The Music Scene
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Fred DeAngelis wears many hats in the music world, from playing guiter and singing, to writing his own music, engineering and teaching others.
Meet Fred DeAngelis: Engineer and artist, songwriter and teacher
Audio engineer, producer, guitarist, singer/songwriter, music teacher Fred DeAngelis is a study in determination, patience and endurance. As a teenager, he fostered a dream to achieve a degree in, … more
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Joe Doyle thought about giving up on his dream of being a musician in his early days of college, but his father, a former East Providence mayor, talked him out of it and pushed him to keep chasing those dreams. Several decades and a thousand recordings later, he is a hall of fame songwriter.
Meet Joe Doyle: From shy kid to Hall of Fame songwriter
One Saturday morning in 1983, when Riverside native, songwriter, singer, musician Joe Doyle was in his freshman year at Rhode Island College studying music, his dad, Ed Doyle (former mayor of … more
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Dean Petrella formed a rock band 25 years ago, and they’re still going strong. They recently released their fifth album.
Meet Dean Petrella: From child pianist to successful adult rocker
I recently had the opportunity for a sit down with Rhode Island singer/songwriter/guitarist Dean Petrella to chat about his nearly three-decade-long career in the local and national music scenes. The … more
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Ben Shaw, who grew up in Portsmouth and played in his school band, today plays multiple instruments, sings and writes his own music.
Ben Shaw: Musician, artist, modern-day renaissance man
Ben Shaw is a modern-day renaissance man. He has taken on the weighty role of singer, songwriter, guitarist, saxophonist, pianist, jazz/classical composer and author. Alas, like so many artists and … more
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The small crowd went wild when Jimmy Buffett appeared on stage for a surprise performance July 2 in Portsmouth.
Jimmy Buffet: An appreciation for a legend, and a last concert
In early 1973, a young, venturesome troubadour named Jimmy Buffett signed a recording contract with ABC/Dunhill records. At that time, singer/songwriters were in vogue, and in high demand, being … more
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Becky Chace had her own band, sold thousands of CDs and played at big venues, before pausing music to become a teacher. These days, she’s playing music on her own terms — and having fun.
Meet Becky Chace: A prolific musician with a future all her own
I had sought out, for some time, singer, songwriter, guitarist Becky Chace for an interview regarding her life and times in music. A life rich in gigs, travel, recordings, starts, stops and … more
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Eric Leffingwell plays guitar, sings and writes songs, but his speciality has been playing the bass for more than three decades.
Meet Eric Leffingwell: The bass guitarist who keeps it simple
On a beautiful summer evening, over a pint outdoors at Aidan’s Pub, I sat with bass player, guitarist, singer/songwriter Eric Leffingwell, where he spoke of his musical development, the … more
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Michelle Saylors plays at a variety of venues close to home in Bristol, like Portside Tavern, Rivers and Rhodes, The Common Pub and more.
Meet Michelle Saylors: Singer-songwriter working on her first recording project
On a warm, midweek spring day at Borealis Coffee in Bristol, I sat at an outdoor bistro table with singer, songwriter, guitarist Michelle Saylors to conduct a long-awaited one on one interview. … more
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After growing up in a family of successful entertainers, Erik Peterson went to Berklee, worked in Los Angeles and traveled the country as a musician. Today he lives in East Providence and owns a recording studio.
Meet Erik Peterson: Entertaining is in his blood
Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with pianist, singer, songwriter, producer, recording engineer Erik Peterson. Over coffee at Borealis in Riverside, the East Providence resident … more
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A past performer at Larisa Park, "The Oh Nos!!!" Beatles tribute band.
East Providence Rec Department announces 2023 Summer Concert Series
EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence Recreation Department announced its 2023 Summer Concert line-up, once again featuring a mix of musicians performing standards, Jazz and Blues, do-op and … more
Diane and Chris Myers met while both were students at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Aside from a few years of downtime while their children were young, they’ve been making music together for most of 30 years.
Meet Chris and Diane Myers – partners in marriage and music
Chris and Diane Myers have been husband and wife for 30 years this July. In their time together they have thrived, fostering careers, raising children, building a home, while becoming pillars in … more
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Jessica Kaela, shown in studio singing her newly released single, “Crying.”
Meet Jessica Kaela: A young singer focused on career growth
At 23, singer, songwriter, recording artist Jessica Kaela is a contemporary songster whose commitment to hard work, positivity, doing for others and doing what’s right, in the midst of a … more
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Riverside resident Dave Tanury had a guitar long before he learned how to play it. Once he did, he never stopped. His wild success with the band Rizzz in the 1970s and ’80s led to his eventual induction into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame.
Meet Dave Tanury: From chorus, to guitars, to a Hall of Fame career
At a recent sit down over coffee at Borealis, in his hometown of Riverside, R.I., legendary guitarist, singer, songwriter Dave Tanury reflected on his life and career in music. It’s a career … more
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After an adult life and professional career that took her out west for many years, Jan Schmidt is back in Rhode Island, living in East Providence, performing and teaching music as much as she possibly can.
Meet Jan Schmidt: A performer who loves the stage
At 5 o’clock on a recent Wednesday evening at the Hometown Tavern in Warren, R.I., singer, performer, pianist and teacher Jan Schmidt took the stage. Not the bandstand, where, in two hours, … more
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Though music came to Steve Allain later in life than most musicians, it has become his life’s passion and his career. The Barrington resident and music teacher has gigs booked through the end of the 2023.
Meet Steve Allain: Songwriter, singer, guitarist, teacher
For an individual who declares, “I took no music in grade or high school and wasn’t particularly drawn to it,” singer, songwriter, guitarist, recording artist and music teacher … more
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Kari Tieger has had a prolific music career, recording, releasing and collaborating on 23 CD’s. The East Providence resident is also a teacher at the French American School of Rhode Island.
Meet Kari Tieger: Getting lost in the passion of music
What immediately impressed me during my recent sit down with singer/songwriter/keyboardist Kari Tieger was her beautiful speaking voice. Like her singing voice, it is lilting, rich in tone, rhythm … more
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Colby James is a husband and father first, a musician second, but he says he wouldn’t be completely happy if he wasn’t playing music.
Meet Colby James – Singer, songwriter, guitarist, do-gooder
What struck me about local singer, songwriter, guitarist Colby James, when I met him recently, was his unpretentious, warm, affable manner. Although it was the first time we’d met, he treated … more
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Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.

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