ESU Success Stories – Tim Weisse

It was 1965 and like lots of other kids, Tim Weisse ’74, learned to play the guitar and joined a garage band. Tim and his friends – Steve, Vinny, Dennis and Kevin from Dumont, N.J. – called themselves The Counts.

Flash ahead 44 years and Tim Weisse, Steve Fox, Vinny Sabatino, Dennis Passaggio and Kevin McAllister are still playing rock and roll together, to audiences all over the United States. And while it’s rare for someone to still be in a rock band at age 56, it’s really unusual that at a whole group from the 1960s still rocks together.

Back in the late ’60s and early ’70s, The Counts had great regional success in northern New Jersey, playing at college and high school dances, lounges and private parties. But the demands of attending college in four states split them up in 1971.

The band members put a lot of space between themselves over the years. While Steve remained in New Jersey, Tim moved to Arizona, Dennis moved to California, Vinny went to Florida, and Kevin set out to Oklahoma. They stayed in touch, but never got together.

But in 2004, after more than 30 years, Weisse invited everyone to spend a week at his home in Phoenix.

“I only wanted us to reconnect on a personal level and share stories about our lives, our families and what we had been doing for the past four decades,” Weisse said. “I just thought that once we were all together again, we might want to play a little music, too.” Since he has a collection of vintage guitars and basses, there were plenty of instruments on hand.

An hour after everyone arrived, the instruments came out and the band was ready to rock again. The gang stayed up late to trade stories about high school and college, marriages and divorces, children, cancer survival, and the importance of friendship.

“I consider these men my brothers,” Weisse says. “Even after such a long separation, the bond of five kids growing up in a great New Jersey town is still as strong as ever.”

Weisse had arranged for The Counts to play at the end of the week for a small audience made up of some of Tim’s friends and anyone he could find in the Phoenix area from northern New Jersey.

“The crowd went crazy,” Weisse says. Crazy enough that The Counts decided to get together on a regular basis, and they’ve been doing that ever since. In 2006, the band returned to Dumont for the “Where It All Began Tour,” playing for family and high school friends.

In 2007 the band assembled in Oklahoma to play at a wedding reception for the lead singer and his bride. Last year the band spent a week in Florida, recording and enjoying some leisure time together.

“We’d like to play somewhere every weekend, but we are so spread out that it makes it impossible to do,” Weisse says. “And, it’s important to note that we haven’t quit our day jobs … yet “

Two new musicians, Ray Capece and Dan Bonsanti, also Dumont High grads, joined the band this year. In May, The Counts played at the reunion of their Dumont High School classes.

“Playing in front of hundreds of our friends and classmates was the most significant show we’ve given in our adult lives,” Weisse notes. “These were the people we grew up with; our first friends and girlfriends. It was an awesome experience and privilege.”

What’s next? In 2010, The Counts will play the historic Casino Ballroom on Catalina Island, Calif. After that, who knows?

“We just want to enjoy each other and our renewed friendships,” Weisse says. “But, if the right gig comes along or Regis and Kelly call, we’ll be ready to go.”

Tim Weisse has been a member of the ESU Alumni Association board of directors since 1997

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