Hummelstown, PA
August 16th @ Fuzzy Few
Elizabethtown, PA
August 21st @ Fair
Reamstown, PA
September 6th @ Carnival
About The Band
| RICH CLARE PENTAGON BAND FAN CLUB |
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I wanted the band to have some fun and be included in the making of this website so
here are their unedited biographies straight from each member......
here are their unedited biographies straight from each member......
Where to begin! I am told that I began singing very soon after I began talking. I know that at the
age of 4 my parents would make me sing at their parties because I knew all of the beer jingles of
the time. My band career began at the age of 14 in a group called Tommy Hoover and the
Pyramids. (Tom later played with the Magnificent Men). That lasted a few months and then I helped
form a group called the Unknowns. I performed with this group until the middle of my sophomore
year in college. For the last year and a half of the Unknowns Jim Colestock, whom I met my
freshman year, was our drummer. Jim went into the Navy and that ended the Unknowns. I then
joined an established group called the Formations and played with them for two years until the
group disbanded. I was contacted by a 10 piece soul group called the Soul Brothers, and joined
them in 1967. Soon after this the group was signed by a local record label called Soulville and
they changed our name to the Soulville Allstars. We had two releases on the label, the second of
which was a two sided "hit" "I'm Gonna Get to You/Won't You Please Be My Girl". I co-wrote both
songs that actually charted and have become cult hits in England and Europe to this day. These
songs are on several compilation CD's and the 45's are selling on Ebay for around $250. When the
Allstars began to change our musical style in the late 60's to include songs by Blood Sweat and
Tears, Chicago, Sly, and the Sons of Champlin we changed our name to Life. Around this time Jim
Colestock got out of the Navy and we hired him as our drummer and once again we were playing
music together. I was a Biology teacher at Lower Dauphin High School from 1968-1972 but I had
aspirations to become a full time entertainer. In early 1971 I asked Jim if wanted to be a full time
player, he of course said sure and we began to form what would become Rich Clare Pentagon (we
were Polygon for a brief instant). We began playing in June 1971 and went on the road in 1972
after 60 straight weeks at the Driftwood on Paxton Street in Harrisburg, PA. During the 20 years we
traveled we became a mainstay in the Atlantic City Casinos, played Las Vegas, L.A., Puerto Rico
and appeared on a Showtime Special entitled Steve Allen Live on the QE2. In 1991 the band came
off the road and we were going to call it farewell after our 20th reunion concert at Hershey Park.
The attendance at the reunion was amazing and the Park ask Jim and I if we could at least put a
show together for them each summer. We decided that if that many people wanted to see us
perform we should put the band together locally and here we are 16 years later still going strong
and in my estimation this current band is absolutely great not only musically, but to a man,
including the band and crew, the best group of guys I have ever had the pleasure and good fortune
to work with. I hope we can rock on forever!
age of 4 my parents would make me sing at their parties because I knew all of the beer jingles of
the time. My band career began at the age of 14 in a group called Tommy Hoover and the
Pyramids. (Tom later played with the Magnificent Men). That lasted a few months and then I helped
form a group called the Unknowns. I performed with this group until the middle of my sophomore
year in college. For the last year and a half of the Unknowns Jim Colestock, whom I met my
freshman year, was our drummer. Jim went into the Navy and that ended the Unknowns. I then
joined an established group called the Formations and played with them for two years until the
group disbanded. I was contacted by a 10 piece soul group called the Soul Brothers, and joined
them in 1967. Soon after this the group was signed by a local record label called Soulville and
they changed our name to the Soulville Allstars. We had two releases on the label, the second of
which was a two sided "hit" "I'm Gonna Get to You/Won't You Please Be My Girl". I co-wrote both
songs that actually charted and have become cult hits in England and Europe to this day. These
songs are on several compilation CD's and the 45's are selling on Ebay for around $250. When the
Allstars began to change our musical style in the late 60's to include songs by Blood Sweat and
Tears, Chicago, Sly, and the Sons of Champlin we changed our name to Life. Around this time Jim
Colestock got out of the Navy and we hired him as our drummer and once again we were playing
music together. I was a Biology teacher at Lower Dauphin High School from 1968-1972 but I had
aspirations to become a full time entertainer. In early 1971 I asked Jim if wanted to be a full time
player, he of course said sure and we began to form what would become Rich Clare Pentagon (we
were Polygon for a brief instant). We began playing in June 1971 and went on the road in 1972
after 60 straight weeks at the Driftwood on Paxton Street in Harrisburg, PA. During the 20 years we
traveled we became a mainstay in the Atlantic City Casinos, played Las Vegas, L.A., Puerto Rico
and appeared on a Showtime Special entitled Steve Allen Live on the QE2. In 1991 the band came
off the road and we were going to call it farewell after our 20th reunion concert at Hershey Park.
