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Thursday, February 28, 2002 Page: 6D
Fans of the Anzalone Brothers can relive some of the local folk group’s
most memorable performances at 10 tonight when WVIA-TV Channel 44 airs “Best
of the Anzalones 2002.”
The hour-long show will offer music the group played at concerts in Penn
State’s Eisenhower Auditorium, the Von Trapp family’s lodge in Stowe, Vt., and
as opening act when the Kingston Trio appeared at the F.M. Kirby Center.
“They’ve always had a nice local following, and they do folk music that
doesn’t get a lot of mainstream play,” said Mark Thomas, vice president of TV
at WVIA. “Anytime we can showcase someone with local ties who’s a good
performer, we’re happy to work with them.”
If by chance you’ve never heard of the musical Anzalone Brothers, take a
look at the lyrics of an old folk song, which they adapted years ago to fit
their situation.
“Donny’s at the altar, mumbling a couple of prayers. Ange’s down in
surgery, making some repairs. While I’m there in the courtroom, trying to
split some hairs,” Jim Anzalone used to sing.
Lighthearted but apt, the words explained that Jim Anzalone is an attorney,
his brother, Anthony (Ange) is a physician and their friend Don Lyon is an
Episcopal priest who used to be the rector of St. Stephen’s Procathedral in
Wilkes-Barre.
All three professions are stressful, Anthony Anzalone says, so singing and
playing guitars together was rejuvenating as well as fun.
The Anzalone Brothers, augmented at times by several other musicians,
performed as a folk group from 1987 to 2000.
The band, which was well-known for its renditions of Kingston Trio
favorites, spirituals, show tunes and other easy-listening fare, is no longer
able to perform together, since Jim Anzalone has moved to the Philadelphia
area and Lyon accepted a position in Florida in 1995.
But it’s hoped they’ll have a reunion concert someday, perhaps to sing sea
chanteys at St. Michael’s harbor on the Chesapeake Bay.