From The Silhouettes
George Bacasa, Ronnie Thomas and Al Secen were inseparable Lawrenceville buds. They went to high school together, and formed a polka trio during their senior year, practicing in George's basement. In 1953 they auditioned for Uncle Sam, and enlisted as members of the 536th Air Force Band.
In exchange for a four-year stint, they were stationed at Cape Canaveral, Florida (or maybe nearby Patrick AFB). When on-base, they showed VIPs around the rocket facility. But most of the time, they were out entertaining the troops, doing PR-type tours, performing on radio and TV and for recruitment drives. Their final year saw them recognized with the Roger Award, the Air Force's honor for its most talented airmen.
They came back home a little more sophisticated musically and morphed into a jazz group, with Bacasa on flute and reeds, Secen on vibes (he played the squeeze box when they were a polka band) and Thomas on bass. They eventually added jazz drummer Lenny Rogers (who went to Duquesne and later taught there) and vocalist Cathy Martin, though they would run through a number of singers over the years.
The band called itself the Silhouettes, sometimes messing with the minds of vocal fans who expected Bill Horton/John Wilson and the Philly harmonizers of "Get A Job" fame. Pittsburgh's Silhouettes were anything but doowoppers.
They had a funky, bossa-nova sort of sound with a mellow side. The group played the college and jazz circuits, and gigged at local clubs like the Red Door, Casa Di Monzo, Pilot House, Escapades, Encore, the Hilton and the Holiday House, going strong from the late fifties into the early seventies. While their Latin beat was infectious, they're remembered today because the Silhouettes left behind some great vinyl.
The first single was released on Bacasa's Bye George label (#1000). It was "St. Thomas," a remake of the Sonny Rollins piece, backed with a cover of John Phillip's song "Monday, Monday," released in 1967.
But their piece de resistance was the Segue release of 1969, their LP "Conversations With The Silhouettes." (SEG-1001) Segue was a local jazz label owned by WRS Labs and run by Basaca and Nathan Davis. (It would later fold when the owners switched from jazz to rock unsuccessfully.) Bacasa produced the imprint's first release, Davis' "Makatuka," and Davis produced the Silhouettes' "Conversations," their one and only album.
The band added Willy Smith on congas and percussion for the session, and tossed in a little lo-tech electronic trickery while recording. The tracks included on "Conversations" are Young Blood, Time To Fall In Love, Norwegian Wood (Lennon/McCartney), Sally's Tomato (Mancini), Question: Why?, Fonky First, Hashi Baba, Conversation, Sesame, What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life (Bergman/Bergman/Legrand) and Lunar Invasion, with most of the tracks written by Al Secen.
It was quite well received critically - Norwegian Wood was especially popular among affectionados - but as often happens, the wax didn't sell at the time though it's worth a small mint on today's collectors' market. Several of the tracks have been downloaded to youtube.com by funk fans, as have the 45s.
The last single by this group was 1969's "Oh What A Day," an upbeat pop tune sung by Carol Christian and produced by Bill Lawrence for his Canonsburg based Western World label (WWS-5503). The B-Side is "Red Snow," a composition penned by the band. The record companies at the time were trying to get the jazz guys to cross over by leading with a pop side in exchange for the flip being the group's choice. And as it ended up, "Red Snow" is the more remembered song.
Bacasa and Secens fronted a group called New Horizons into the early-to-mid eighties, playing clubs like Cunimondo's Keyboard in Verona. And that is about where Old Mon's trail runs cold. George Bacasa suffered a heart attack in 1976 and passed on in 1988 while still in his early fifties. Ronnie Thomas met his maker in 1991, while he was in his late fifties. The last we heard, Al Secen is still hanging in there and soaking up the sunshine in Palm Beach.
If anyone can help us fill in the missing pieces of Pittsburgh's Silhouettes, give us a yell so we can finish the story.
8 comments:
I am Al's daughter. He still lives in Palm Harbor and plays his vibes every day. He gets together with some other guys and they play for hours. They haven't had a job in a few months. He turned 80 om 2/23/13 but you'd never know it to look at him. I enjoyed the article.
Karen Mooresmith from Alabama
My name is Dave Lynch, and I am a Jazz Guitarist that plays with Al Secen in a Jazz Quartet called "The Al Secen Jazz Quartet", and we play private parties, functions, banquets, clubs, and restaurants around Tampa, FL., and recently perfomed for the City of Tampa's "Friday Extra Concert series outdoors on May 16th, 2014. Al has been a real mentor to me, and I truly enjoy playing with him, and I have learned a great deal from him. Al writes good original jazz music also, and inspires me to do the same. I can provide some photos of our group from our recent concert which was televised on City of Tampa TV recently. The other members of the group are John Tschirhart-bass, and Tom Brocato- drums. For booking info, please call 813-362-8648. Al lives in Palm Harbor, FL. and is still going strong,Thank God. He's a great musician.
I worked with George's son Mark at Churchill Valley Country Club. I remember him telling me about his father's exploits. Small small world.
My Dad, Albert Secen, passed suddenly at his home in Palm Harbor, Florida, on November 7, 2020. I imagine him, Uncle George, and Uncle Ronnie are entertaining the heavens with their music.
My name is Karen Secen Mooresmith. I live in Florida. I am Albert Secen's daughter. I am sorry to say that that my Dad passed suddenly of a massive stroke on November 7, 2020 at home. His wife, Carol, was with him. He felt no pain and was unaware of what happened. He was buried the Saturday after Thanksgiving. He was the last Silhouette having outlived George Bacasa and Ronnie Thomas. He was greatly loved, loved his music, and I was honored when my step-mother said I could have his cherished vibes. He knew before he passed that his 12 year old great grandson chose to pay the vibes in his school band. Karen Mooresmith
My name is Carole Christian. I sang with the Silhouettes for three years in the early 1970s. George taught me how to scat, Lenny was an unbelievable percussionist, Ronnie kept the base beat and Al was the soul of the band. He was a fabulous vibes player. We had the best time making music and recording tunes. We performed at the Red Door in Market Square, Pittsburgh 6 nights a week and rehearsed on the seventh. We performed in many other venues including the Three Rivers Arts Festival and besides the single Oh What A Day, we were recorded on WQED Jazz Happenings. Karen, I’m sorry to hear about Al’s passing my sincere condolences and sympathy are with you and your family. Take care!
George Bacasa lived a block away from My home in Lawrencville I heard him perform at the Red Door downtown Pittsburgh . Our lives took similar paths I performed in the USMC Band in Kaneohe Hawaii as he did with the Air Force Band i played a clarinet in the corps band after discharge I played in a polka band and many many polka masses in the area you may have heard of the “Helen Matlak orchestra and Choir ? George and I probably ran around the Lawrencville area when we were kids and went to Camp Trees back in the fifty’s ? I am 81 years old and feel sorry that George passed so young I noticed another George Bacasa also from Lawrencville died a few years ago and his obit said he was in the Air Force Band Also the funeral arraignments were at Zelewski Funeral Home that’s quite a coincidence R.I.P. both George Bacasa Amen 🙏
My name is Ronald Coleman and I am verifying my comments made about a friend who passed away George Bacasa …
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