This is the brand new website for the band "MIRAGE" based out of Columbia/Greene County, New York. All the information you need to know will be noted in detail in this area. Be sure to check back frequently for updates and new information on "MIRAGE"!
“Mirage” consists of six professional musicians who genuinely enjoy playing, singing, and performing …entertaining for you!
"Mirage" prides itself on performing good classic rock & roll music coupled with good dance music. Mirage is fortunate to have six individuals who sing and are able to perform many songs in four and five part harmony. Mirage performs with high energy and passion that will get you on your feet and on the dance floor.
We are looking forward to making your next party a little more special and to filling the dance floor with happy fun-loving people. Please feel free to contact us for additional information. Listed below are the members of MIRAGE and their responsibilities and biographies.
Mike Graziano - Keyboards & Vocals:
Mike has been providing musical entertainment in the Columbia/Greene/Albany County area for over 35 years. Mike began his musical career at the age of eight taking classical piano lessons which lasted for nine years. At the age of fifteen Mike formed the band "The Nationality's." The Nationality's began as a three piece wedding/party band and developed into a very popular and powerful five piece classic rock & roll band. Mike has played with local bands such as "The Jim Dykeman Trio", "Private Affair", "Night Moves", "The Sundowners", and most recently "The Main Street Band". I am very excited to be working with this group of musicians on this project and believe that "Mirage" will be a huge success. Mike is also a partner in "Music Box Productions", a DJ/Karaoke Service that provides entertainment for all occasions.
Herb Blasewitz - Lead Guitar, Sax & Vocals:
Herby has been quoted as saying, "There is nothing I would rather do than play music". Indeed, music and baseball have been a large part of his life since childhood. The baseball interest waned, the music did not. He started out as a drummer (Beatles influence), then switched to quitar in his 20's. Herby plays five instruments and sings lead and backup. His major influence is Sir Paul McCartney, both are southpaws. Herby is a copyrighted song writer and has produced his own CD of original music on which he plays and sings every part. His former bands include "The Nationality's", "Night Moves", "Mirage", and "The Main Street Band". Herby also performs a live solo act and is a partner in the DJ/Karaoke business, "Music Box Productions". He considers himself an entertainer first and will incorporate stand up comedy into his act. Herby has acted in many theater productions, emceed for various functions and will do an occasional auction. He was raised and resides in beautiful Athens, New York.
Tara Becker - Vocals, Keyboards, & Percussion:
I began performance singing at the age of 8 when I was chosen to sing Bette Midler’s "The Rose" as a solo in my 3rd grade school concert. I have also studied the violin since the age of 5 and participated in orchestra, chorus and select chorus during my school years. During my high school years, I performed in musicals, "How to Succeed in Business, Without Really Trying", and had a starring role as Auntie Em in "The Wiz". I learned a great deal about the importance of stage presence and vocal performance during that time. I was given the opportunity to compete in a State-wide high school vocal solo competition. This experience taught me the necessary discipline needed to perform more challenging pieces of music. In my freshman year of High School, I received the "Rookie Vocalist of the Year" award and my senior year, "Outstanding Vocalist of the Class of 1990" award. For the past 18 years, I've been performing with HudsonValley local bands Powerhouse, Z-Flat Band, Quantum, Jukebox Express, Mirage, The James Street Band, Jade Players and some of the area’s most experienced musicians. I’ve also worked with musical groups playing at various summer resorts in the Catskill Mountains for the past 10 years. I have always enjoyed the challenge of singing a varied style of songs including, oldies, pop, classic rock, hard rock, blues, country, bluegrass, traditional and contemporary Christian music, Jazz and continue to build my repertoire as the years go by. After a year long hiatus, I am happy about the opportunity to play again with friends and of course my husband, (the drummer) Walt Becker.
John Wynne - Bass Guitar & Vocals:
Mirage has a special meaning to John. The formation of the band reunites John with the roots of his rock-n-roll soul. The 1970's and 1980's was a time when the Nationality's was one of the areas hardest working and most popular bands. Mike Graziano, Herb Blasewitz, and Walt Becker were members. Years later they're back and forming a part of the Mirage. Previous bands included: "Private Affair", "Ricochet" and "Way Out West". "Way Out West's" original CD was released and made its way around the world. For a time, "Way Out West's" original songs were on the country pop charts throughout Europe. It even made the top ten charts in Norway, Ireland and Denmark. "Way Out West" had NECMA award nominations for Horizon Award, Song Writer of the year and Instrumentalists of the year. They were also a featured artist on the "Danny Mack International All Stars Record Label" out of Detroit Michigan.
Once again, John with Herby, Mike and Walt add the skills of four additional experienced and "smoking" musicians, you've got a band that's got a kicking sound and there for the right reasons. HAVE FUN with a great group of FRIENDS. John has always been a resident of beautiful upstate New York.
Ron Moore II - Lead Guitar & Vocals:
aka “Jr”, born July 2, 1974 in HudsonNY, and permanently expelled from Catholic school in the 4th grade. Was given his 1st guitar at the tender age of 14 and cut his teeth six months later with “Night Moves” a local band playing in 1988. Other bands included “Icy Waters”, “Quantum”, and “Mirage” through 2001ish. After 13 years as a hired gun, turned in his microphone to take center stage as a Rock and Roll instrumental guitarist, first as a tribute band to “The Ventures” as “The Adventures”, then on to write & perform original material in NYC with “The Surfalicious Dudes.
Walter F. Becker - Drums & Vocals:
I began by professional career at age 14 when I played with a 6-piece instrumental group, playing Herb Alpert, Sergio Mendes, light pop and standard dance music. Between 1964-1969, I played with various High School pop and rock groups, drumming and singing, as well as singing with the Catskill Glee Club. While in Greenville High School, I participated in concert and marching band, student chorus, musical and theatre productions. After High School graducation in 1969, I enrolled in the Music Education program at Fredonia State University, near Buffalo, New York as a Percussion Major with voice minor. In the summer of 1970, I toured 5 European countries with the Fredonia college choir singing German Lieder and Italian compositions. That was fun...had to learn German and Italian phonetically. I gained invaluable experience in Chorus, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Jazz Band and Jazz Big Band. I had a really good jazz trio during those years...miss those guys! I graduated from Fredonia with a Bachelor of Music Degree.From 1973-1979, I toured with a 6-piece vocal show/road band called "Friends and Company". doing 2-3 shows nightly, 6 nights a week, 48 weeks a year at various hotels and resorts. We traveled the Eastern US, from NY to Florida to Missouri and Eastern Canada and in the summer of 1977, toured Germany for the US Army USO. What a blast! In Germany, we played for Army Troops at isolated missile sites and USO rec bases. At one site they set us up on a flat bed truck to play for 25 guys who were stationed there. They really appreciated the break. I got to travel a bit, too. You've never seen mountains till you've seen the Swiss Alps! Since coming off the road, I have played locally in the Greene/Columbia county area with various bands, playing and singing country and rock and roll. I have played with the Nationalities, Peaceful Country, Ghostriders, Mirage, James St. Project, The Main Street Band and now Mirage. I continue to sing with local church choir groups. Music has always been part of my faith. I have studied with such drum professionals as Henry Adler (NYC), Ed Schaunessey, Ed Soph, Theodore Frazeur, Louis Marion, and Ed Green (Latin Band House Drummer - Curacao). This is a fun project with good music and good musicians. MY wife, Tara and I live in Round Top, New York.
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