The attendance at the reunion was amazing and the Park ask Jim and I if we could at least put a
show together for them each summer. We decided that if that many people wanted to see us
perform we should put the band together locally and here we are 16 years later still going strong
and in my estimation this current band is absolutely great not only musically, but to a man,
including the band and crew, the best group of guys I have ever had the pleasure and good fortune
to work with. I hope we can rock on forever!
I joined Pentagon in September of 1999 with his first engagement on Labor Day on the river front in
Harrisburg, PA to 2000 people. This was not the largest number of folks I had performed for,
however for a first gig with a band and all the material that Pentagon performs it was very intense.
mid 1970's where I was the lead singer. After having problems keeping keyboard players, the guys
in the band coaxed me into becoming the keyboard player and we consolidated in to a 4 piece
group which was quite successful. In the 80's, the group changed its format to Top 40 dance music
and added a female vocalist and changing the name of the band to "Webz". That band became one
of the top performing bands in the Harrisburg and West Shore area. However, personnel changes
began to take its toll on the band and in the early 90's the band dissolved. At that point, I put
together a duo with one of our former female lead vocalists called "The Wright Stuff" and had a
successful run in the County Club and Wedding Circuit. After having three different vocalists(these
women tend to have babies!!!) I decided to retire from performing. Several months later Rich Clare
contacted me to see if I was interesting in auditioning for Pentagon. I did, and the rest is history.
Ironically, I had followed Pentagon in their early stages in the 70's and always dreamed about being
a part of the band. I never dreamed that it would be possible. I was a music teacher and
Department Chairman in the Mechanicsburg Area School District for over 30 years and retired in
June of 2006. I am now a consultant for Yamaha Corporation of American for their "Music in
Education" (MIE) keyboard curriculum. Additionally, I am the Tech Support for this product for the
entire United States.
Harrisburg, PA to 2000 people. This was not the largest number of folks I had performed for,
however for a first gig with a band and all the material that Pentagon performs it was very intense.
mid 1970's where I was the lead singer. After having problems keeping keyboard players, the guys
in the band coaxed me into becoming the keyboard player and we consolidated in to a 4 piece
group which was quite successful. In the 80's, the group changed its format to Top 40 dance music
and added a female vocalist and changing the name of the band to "Webz". That band became one
of the top performing bands in the Harrisburg and West Shore area. However, personnel changes
began to take its toll on the band and in the early 90's the band dissolved. At that point, I put
together a duo with one of our former female lead vocalists called "The Wright Stuff" and had a
successful run in the County Club and Wedding Circuit. After having three different vocalists(these
women tend to have babies!!!) I decided to retire from performing. Several months later Rich Clare
contacted me to see if I was interesting in auditioning for Pentagon. I did, and the rest is history.
Ironically, I had followed Pentagon in their early stages in the 70's and always dreamed about being
a part of the band. I never dreamed that it would be possible. I was a music teacher and
Department Chairman in the Mechanicsburg Area School District for over 30 years and retired in
June of 2006. I am now a consultant for Yamaha Corporation of American for their "Music in
Education" (MIE) keyboard curriculum. Additionally, I am the Tech Support for this product for the
entire United States.
