Old Friends and Memories
Monument, Colorado, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
It was a real treat for me to go over to my neighbor, Lee Norgard’s house last Wednesday night. I met a couple of his oldest friends, Frank Moore and Frank Schwartz.
The best part of meeting all three of these guys at the same time is they have played music off and on together for 40 years. The ‘Franks’, as I call them, both went to Wasson High School here in Colorado Springs and Lee has been here almost as long.
They all played with a number of different groups through the years but always came back together to at least jam with some gigs thrown in here and there.
Frank Schwartz played with the Good Times Band, The Steve Taylor Band and Teddy and the Night Beats. He plays the bass primarily but does a fine job with the mandolin as well as other instruments like the guitar.
Frank Moore played with a number of bands and did solo gigs, but most known for his work with Phil Volan. In 1987 he wrote a song called ‘Old Friends and Memories’ which is a beautifully written song. He plays the guitar primarily and sings lead.
Lee Norgard has played in a number of groups as well through the years and best known for his work with ‘Fall River Road’. He plays the banjo, guitar, steel slide, harmonica and more.
Through the years music came to be a hobby and passion rather than a main source of income. Life has a tendency to move on. But the three still get together and jam on Wednesday nights at Lee’s house.
I had the pleasure of sitting in to listen last Wednesday. What a treasure I have discovered. They play with such soul and meaning. The sound is soothing and comfortable. They are meant to be play together. They are going to be playing on August 25 at Hillside Gardens. I would suggest to anyone who has a true appreciation for folk, bluegrass and originally composed music to come out and see them. You are in for a real treat. They play a bit of everything from Crosby, Stills & Nash to Jerry Garcia to originals. They took the name of ‘Old Friends & Memories’ from Frank Moore’s song. It is quit fitting. You can see a short clip of them playing on csfreshink.com. - Colorado Springs Gazette
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Frank Moore has performed in Colorado Springs since 1973 with a few hiatuses along the way. He released a single in 1975 and released an album in 1987 titled, Old Friends and
Memories. This was a successful collaboration with fellow musician and friend, Phil Volan. He continues to write songs and perform with Frank and Lee.
Lee Norgaard began in Colorado Springs as a solo performer in the early 1970s and
in 1975 was a founding member of Fall River Road, a well-known bluegrass and country
band that traveled throughout the Midwest for most of the rest of the decade.
Frank Schwartz began his musical career playing in numerous garage bands in high
school and college. Since then, Frank has performed with several rock and
blues bands, most notably, Teddy and the Nightbeats. He also participated on Frank
Moores Old Friends and Memories album.
Old Friends and Memories is just as the name implies. They are old friends who get together to play music that comes from their past and share a few laughs and stories
in the process. Frank Moore and Frank Schwartz went to the same high school and college and began playing music together around 1972. Lee Norgaard met Frank Moore around 1975 when both were performing as single entertainers. Frank Moore and Lee reunited in 2003 to play at an Earth Day celebration. In 2004 Frank Moore enlisted Frank and Lee to perform together at a fundraiser for his sons baseball team.
The band was born. Since then, they have performed a sold-out a couple of fundraising concerts each year to benefit different charities. Along the way their appreciation for performing and creating music has grown as has their friendship and their loyal following. They recently recorded a song written by Frank Moore about the Waldo Canyon fire.
Band Members
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