Bio

RICH CLARE: vocals, trombone

Where to begin! I was told by my parents that I began singing very soon after I began talking. I know that by age 4 my parents would make me sing at their parties because I knew all the beer jingles of the time period. My band career began at the age of 14 in a group called Tommy Hoover and the Pryamids (Tom later played with the Magnificent Men). That lasted a few months and then I helped form a group called the Unknowns. I performed with this group until the middle of my sophomore year in college. For the last year and a half of the Unknowns Jim Colestock, whom I met my freshman year in college, was our drummer. Jim enlisted in the Navy and that ended the Unknowns. I then joined an established group called The Formations and played with them for two years until the group disbanded. I was contacted by a 10-piece soul group called The Soul Brothers and became their lead singer in 1967. Soon after, this group was signed by a local record label called Soulville Records and they changed our name to The Soulville Allstars. We had two releases on the label, the second of which was a two sided "hit" "I'm Gonna Get to You/Won't You Please Be My Girl." I co-wrote both songs that actually charted and have become chart hits in England and Europe. These songs are on several compilation CD's and the 45's are selling on Ebay for around $250 and have recently been reissued. When the Allstars evolved musically in the late 60's to include songs by Blood Sweat and Tears, Chicago, Sly, and the Sons of Champlin, we changed our name to Life. Around this time Jim Colestock was discharged from the Navy and we hired him as our drummer and once again, we were playing music together. I was a Biology teacher at Lower Dauphin High School from 1968-1972 but aspired to be a full-time entertainer. In early 1071 I asked Jim if he would consider a career in music. His comment was "You had to ask?" So, we set out to form what would become Rich Clare Pentagon (we were called Polygon for a brief instant). We began playing in June 1971 and went on the road in 1972 after 60 straight weeks playing at The Driftwood on Paxton Street in Harrisburg, PA. During the 20 years we traveled, we became a mainstay in the Atlantic City Casinos, played Las Vegas, Reno, L.A., Puerto Rico, etc. and appeared on several major TV shows including a Showtime special entitled Steve Allen Aboard The QE II... the only live television special filmed on a cruise ship at sea. After 20 years of touring, we elected to leave the road, have our 20th reunion at Hershey Park, and pretty much call it quits. The size of the crowd that came to help us celebrate our 20th was so overwhelming that the park officials ask Jim and I if we could at least put a show together for them each summer. Instead we figured if that many people still wanted to see us perform, why not put the band together locally. So here we are all these years later.... still going strong. I feel so privileged to be able to work with all the members of our current band and crew. This is collectively a truly amazing group of professionals who always give 100% at every performance. The greatest thing about this bunch of guys is that I am proud to consider them not only friends, but family. This is one ride I never want to end.

JIM COLESTOCK: Vocals, Trumpet, Things You Bang

I was born on August 23, 1944, and have always been the oldest in the band. I became interested in the drums when I was 12, and took drum lessons for five years from Pat Acri, on the of the best drummers and teachers I have known. I really liked Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa and Luis Bellson when I was learning. And I actually saw Krupa play at Hershey in 1958. I saw Buddy man years later, but that's another story. I learned to play drum corp style and spent two seasons with the Hershey Choclatiers, and one with the West Shoremen in Mechanicsburg. At the same time, I was working very hard to play the drumset, but there weren't many opportunities to play my craft. That all changed when I went to Shippensburg. I met a guy who was as wacky as I am that needed a drummer. The guy, of course was Rich Clare, and it all went downhill from there. We first worked together with some other guys from our TKE pledge class to entertain at parties. Later I played in Rich's band, the Unknowns. But nobody knew who we were. When I got out of the Navy, Rich asked me to play in the band Life, playing a lot of Blood Sweat and Tears, and Chicago. By the time I graduated from college, Rich and I had formed Polygon and were playing locally at the Driftwood on Paxton Street in Harrisburg. Nobody could remember 'Polygon', so we changed it back to 'The Unknowns' (just kidding).. to Pentagon, because there were five of us at the time. Twenty years later we woke up in Iowa, went home, got real jobs, and that's where we are today. While we were travelling, I married Rich's sister-in-law, Allyson in 1973 and had a son, Tristin, in 1994. I am still married and live in New Cumberland. My real job since 1992, is teaching Spanish at Harrisburg High School. (Now retired). My favorite color is purple, (blame it on Diego Garcia), and I drive an old Volvo.

