Battle of the Bands Held To Benefit The John Williams Foundation

Six bands and one solo artist, all hailing from Sachem High Schools or middle schools, competed in a Battle of the Bands at during a unique fundraiser for The John Williams Foundation.  The diverse musicians were all vying for the first prize: Studio time at Rockhill Studios, owned by Ray Sabatello, a retired music teacher from Sachem and Class of '73 Sachem graduate.

The winning group was , who also won the Battle of the Bands. The students gave an electrifying performance of all original, anthemic alternative rock.  They will get two days to produce one song, and will leave with a radio ready CD.

Second Place winners, The Greyhounds, won over the judges with their classic rockabilly sound, and went home with a $50 gift certificate to Sam Ash Music Stores.

All the other participating acts — the ska-infused Couch Cushions; Nuclear Funeral, with their metal mayhem; sensitive alternative rockers, Hopeless Romantics; the punk-tinged, Perfect Remedy and peace activist singer-songwriter, Tommy Cavanagh — received $25 gift certificates to Sam Ash.

All proceeds from the event went to The Foundation, whose mission it is to supply Sachem schools with musical instruments that will be loaned to students wishing to perform in band or orchestra who could not otherwise afford the fee.

The began in the aftermath of Williams being murdered last October in front of his Holbrook residence. He was a musician and lifelong music lover.

"This is to get the kids involved. Everything has been for adults, in bars, this is something for the kids," said Liz Durney, Williams' girlfriend at the time of the tragedy, and the one responsible for setting up the foundation.

A basket filled with $350 worth of gift cards donated by local businesses was auctioned off at the event, as were Long Island Ducks tickets.

Taylor Productions sponsored the fundraiser and donated their time to working the sound. Recent Sachem East graduate Ryan Mullins helped out by offering his expertise in the lighting booth, and the emcee for the evening was Adam Lieberman of Rock This Party Entertainment.

The contest was judged by Sabatello and his sound engineer, fellow Sachem alum James Elliott.

Sabatello is somebody who recognizes the importance of music education.

"If it wasn't for music, I would never even have stayed in school.  From that I was able to do well in school, go to college and eventually become a teacher," Sabatello said.  "When you practice music everyday it shows great discipline, which carries over into the academic."

Kevin Hughes from After Hours attributes their success to practicing each week.

Fellow band member, William Rosati said, "We want to play as many local shows as possible before we go to college.  We're all college- bound."

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