News

Our former board president, Jeffrey J. “Uncle Jeffrey” Tapler, passed away on October 3, 2022 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Allentown. He was the husband of Sharon A. Fair-Tapler, with whom he shared nearly 35 years of marriage. Born in Allentown, he was the son of the late William F. and Marie S. (Diehl) Tapler. He was a member of Upper Milford Mennonite Church, Zionsville. Formerly, he was Chief of Police for L. Milford Twp. as well as working prior as a law enforcement officer for years with various local departments including Macungie, Emmaus, Salisbury Township, and Coopersburg. Also in Salisbury Township, he worked as an EMA Director. Jeffrey worked as a county radio dispatcher and owned Dispatch Answering Service. “Uncle Jeffrey” will always be remembered for his weekend polka music and Pennsylvania Dutch shows on the local cable TV station, cwtap.tv. 

We were likewise deeply saddened when our executive director Carole Gorney Bryant passed away in June 2021 from MDS, a bone cancer pre-leukemia condition, at the Anderson Campus of St. Luke’s Hospital near Easton, PA. She is survived by her husband Michael Bryant, a step-daughter Deborah, and her brother Ken Gorney of Tempe, Arizona. Carole, a retired professor, created the public relations course and taught for 25 years at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA. As a crisis communication expert, Carole wrote crisis manuals for Lockheed Martin and the EPA. Receiving two Fulbright Scholar awards, Carole taught journalism and public relations at a Shanghai, China university in 1991-92 and 1997-98. After retiring, Carole wrote a weekly column in addition to local theater reviews for the Bethlehem Press. Carole attended Trinity Church of Bethlehem and sang in the choir. As PAMPS executive director since 2019, Carole’s biggest goal and dream was for PAMPS events to be successful. Donations in memoriam may be given to the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society.

Past events

“Music for Heroes” concert

Pennsylvania Music Preservation Society (PAMPS), in collaboration with the management of the recently reopened Ritz Barbecue in Allentown, presented a concert featuring polka king Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra, popular songstress Kendal Conrad, and local favorites Steve Brosky and Steve Jones at the Maingate, 448 N 17^thSt, Allentown PA on Saturday, June 26 from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

For this show, PAMPS provided “Music for Heroes” table seating for military veterans’ groups and for members of volunteer medical organizations of Lehigh County that work in the Lehigh Valley protecting our people from COVID-19. Tickets for these heroes were distributed by our honorary co-chairs, Allentown Mayor Ray O’Connell and Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong. Please consider supporting this cause by donating at www.gofundme.com/f/music-for-heroes.

Jimmy Sturr (5:00-7:00) is an American polka musician, trumpeter, clarinetist, saxophonist and leader of Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra, the country’s most popular polka band. In addition to earning five gold records, Sturr and his orchestra have won 18 out of the 24 Grammy Awards given for Best Polka Album, are on the Top Ten List of the All-Time Grammy Awards, and have received more consecutive† Grammy nominations than any other artist. Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra are a favorite of the Pennsylvania polka community along with polka fans from all over the world. www.jimmysturr.com, www.cbsnews.com/news/king-of-polka

Thanks for your support of Music ALIVE in 2020!

Thanks to everyone who made “Music ALIVE” at the Allentown Fairgrounds a joyous and successful event on September 5! With performances by local favorites The BC Combo, James Supra Band with Sarah Ayers, and the Large Flowerheads, and Phil Forchelli’s City Entertainment Systems crew running sound, a great time was guaranteed! PAMPS board member Jim Spang was largely responsible for organizing the many aspects of the concert, and we were rewarded with great attendance. We’d also like to thank our host Mike Mittman and everyone at Service Electric Cable TV, Inc. for televising our event. Free masks and hand sanitizer were available. We hope to continue presenting concerts that the whole family can enjoy. (Most photos: Jane Geist Photography)

Music ALIVE at the Allentown Fairgrounds on Saturday, Sept 5!

 

William Shakespeare said it best: “If music be the food of love, play on!” On the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, Pennsylvania Music Preservation Society (PAMPS) will present “Music ALIVE at the Allentown Fairgrounds” featuring a day full of live musical entertainment.