MIKE BOARMAN: vocals, bass guitar

I am a self taught 'musician'. I started playing guitar and bass at the age of 11. I was 11 when I played for my first audience (it did not go well but I did get to talk to a girl). At age 15 I was hired by the gospel band "The Gabriel's". With The Gabriel's, I performed hundreds of shows with many notable country and gospel bands such as The Couriers, The Cathedrals, The Jacob's Brothers and The Blackwood Brothers. I learned a great deal about 'the business' from this experience. I look back fondly on that time as The Gabriel's were "30 somethings" and became "role models" that taught me quite a bit about life and the rigors of the music business. At the age of 17, I played on my first album "The Gabriel's, I Go To The Rock". At 18 years of age, I experienced my first set back when The Gabriel's disbanded. "It was hard not seeing the guys and watching the bus and all the gear get sold. I would have missed the money but I was not paid very much. I had to cut my hair and get a job." After The Gabriel's I played on several gospel and rock albums as a session 'musician'. I worked at Baldwin Studios and Susquehanna Sound along with several small studios. I also did a brief stint with The Harvest Band. "I was invited to 'sit in' during a live performance for one of the artists who's album I had played on, Roger Cooper (A PTL Club TV regular), and so I played at Agape Farm for 28,000 people. That was a big memory because I played the show by reading charts I placed on the floor." On weekends, I would stretch my artistic side by producing and performing Laser shows for venues such as the Harrisburg Kipona and Dutch Wonderland. In 1990, I entered a local bass playing competition. Out of hundreds of entries, my solo was chosen along with several others for a 'live competition' which was held at The Country Side Inn. There were some prominent national musicians judging the event. I was very pleased to have been selected as the winner with a grand prize of a Fender Jazz Bass that sits as a dusty relic of days gone by, in my home to this day. This win put me on the radar of Rich Clare, as Pentagon was gearing down from it's national tour circuit. I auditioned for Pentagon at the invitation of Rich Clare and was asked to join the band. That was in 1991. Pentagon was a great fit for me. They played for great audiences, at great venues and challenged me both musically and vocally. Pentagon has always been anchored by Rich and Jim. They are great guys, as everyone knows. The current line up of artists and crew are simply the best I have ever worked with. It is a pleasure to perform with every one of them. Pentagon is more than a band to me, these guys (and their beautiful spouses) are an extension of family. I am lucky to be with them. In 2003 I played on the soon to be released Savage Bliss album. In 2008/09 I played bass, back up vocal on the recently released Hybrid Ice album, at After 7 Studios. In 2009 I played bass, back up vocal and lead vocal on the studio released Pentagon album. I am the third longest standing member of Pentagon (after Rich and Jim). I enjoy the seniority that this has earned me, Pentagon is my musical outlet. I enjoy being the least talented member of this band. I am presently on my 32nd year with the group. I have grown as an instrumentalist, vocalist, performer and as a person, thanks to the depth of talent and humanity that I have the honor to hang out with and share the stage with. As long as our wonderful audiences keep showing up, I will be there! I appreciate the support from everyone. I sincerely think of those who come time and time again to be my friends.

