One of my more favorite groups - and people - to work with at events are Peoria's Sally Weisenburg and her Famous Sidemen. Sally is a tall, sassy redhead with a great voice and a great stage personality. And she's as nice off-stage as a person could be.
Sally fronts the band - the Famous Sidemen. The leader of the band is Sally's husband, Don Berbaum, who is as equally as nice and personable as Sally is. They've been playing around the Midwest for a number of years and Sally has worked with the likes of Patrick Hazell, Bo Ramsey and has toured with the country group, The Ozone Ramblers.
A young Sally with The Ozone Ramblers, circa 1981.
Sally and the Sidemen's music can best be described as a combination of "jump blues" and "Texas swing". They add some jazz and a little rock to make their sound one of the most unique in the Midwest.
The dapper Don Berbaum on guitar (right)
Offstage, Don and Sally are the kind of people who you could just hang in the backyard with, have a few drinks and just chat about anything and everything for hours on end. They are genuine and genuinely wonderful people to work with. I was asked by Mark Holloway from Davenport One to come up with a list of bands I would like to work with at the events this summer. It's been a long time since Sally, Don and the guys have been at one of our events. I think it's time to bring 'em back.
Sally and Don are terrific people and performer/musicians. Be sure and give Sally a chair!
Posted by: grimmy | February 03, 2006 at 04:45 PM
Hi Don and Sally. Remember me?
Posted by: Ton Mitchell | April 21, 2024 at 07:33 PM
Do you still play with the band. Bill Block is turning 70 in October and wanted to see if your band still performs?
Posted by: Kim Block | August 26, 2024 at 07:42 PM