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| United Mine Workers Band in 1960 included Barry Vingle, in a long line of Vingles in that band |
CATCHING UP WITH
Judy Stewart Monell Razook, a link to
the musical Vingle family
Judy Stewart Monell Razook, Class of
1959, has ties to Monongah’s famous and fabulous first family of music, the
Vingles.
Her stepfather was Virgil Vingle, Class
of 1939, who married her mother when Judy was six years old.
“Sadly,” Jud writes, “both are in
Heaven now! I have kept in touch recently with my cousins in the Vingle Family
that still live in Fairmont.”
Judy added:
“The Vingle
Band was The Greatest!! My Dad was the Leader, Bugs his younger brother, the
drummer, and Vince, also a brother, played trumpet !!!!”
Couldn’t agree more, Judy.
Virgil Roman Vingle passed away in Monongah at the age of
90 in 2010. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Vingle. Virgil was
survived by his companion of 20 years, Irene Colosimo.
His parents were Anthony and Anna Vingle of Monongah.
The Virgil Vingle Orchestra performed all over the
tri-state area, playing dances, weddings and festivals. He was a World War II
veteran with the Marines.
Vince was Class of 1939.
Vince was Class of 1939.
At Monongah High she dated Joe Martin, Class of 1957, who lives on Treasure Island, Florida with wife Arlene Kitchin. Judy and Joe have remained friends throughout the decades, as many former Lions do.
The Yuhas girls of Carolina, Tunney and Irene, had a thing for
the musical Vingle boys during their Monongah High days.
The late Tunney “thought the world of” Raymond Vingle, Class of 1945, Irene
said. Irene dated Anthony “Bugs” Vingle, now deceased, as is Bugs’ widow, Mary
Martha Cavrich Vingle, who passed away in 2011.
The children of Bugs and Mary Martha are Barry, Scott and Robert
Vingle of Fairmont – Judy’s cousins -- and Brian Vingle and wife Kathy of
Concord, North Carolina.
Barry, great-grandson of Peter Urban, one of five survivors of the 1907 Monongah mines twin explosions that killed 362, owns Stick Em Up Percussion on Skyline Drive in Fairmont, which produces percussion ensemble music for high school and elementary students.
He is past President of the West Virginia Jazz Festival, in 1995 was named West Virginia Band Director of the Year for his work at Fairmont West, in 1996 received the 25 years of Distinguished Service Award from the West Virginia Music Educators Association, in 1997 received The City of Fairmont Arts and Humanities Commission's Music Award and in 2002 was inducted into the West Virginia Music Educators Hall of Fame.
Barry, great-grandson of Peter Urban, one of five survivors of the 1907 Monongah mines twin explosions that killed 362, owns Stick Em Up Percussion on Skyline Drive in Fairmont, which produces percussion ensemble music for high school and elementary students.
He is past President of the West Virginia Jazz Festival, in 1995 was named West Virginia Band Director of the Year for his work at Fairmont West, in 1996 received the 25 years of Distinguished Service Award from the West Virginia Music Educators Association, in 1997 received The City of Fairmont Arts and Humanities Commission's Music Award and in 2002 was inducted into the West Virginia Music Educators Hall of Fame.
Barry has played with the United Mine Workers Concert Band, the
Morgantown Municipal Band, the Jim Talkington Jazz Quartet, the Royals rock
band, the Virgil Vingle Orchestra, The JR Farley Band, The Sydfx Rock Band and
the Orlando Colombo Orchestra and today performs with the Subway Band out of
Morgantown.
He has played drum set for The Four Aces, The Shanri-Las, These
Three Tenors and Fabian.
Barry also was the drummer in J.R. Farley’s Royals band for 40
years. Farley was on keyboards, Casey Shaner was the vocalist, Ed Vanhorn was
on the guitar and Bob Schmit on the bass.
Delores Vingle Olender, Class of 1951, a vocalist with the Ray
Vingle band, lives in Micco, Florida. Anna Sistok, Delores’ aunt, married Walter
Soyer, uncle of siblings Ted Nagle, Marty Nagle and Jeanie Nagle Viglianco.
The United Mine Workers
band, with a Vingle as its leader, often played in the UMW Union Hall in
Monongah.
In the 1960 UMW Band
photo above I recognized Joe Eates, married to Ann DeMary Eates and living in
Monongah on Bridge Street, fourth from the right in the front row, and Don
Halpenny, in my Class of 1950 and a widower living in Fairmont, third from left
in the third row.
Bernard Frank “Bernie”
Vingle, Class of 1955, also was part of the famous musical Vingle family. I ran
across Bernie at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Monongah. He was visiting, not permanent resident. He described himself as
the only Vingle not musically inclined.
Other Vingles include:
Irene Vingle Mazurek,
Class of 1943.
Ronald Vingle, Class of 1955.
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