GARY WEBER: vocals, keyboards

I joined Pentagon in September 1999 with my first engagement on Labor Day on the river front in Harrisburg, PA to 2000 people. This was not the largest number of folks I had performed for, however for a first gig with a band and all the material that Pentagon performs it was very intense. I had played in a very successful band called "Horizon" in the mid 1970's where I was the lead singer. After having problems keeping keyboard players, the guys in the band coaxed me into becoming the keyboard player and we consolidated in to a 4 piece group which was quite successful. In the 80's, the group changed its format to Top 40 dance music and added a female vocalist and changing the name to "Webz". That band became one of the top performing bands in Harrisburg and West Shore area. However, personal changes began to take its toll on the band and in the early 90's the band dissolved. At that point, I put together a duo with one of our former female lead vocalists called "The Wright Stuff" and had a successful run in the Country Club and Wedding circuit. After having three different vocalists (these women tend to have babies!!!) I decided to retire from performing. Several months later Rich Clare contacted me to see if I was interested in auditioning for Pentagon. I did, and the rest is history. I have been with them for 23 years. Ironically, I had followed Pentagon in their early stages in the 70's and always dreamed about being a part of the band. I never dreamed that it would be possible. I was a music teacher and Department Chairman in the Mechanicsburg Area School District for over 30 years and retired in June of 2006. I was a consultant for Yamaha Corporation of America's Music in Education (MIE) keyboard curriculum I also served as the national tech support specialist for the same product. After serving two terms on the Borough Council in Mechanicsburg, I have removed myself from public service. We enjoy our grandchildren, spending time at our 2nd house near Ocean City, Maryland and traveling.

AL COOK: vocals, lead guitar

I have been working as a solo act and in bands around the regional music scene for over 50 years, beginning at age 15. Coming from a musical family, with my Father and Uncle, Chuck and Jim Cook, having had a radio program on WWVA, Wheeling, WV radio station every Saturday for 13 years, and many years before and after my first memories are of being on stage with Dad's band at a local show at the age of 5, singing Big Momma Thornton's Hound Dog, as recorded by (Elvis Presley), and falling asleep listening to my father's nighttime kitchen jams and practice sessions with friends Bill Haley & the Comets and many other musicians, from my bedroom at home. My musical talents were honed in elementary and secondary school choirs, and also during my college years, seeking a B.S. in music education, while performing in several affiliated and non-affiliated ensembles. I also spent 4 years as a paid soloist at a couple large Harrisburg churches, to help pay for tuition. Following college, I toured the US and Canada in a few bands, both electric and acoustic, most notably as one half of the regional duo of Cook & Cosey during the late 70's - then as a solo singer/songwriter. In 1982 I moved from my native Pennsylvania to Nashville, to work as both a studio musician and songwriter with Common Ground publishing company, playing and singing on various songwriter demos. During this period I did not play live in front of an audience. Longing for the excitement of the live stage, and homesick for my family and friends in Pennsylvania, I returned to Lancaster, PA, to start a family near my hometown, and to resume playing regionally throughout New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. I joined Pentagon in the fall of 2000, and played my first gig in April of 2001. Through the years I am proud to have shared the stage with a number of top talents: Seals and Crofts, Linda Ronstadt, Stephen Stills, Peter Seeger, Dolly Parton, the Average White Band, Bill Haley's Comets, the Lovin' Spoonful, the Magnificent Men, RIchard Thompson, Slim Whitman, and George Carlin. Pentagon has been one of the greatest pleasures of my musical career. Rich and the guys are truly some of the nicest, most genuine artists I could hope to work with. That goes for everyone in the band and crew. Over the years we have become a family. I am often told that we look like we are having a great time on stage, and that is simply because we ARE! Each and every gig is a new adventure. I am currently on year 22 with the band.
The last 5 years has been a challenge, as I must make the trip from my house outside Pittsburgh. I would like to thank our many fans for their continued support. You are the reason Pentagon is still alive and kicking after over 59 years. THANKS EVERYONE!
Equipment Used:GUITARS - (Rotating lineup): PRS EG3 Custom 24, PRS Swamp Ash Narrowfield, PRS DGT, PRS 513 Rosewood, PRS McCarty Rosewood, PRS S2 Studio, Gretsch Nashville II.
AMPS - None. Using a direct Line only, my sounds come from a myriad of foot pedals.
MIC - Beyer M88TG

and how it all began...

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