The BC Combo is among the Lehigh Valley’s top performing groups, with a wealth of experience and passion for many genres of music. Bev Conklin has won numerous Lehigh Valley Music Awards for Best Female Vocalist, Best Blues Vocalist, and Best All-Around Performer, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Blues Musician’s Guild of the Lehigh Valley.

The Jimmy Supra / Sarah Ayers Band has repeatedly been voted Best Blues Rock Band by the LVMA, and features high-energy harmonica and guitar-driven blues rock. Jimmy has won Best Harmonica Player honors in a 19-year LVMA streak, and Sarah has won for Best All-Around Performer, Best Female Vocalist, Best Singer-Songwriter, and Best Album.

The Large Flowerheads bring to life the groovy musical sights and sounds of the ‘60s. Named the Best Entertaining Band at the Lehigh Valley Music Awards for an entire decade, the Flowerheads perform the music of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Sonny & Cher, the Mamas & the Papas, Jefferson Airplane, and a lot more.

Click on Buy tickets to reserve one or more tables for 4 or 6 at the shows via Eventbrite. Prices are $15 per seat for either the afternoon show or the twilight concert, or $25 per seat for an “all day pass” for both shows.

All pandemic guidelines will be followed.  Rain date is Sunday, Sept. 6.

 

Feast the Fair over Labor Day Weekend

The Great Allentown Fair is giving the community the opportunity to get your fair food fix over Labor Day Weekend!
The FEAST THE FAIR event will take place, Friday, September 4 through Labor Day Monday, September 7 from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Favorite Fair food vendors will be on the Fairgrounds property outside the Agri~Plex facility serving up all the Fair food classics – to go!
To continue the Fair Preview Night tradition, each attendee is asked to bring a dry or canned good donation to place in the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley collection bin.
Admission is free. All attendees are asked to follow social distancing guidelines and wear a mask.
For more information regarding FEAST THE FAIR including a food vendor list, visit the Fair’s website at www.allentownfair.com.

Memorial Day streaming event on WFMZ.com

Click here to read the WFMZ.com online article.

To access the streaming Memorial Day observance, go to WFMZ.com on Monday, May 25, then click on the link for the event. See below for information about this event. Thank you for being part of  this important community remembrance.

Portion of PAMPS Membership Fee to Support Veterans’ Programs

PAMPS is joining forces with the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council (LVMAC) and its member organizations to raise funds and awareness of issues affecting veterans. As part of its efforts, PAMPS is donating $5 of its $25 membership fee to LVMAC.

Want to help? Go to our membership page and sign up to become part of something GREAT.

Dave Fry Chairs PAMPS Education Committee

Award-winning musician Dave Fry is working with PAMPS to create children’s programming as part of the Great Pennsylvania Music & Arts Celebration, and to establish a visiting music program for area schools.

Fry, who performs in schools and festivals as an adult and children’s musician, has been a Lehigh Valley Music Awards recipient for many years. At this year’s awards ceremony, he was named Outstanding Child Audience Music Performer of 2019, and also received the award for Folk Band/Soloist and College/Community Radio Personality. Fry plays traditional and contemporary folk music on acoustic guitar, mandolin and banjo. He entertains all ages, building community along the way.

Children’s music and performances will be part of the next Celebration on Family Music Sunday. The day will be dedicated to encouraging emerging young musicians and singers to find their place on the Main Stage, where they will showcase their talent before a live audience. As part of the day’s programming, professional children’s music performers also will be on stage to engage kids and adults alike in an entertaining and informative way.

Learn more about the Celebration

“Bob Hope” USO Tribute Show Will Return for the next Music & Arts Celebration

Learn more about the Celebration

Give Yourself & Someone You Know the Gift of Music: A Year-Long PAMPS MEMBERSHIP

A one-year membership in Pennsylvania Music Preservation Society (PAMPS), is the gift that lasts all year not just for you and your family and friends. but also for all those who benefit from the Society’s Great Pennsylvania Music & Arts Celebration held every Memorial Day Weekend at the Allentown Fairgrounds.

Be Part of Something Great!  Learn More

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