Albert Smith Group

4 Responses to Albert Smith Group

1. John Karns says:

   February 17, 2012 at 3:47 AM

   Just decided to take a look to see if I could find anything on my old friend and band buddy Andy Venza (RIP) on the ‘net. I figured that I wouldn’t, since he sadly passed away back in the days when the internet was still ARPA Net. We last shared a gig back in the mid 1970`s. Glad to see that he is still being remembered!

   John Karns

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   • James (Willie) Minier says:

     February 21, 2012 at 10:21 AM

     Andy was the other drummer besides Randy Marsh on the Chuck Steed Little Kids album made in 1980

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2. Tom Jones says:

   September 11, 2011 at 12:11 PM

   Albert Smith Group, founded at GRCC became ASG once it started playing in clubs, named after the music director @ GRCC, he requested the name change. The group played numerous public functions – concerts at John Ball Park, Riverside Park and at the Calder. Also was main stage act during Festival. Backed up Fleetwood Mac at GVSU on Halloween night concert 1972 (?). Had numerous recording sessions with RCA. Members included: Larry Staffen (guitar), Bob Kurnat (bass), Andy Venza and John Large (drum), Phil Tovalachi and Tom Jones (Keyboards), John Breen and Rod Vacarro (vocal), Dave Well and Denny Kool (Trombone) Arnie Rodriguez, Larry Kool, Ken Wierenga (Trumpet), Dale Oldenburg (Sax)

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   • Gary Sironen says:

     April 25, 2012 at 2:39 PM

     ASG was a great group. I still have record albums from GRJC Musical Moods 1971 & 72 with ASG on one of them, featuring John Breen singing a medieval dirge.

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