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Live Music: GNP
March 28 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
It’s a reunion! GNP is together again! Jim Freedlund and Mark Voigt were close friends since they first shared seats in the first grade all the way through High School Graduation. Jim was the more musical while Mark was interested in building a true rock band that would play in various venues in the Fox Valley area. The first trappings of the GNP started with a core of five band members including Voigt on organ and sax, Jim and Skip Kibling on guitar, Artie Hamer on drums and Tim Paskadi on bass. Local venues were the usual playing sites in various schools, teen clubs and park events throughout the Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and Aurora area.
The next transition of the band began in the late 60’s with an overhaul adding Bruce Patzer as a solid drummer while Jefferson Jelly joined the group to add guitar as well as joining Roy Bailey on trumpet. The emerging musician who played baritone sax was Dave Haines (EZ Dave of Deluxury fame). Steve Gordon added another trumpet and Mike Meyer provided more percussion on conga drums. The venues GNP played also expanded both from a prestige and geographic perspective. GNP became a back up band for lead acts such as “The Flock” in many of the valley teen clubs. GNP blossomed into a regional band of significance with a very strong following. Today, members of the core group that have participated in the last 4 reunion concerts still look back to the wonderful experiences had as young musicians tying to make their mark in the GNP and reconnecting with so many friends that had such an impact on us growing up.
Now many of the group our Batavia Lodge members and are looking for to this reunion.