Music by: Towne Meeting

Dennis Hulbert (12-string guitar, vocals), a retired physics teacher and long time photographer, is punster extraordinaire and the velvet voice of the group.  Brought up in a musically rich family, he has a tremendous vocal range and has sung at weddings and in church choirs.  He penned the song “Summer Is Coming” for his wife Karen.

Gary VanCour (guitar, ukulele, vocals), a retired social studies teacher, is a natural selection for
moderator in spite of his jokes.  Gary started his musical career on violin and transitioned to percussion for high school and college.  He learned to play the ukulele and acoustic guitar (with Miles). He has performed in All County Chorus and All State Sectional bands in high school, a folk trio after college, family reunions, hootenannies and weddings. 

Miles Moody (guitar, vocals), harmonist in the group, is a retired math teacher.  He started playing ukulele (with Gary) and soon evolved into acoustic guitar.  He played trumpet in high school and college and sang with the All State Sectional Chorus, the Albany Statesmen and multiple choirs.  Miles has sung at two different World Fairs and performed in a folk trio after college, hootenannies, reunions and weddings.   

 Rich Sutphen (lead guitar, mandolin, vocals) works in the cable industry when not performing musical magic with his 25 voice Variax 700 guitar, electrified Washburn or tickling the strings on his favorite mandolin.  Rich’s rocker roots were set playing for the bands Heritage and Illusion, and a jazz dimension evolved with the bands 52^nd Street and Take Note. 

  Justin VanCour (bass guitar, vocal), the youngest member of the band, brings some of the modern-era songs to the group.  A multi-instrumentalist, he also writes his own material, performing under his own name or under the moniker The Rust of Late Winter.  Justin also has a passion for recording music and typically fills his spare time pursuing this hobby.

         Behind the Name

Various members of the band have been casually singing together in different combinations for years, but the enthusiasm and positive feedback following “jamming” at several Towne family reunions (Gary, Rich and Justin are in the Towne family tree) inspired the group to start gigging in public.  The name references the annual Towne family reunions and the concept of an old fashioned get-together to have fun.

                           Towne Meeting 2011

The Mascot

1976 Avanti ll:

Part of Towne Meeting since their inception, the Avanti ll attends all major performances. Tenderly restored to its prime by owner Rich, the Avanti ll is one of only 156 built that year and features its original small block 400 cu. in. V-8 engine.