A swing and a riff

A scene that is familiar here in Sun City: wives sitting on the bleachers watching their husbands play a softball game.

Pat McKay, a player on the Adjusters softball team, said, “While we were playing the game on the field, our wives were talking and during their conversations, they found something that they all had in common. Their husbands all played an instrument and were in a band when they were younger. They encouraged us to get together.”

That’s how Sun City residents John Toth, Dave O’Neil, and Pat McKay got together in the basement of the drummer (because it’s difficult to move those drums) to play some tunes once a week.

McKay said, “We were the original three, and since we got together because of softball, we named our band Triple Play. Soon we had a lead guitarist join us, Steve Sawatski. My son Brian was added to the group. But we kept the name even though our group had grown to five members.”

This isn’t new for McKay or his son.

“We used to do a lot of camping and we would play our guitars around the campfire. Other campers would join us. We would sing songs and have a great evening,” he said.

What was Triple Play’s first show?

McKay said, “We had a show in Drendel Hall for a 50th high school reunion. We had never planned to book shows. We were just going to get together once a week to practice. I never thought it would turn into something else.”

What kind of music does the band play?

McKay said, “We play classic rock. All of us were in a band when we were younger. We all quit the band when we got a job. And here we are years later playing the same songs that we were playing when in our teens.”

What’s different now?

“We have better equipment. And I love playing with my son.”

Their venues include a range of locations.

“We play for Charter Club Banquets and Neighborhood parties. We had a show for Sun City in Drendel. Melissa Horneck said we had to have 70 tickets sold, otherwise, the performance was canceled. We sold out. It was a thrill. My family was a big part of the crowd. My granddaughter came with friends and enjoyed seeing her grandfather and father play on stage.”

Duane and Nancy Fontana had Triple Play come out to play for a small party of theirs.

Duane said, “I had invited the softball team and their wives and asked Pat to come and play for our party, but wanted to make sure they played ‘Runaround Sue.’ They did, and now every time they see me at an event they are playing at, I hear the song. The band is great. They play all the songs we know.”

McKay said, “Yes, Duane always wanted us to end our show with ‘Runaround Sue’ by Dion and the Belmont. A song which has become one of our staples.”

What’s their biggest challenge?

McKay said, “Moving our equipment. We keep the number of shows to a minimum because we have a lot of equipment to move. Besides the instruments, we have fifteen microphones, five-foot-high speakers, a mixing board, and amplifiers. It takes us about two hours to move the equipment and set it up. It’s a lot of work.”

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