leave comments especially if you were there for the different performances.

Jimmy Rogers, Betty Ruicci, Joe Ruicci 
Jimmy Rogers Band 
Richard Newell aka King Biscuit Boy (R.I.P.) 
Joe Ingrao 
Jeff Healey 
Jeff Healey, Pat Rush, Joe MacLeod 
Bill Perry (R.I.P.) 
Joe Mavety (R.I.P.) 
Jerome Godboo 
Roddie Romero 
Michael Fonfara (R.I.P.) and Donnie Walsh aka Mr. Downchild 
Donnie “Mr. Downchild” and Chuck Jackson 
Pat Carey (Downchild Blues Band) 
Big Sugar 
Big Sugar 
Jughead 
Fathead 
Ned Green (R.I.P.) 
Fathead 
Crystal Plamondon 
Herb Nelson Sr and Herb Nelson Jr 
Kris St. Louis (R.I.P.) 
Jaman Sunday Jazz 
Andrew Jacob Hiebert aka Big Rude Jake (R.I.P.) 
The Jaman Trio 
Big Rude Jake 
Big Rude Jake and the Gentleman Players 
The Sidemen 
The Sidemen 
Kyle Ferguson of The Sidemen 
Jack deKeyzer Band 
Maureen Brown & Big Hand 
Lance Anderson 
Bucky Berger 
Paul James 
Fujahtive 
Jambone – Joe Ingrao, Rick Labrie, Pat Dewey, Thomas Nelson 
Carlos del Junco with Jambone 
Gypsy Soul 
Gypsy Soul 
Bob Snider 
Morgan Davis 
Vox Violins 
Michele and Ryan Ruicci 
Memo Acevedo 
Bill McBirnie ![Dutch Mason and Larry Goodhand]()
Dutch Mason and Larry Goodhand ![Bourbon Tabernacle Choir]()
Bourbon Tabernacle Choir ![Mel Brown]()
Mel Brown ![Bourbon Tabernacle Choir]()
Bourbon Tabernacle Choir ![Haydain Neale - Jack Soul]()
Haydain Neale – Jack Soul ![Bobby Militello at Joefest - L to R -Bobby Militello, Rich]()
Bobby Militello at Joefest – L to R -Bobby Militello, Rich Thompson, Bobby Jones, Jeff Jarvis ![Rob Robbins, Jeff Jarvis, Joe Ruicci]()
Rob Robbins, Jeff Jarvis, Joe Ruicci ![Bobby Militello and Jeff Jarvis]()
Bobby Militello and Jeff Jarvis ![Bobby Militello]()
Bobby Militello ![Bobby Jones]()
Bobby Jones ![Herb and Beverly]()
Herb and Beverly ![Chris Bottomley & Brain Fudge]()
Chris Bottomley & Brain Fudge ![Bennie and the Jets]()
Bennie and the Jets ![Big Squeeze]()
Big Squeeze ![Blue Willow]()
Blue Willow ![Chis & Larry Quakers Comedy]()
Chis & Larry Quakers Comedy ![Cold Shot]()
Cold Shot ![Crocker and his Dummy - Quakers Comedy]()
Crocker and his Dummy – Quakers Comedy ![Danny Brooks Band]()
Danny Brooks Band ![Daniel Ben Zebulon - percussion, conga]()
Daniel Ben Zebulon – percussion, conga ![Family Pride]()
Family Pride ![Willie May Blues Band]()
Willie May Blues Band ![Fast Horses....first band to play at Joe's Place]()
Fast Horses….first band to play at Joe’s Place ![Greg Millar]()
Greg Millar ![Fast Horses....first band to play at Joe's Place]()
Fast Horses….first band to play at Joe’s Place ![John Neudorf Band]()
John Neudorf Band ![Kokopeli]()
Kokopeli ![Mojo Buford & Larry Goodhand]()
Mojo Buford & Larry Goodhand ![Jones Bones Quartet]()
Jones Bones Quartet ![The Caverners]()
The Caverners ![The Caverners]()
The Caverners ![Oracle]()
Oracle ![Painted Pony]()
Painted Pony ![Powerhouse]()
Powerhouse ![Quakers Comedy -Chris & Larry do the Blues Bros]()
Quakers Comedy -Chris & Larry do the Blues Bros ![The Ants]()
The Ants ![Witch Juans Bob]()
Witch Juans Bob ![Rob Robbins with Donnie "Mr. Downchild" Walsh]()
Rob Robbins with Donnie “Mr. Downchild” Walsh
No Photos available for the following shows, and I may have missed some bands (if anyone has some photos or names of bands please send them over to me}
Lady Day at Emersons Bar and Grill featuring Joyce Carolyn produced by Herb Nelson Sr. (the first link takes you to a video of the same play different performers)
The Sattalites
James Anthony & the Night Owls
Jerome Godboo & Deep Down
Arlene Bishop
Mike McKenna
Philip Sayce Band
Blue Meanies
The Dues Brothers (Then) – (Now) The Official Blues Brothers Revue is led by Wayne Catania (Jake) and Kieron Lafferty (Elwood).
Carpet Frogs with Greg Godovitz (Goddo)
Steven Barry Band
LMT Connection
Revenge of the Egg People
Marbleweed
Livin’ Blues Band
New York Minute
Rust Never Sleeps
Phil Reynolds Band
Backstreet
Michael Keith Band
Black River Blues Band
Tibbi Jackson
Latin Express
Sandy Vine & The Midnights
Sam Crosby
Still Life
Jones Bones Quartet
2nd Heaven




























































































What an awesome read…and the photos! Would love to see if anyone has photos of the missing shows! Or videos! Great memories!
I was there for a large percentage of those performances and music weekends!
I drove back and forth from Grimsby. I loved the food and the live music was incomparable for anywhere, let alone Port Colborne!
oh my gosh, so many good memories of amazing bands I saw way, way, way back then 🙂