Gary Weber: Vocals, Keyboards
Rich Clare: Vocals, Trombone
Jim Colestock: Vocals, Trumpet, Things You Bang
Al Cook: Vocal,Guitars
I have been a staple of the regional music scene for over 37 years. Coming from a musical family,
my first memories are of being on stage with my father's band at local shows at the age of 5 singing
hits of the day, such as Big Momma Thorton's Hound Dog, as recorded by Elvis Presley and going to
sleep listening to my father's jam sessions with Bill Haley & his Comets, from my bedroom at home.
My musical abilities were honed during my college years, majoring in music education after which I
worked in many bands, both acoustic and electric, most notably as half of the ever popular regional
duo of Cook & Cosey in the late 70's - as a solo performer from 1980 on. In 1982 I moved from
native Pennsylvania to Nashville, Tennesse to work as both a studio musician and song writer with
Common Ground publishing company. Desiring to return to the live stage and my family and friends
in Pennsylvania, as well as to start a family near my hometown, I moved back to Lancaster in the
latter half of the decade and resumed playing regionally throughout New York, Pennsylvania, and
Maryland both in bands and as a solo act. I joined the band Pentagon in 2000. Through the years I
have shared the stage with a number of top talents of the last several years: Seals and Crofts,
Linda Ronstadt, Stephen Stills, Peter Seger, Dolly Parton, the Average White Band, Richard
Thompson, Slim Whitman, and George Carlin. Pentagon has been one of my greatest pleasures of
my musical career. Rich and the guys are truly some of the nicest, most genuine people I could
hope to work with. That goes for everyone in the band and crew. It always looks like we are
having a great time on stage because we ARE! I personally look forward to each and every gig. I
also would like to thank all our fans, family and friends for their continued support.
GUITARS-(Rotating lineup): Fender Custom '56 Strat, Gretsch 6120 Nashville, Gretsch White Falcon,
Guild Bluesbird, PRS EG3 Custom 24, PRS McCarty, Gibson ES335.
AMPS-Two Rock Emerald Pro, Two Rock Opal, Fender 57 Tweed Twin, Savage Rohr 15, Crate
CFX200S, Top Hat Supreme 16
MICS- Sennheiser 421, Beyer M88TG, Sennheiser 421, ADK Vienaa LE, Audix VX10
my first memories are of being on stage with my father's band at local shows at the age of 5 singing
hits of the day, such as Big Momma Thorton's Hound Dog, as recorded by Elvis Presley and going to
sleep listening to my father's jam sessions with Bill Haley & his Comets, from my bedroom at home.
My musical abilities were honed during my college years, majoring in music education after which I
worked in many bands, both acoustic and electric, most notably as half of the ever popular regional
duo of Cook & Cosey in the late 70's - as a solo performer from 1980 on. In 1982 I moved from
native Pennsylvania to Nashville, Tennesse to work as both a studio musician and song writer with
Common Ground publishing company. Desiring to return to the live stage and my family and friends
in Pennsylvania, as well as to start a family near my hometown, I moved back to Lancaster in the
latter half of the decade and resumed playing regionally throughout New York, Pennsylvania, and
Maryland both in bands and as a solo act. I joined the band Pentagon in 2000. Through the years I
have shared the stage with a number of top talents of the last several years: Seals and Crofts,
Linda Ronstadt, Stephen Stills, Peter Seger, Dolly Parton, the Average White Band, Richard
Thompson, Slim Whitman, and George Carlin. Pentagon has been one of my greatest pleasures of
my musical career. Rich and the guys are truly some of the nicest, most genuine people I could
hope to work with. That goes for everyone in the band and crew. It always looks like we are
having a great time on stage because we ARE! I personally look forward to each and every gig. I
also would like to thank all our fans, family and friends for their continued support.
GUITARS-(Rotating lineup): Fender Custom '56 Strat, Gretsch 6120 Nashville, Gretsch White Falcon,
Guild Bluesbird, PRS EG3 Custom 24, PRS McCarty, Gibson ES335.
