Better Than Bowling

Better Than Bowling is a Rockin’ Rhythm and Blues group based inSyracuse,NY.

Paul Powers, (Vocals, Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Harp, and Mandolin,) attended SUNY Oswego studying Music Education before starting his professional music career in Syracuse. He was a founding member of the folk duo “Sweet Breeze”. That group evolved into a five-piece group that played colleges, universities and nightclubs from Buffalo to Boston. Paul has played concerts with Don McLean, Melanie, and The Chambers Brothers and more recently the Area 52 Concert. Paul has played with Mark Tiffault-Los Blancos, Steve Foster-The Drifters, King Biscuit Boy, Loren Barrigar, and Jane Zell. Paul is currently collaborating with his brother Hal Powers, a writer and lyricist from Eugene, Oregon on a CD project of original songs.

Tom Navagh, (Vocals and Electric Bass) satisfied his artistic itches with cartooning until he bought his first guitar and learned the chords for “Hava Nagila” from his eighth grade nun. After further instruction from his pal, Ray Furniss, of 2Kool4Skool, he filled a spot as bassist in his first band and has been sold on the instrument ever since. Cutting his teeth playing high school dances and fraternity parties inOswego,NY, he eventually moved toSyracuse where he became involved with it’s local music scene. Tom has been a member of “The Manic Depression”, “Crosscloud”, “The Alligators”, “Jammit”, and “Crawdaddy”. Tom also played bass and backing vocals with the National recording group “Dakota”. Other musicians he has played with include:

Terry Vickery, Dave Pasternak, Jane Zell, Loren Barrigar and Mark and Lee Tiffault.

Dave Clement (Vocals, Drums and Percussion) “As Dave says, “My first drum started out as a spoon on a pot….the rest is history.” He has studied music since 3rd grade and played in concert band and marching band in Cicero High School. In college at Alfred State College, Dave was exposed to much more diverse music. Music has always been a passion for Dave and his family. His daughter Erika has sung in College as well as in Europe. His son Trevor is a guitar player whose band has toured the East Coast. Before coming to Better Than Bowling, Dave had played with the Celtic Rock band “Mac An Tuile” and played in both theSyracuse andRochester area.

Sharon Allen (Vocals, Guitar and Percussion) Sharon is a singer songwriter as well as published Author of children’s books. Sharon comes from a very talented family of successful musicians. Her brother Mark Z is a full time singer guitarist in Orlando FL, Cousin Donna Colton is a singer songwriter with several CD’s in distribution. And father Frank performed locally with the likes of Wayne Schramm and the Ozark Mountain Boys in the 50’s and 60’s. Sharon is self-employed with Central New York’s popular children’s duo “Milk and Cookies” with a CD to their credit. Sharon is also author of two children’s books “Toes” and “Outside Today”. Both include a CD with music written and performed Sharon and Syracuse Musicians: Loren Barrigar, Sam Patterelli, Phil Petroff, Bob Purdy, Terry Vickery, and George Newton. Sharon also performs with her son Nick Allen on guitar and vocals and George Newton on pedal steel guitar in the group “Grapefruit Soup”.

George Newton (Pedal Steel Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar) George has been using the pedal steel guitar to add flavor to all genres of music for 4 decades. Rusty Young of Poco first influenced him in the late 60’s, who demonstrated that the instrument could be used with all types of music, not just with country music, where it had traditionally been used almost exclusively. George has played with groups inNew Jersey,New York City,Florida,Austin,TX and Upstate New York and has recorded on albums with Terry Vickery, Greg Hoover and Loren Barrigar. He can be found working locally with many well-known Upstate artists including Colin Aberdeen, Mike Powell, Mark Gibson, Chris Taylor and Donna Colton.

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