Rockabilly scene hits Valley Stream

Dozens of classic car enthusiasts and rockabilly music fans gathered at Buckley’s Restaurant and Pub for music and good times on May 22.

It was the second annual car show — the first one was held last year to honor late Valley Stream musician Ferdinando Toscano, better known as Freddy Frogs. Event organizer Brian Donnelly said he wouldn’t mind making it a regular event, perhaps even monthly.

Freddy Frogs and his bands were known for their rockabilly sounds, a style of rock ‘n’ roll created in the 1950s. Donnelly noted that many rockabilly fans are classic car owners as it’s just part of the lifestyle.

The Tiki King car club was there along with the Bombers and the Road Rats. Andrew Gai, of Bethpage, brought his Green 1950 Ford — the “Jade Grenade” — to the show. He said he came down for the music, but more importantly, to get together with friends and enjoy the rockabilly scene — the clothes, the music, the girls and the hair.

Bill O’Rourke, of Levittown, came with his white 1956 Ford Galaxy which he has owned for the past seven years. “It was actually a refugee from a junkyard,” he said.

The 46-year-old said he gets a lot of good feedback about his ride. “People my age say ‘wow, my dad had that car,’” O’Rourke said. “We grew up with station wagons, not minivans, so they can relate.”

Jerry LoCastro, of Valley Stream, brought his blue 1968 Camaro Super Sport. He heard about the car show from a friend, “So I took a ride.”

LoCastro said he likes being able to talk about his car, which be bought 11 years from a guy who won it in a raffle. He also came to the show to meet new people and look at the other vintage vehicles. “There’s a lot of nice cars here,” he said.

In the afternoon, the music began and continued into the night. Roy Wilson, who said he has one of the busiest rockabilly bands on Long Island doing 75 shows a year — the Buzzards — combined with members of two other bands at Buckley’s.

The guitarist said he came to Buckley’s last weekend simply because that was the place to be. He said he was going to play about 50 Johnny Cash songs, or “whatever people are screaming for.”

Dee Harris was there to perform his first gig with his new band, the Harris Brothers. He said he has played at Buckley’s before with a previous group. He described his style as a cross between a guitar and banjo, or, “Earl Scrubs meets Vincent Van Gogh.”

The headline act was rockabilly band Rhythm Bound, formed by brothers Rich and Tom Hopkins in the late 90s. Drummer Jeff Dilena and lead guitarist Brian Hack round out the group. Another singer included Dibbs Preston who was backed up by Anthony Rizzo and Bill Tello, former bandmates of Freddy Frogs.

Donnelly had the stage at Buckley’s named after Freddy Frogs last year. “No matter what show we do,” Donnelly said, “the spirit of Freddy is in the room.”