Tradition Continues for Neighborhood Band

In 1979, when the Grin and Bear It Band started, no one could have known it would go on for more than 30 years.

That first year the band -- whose name derives from the members' attitudes and musical direction -- played basically for old colleagues. As telecom workers, Grin and Bear It, made its debut at a general assembly of the Pioneers, a volunteer organization of telecommunications industry employees and retirees.

Since then, all but one member has moved on -- Judy McDaniel, of Lawrenceville. And, though the other four aren't original members, they've been together now for eons it seems, played at hundreds of events, and cemented a repertoire of more than 100 songs in pop, country, rock, standards, gospel and bluegrass.

This may be a band of 50s and 60-somethings, but they've managed to stay with the times, showing they're not a bunch of old fogies. And, they do it all as a band that plays for free.

Members of the band include: Richard Carpenter, bass guitarist; Sandra Harris, lead vocalist; McDaniel, a vocalist; Alicia Specht, a vocalist, and Hal Zwicke, lead guitarist.

The band has built a loyal following over the years, but it would also like to reach out to new audiences.

We caught up with Hal Zwicke, who lives in Snellville with his wife, to get his take on his life with and love for the band. He joined a year after it started.

Snellville Patch: How was the beginning?

Hal Zwicke: "This used to be really corny. When I first joined them 30 years ago, they could have gone on Hee Haw they dressed up so bad … by and large, they were corn balls."

Patch: Why were you even interested?

Zwicke: "I played in band in high school, so I took it seriously. I started playing when I was 13. My father was a drum major in a volunteer fire department band, and he loved music. We were the first people on the block to have a boombox."

Patch: Where does Grin and Bear It like to perform?

Zwicke: "We like to go places were they normally don’t have entertainment. I think that’s a big nitch to fill. Other than watching TV and stuff, they don’t get a lot of entertainment."

Patch: What do you all like about your following, up until this point?

Zwicke: "You know what a mosh pit is? When they do a line dance it looks like mosh pit… There are people from 30 up to 60, and these people know every one of our songs, and they know every one of the members by name, they're like family to us."

Patch: Why have you all settled on smaller venues, such as community events, nursing homes, residences for those with disabilities, etc.

Zwicke: "We've played at some really serious functions (military balls, weddings, and the like). We don’t do a lot of that lately, because it’s a lot of stress. And, the other problem is, I have a really problem doing a gig with a place that would have normally hired a band."

Patch: You also traveled quite a bit before?

Zwicke: We used to travel a lot. Of course, now with traffic and stuff, we try to stay in the general area of Snellville or at least Gwinnett County.

Patch: You all have built a loyal following, so why now are you all are looking for new audiences?

Zwicke: Most of our audience is now looking down on us from heaven or some place, and there's a lot of people who don’t know what we do or who we are."

Patch: Why don't you all charge?

Zwicke: "We love it. We just really like doing it."

Patch: What makes the band gel?

Zwicke: "There's no egos, there's no power trips, there's no I'm worth more than you because I'm the lead singer. There's none of that."

Patch: Why the hesitancy on telling your age.

Zwicke: "I'm very much in to modern music and unfortunately a lot of people don’t make that connection."

To learn more about Grin and Bear It, check out the band's website here.

To book a 2012 gig with the band, call Zwicke at 678-344-2551, or email him at halz@bellsouth.net.