AMPS-Two Rock Emerald Pro, Two Rock Opal, Fender 57 Tweed Twin, Savage Rohr 15, Crate
CFX200S, Top Hat Supreme 16
MICS- Sennheiser 421, Beyer M88TG, Sennheiser 421, ADK Vienaa LE, Audix VX10
Mike Boarman: Vocals, Bass Guitar
Barry Seilhammer: Lights and
Sales
Steve Hunt: Sound
Brock Kerchner: On stage
sound/Saxophone
Frank Allison: Stage and Lights
Sales
Steve Hunt: Sound
Brock Kerchner: On stage
sound/Saxophone
Frank Allison: Stage and Lights
BEHIND THE SCENES:
Brock Kerchner
Steve Hunt
Frank Allison
I was born on August 23, 1944, and have aways been the oldest in the band. I became interested in
the drums when I was 12, and took drum lessons for five years from Pat Acri, one of the best drummers
and teachers I have known. I really liked Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa and Luis Bellson when I was
learning, and I actually saw Krupa play at Hershey in 1958. I saw Buddy many years later, but that's
another story.
I learned to play drum corps style and spent two seasons with the Hershey Choclatiers, and one with
the West Shoremen in Mechanicsburg. At the same time, I was working very hard to play the
drumset, but there weren't many opportunites to play my craft. That all changed when I went to
Shippensburg. I met a guy who was as wacky as I am that needed a drummer. The guy, of course
was Rich Clare, and it all went downhill from there. We first worked together with some other guys
from our TKE pledge class to entertain at parties. Later I played in Rich's band, the Unknowns. But
nobody knew who we were. When I got out of the Navy, Rich asked me to play in the band Life,
playing a lot of Blood Sweat and Tears, and Chicago. By the time I graduated from college, Rich
and I had formed Polygon, and were playing locally at the Driftwood on Paxton Street. Nobody
could remember 'Polygon', so we changed it back to 'The Unknowns' (just kidding)...to Pentagon,
because there were five of us at the time. Twenty years later we woke up in Iowa, went home, got
real jobs, and thats where we are today.
While we were travelling, I married Rich's sister-in-law, Allyson in 1973 and had a son, Tristin, in
1984. I'm still married and live in New Cumberland. My real job since 1992, is teaching Spanish at
Harrisburg High School. My favorite color is purple, (blame it on Diego Garcia), and I drive a n old
Volvo.
the drums when I was 12, and took drum lessons for five years from Pat Acri, one of the best drummers
and teachers I have known. I really liked Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa and Luis Bellson when I was
learning, and I actually saw Krupa play at Hershey in 1958. I saw Buddy many years later, but that's
another story.
I learned to play drum corps style and spent two seasons with the Hershey Choclatiers, and one with
the West Shoremen in Mechanicsburg. At the same time, I was working very hard to play the
drumset, but there weren't many opportunites to play my craft. That all changed when I went to
Shippensburg. I met a guy who was as wacky as I am that needed a drummer. The guy, of course
was Rich Clare, and it all went downhill from there. We first worked together with some other guys
from our TKE pledge class to entertain at parties. Later I played in Rich's band, the Unknowns. But
nobody knew who we were. When I got out of the Navy, Rich asked me to play in the band Life,
playing a lot of Blood Sweat and Tears, and Chicago. By the time I graduated from college, Rich
and I had formed Polygon, and were playing locally at the Driftwood on Paxton Street. Nobody
could remember 'Polygon', so we changed it back to 'The Unknowns' (just kidding)...to Pentagon,
because there were five of us at the time. Twenty years later we woke up in Iowa, went home, got
real jobs, and thats where we are today.
While we were travelling, I married Rich's sister-in-law, Allyson in 1973 and had a son, Tristin, in
1984. I'm still married and live in New Cumberland. My real job since 1992, is teaching Spanish at
Harrisburg High School. My favorite color is purple, (blame it on Diego Garcia), and I drive a n old
Volvo.
Tim Marks: Drummer, Vocals
Barry Seilhammer