This is the website for the Main Street Band based out of Athens, New York.   The band is composed of six experienced muscians that utilize multiple instruments while performing classic rock, oldies and an occassional country tune.  We enjoy  performing at weddings, dinner dances, parties, summer outside activities, club venues and fund raisers.  Feel free to contact us for your next event.  Also, review our "Weddings" page at this site.  At wedding receptions the Band offers an unique "live band plus DJ service" for the best of both worlds.  Please feel free to contact us for additional information and references.  Listed below are the founding members responsibilities and biographies.

Mike Graziano - Keyboards & Vocals:  Mike has been providing musical entertainment in the Columbia/Greene/Albany County area for over 35 years.  Mike began his musical career at the age of eight taking classical piano lessons which lasted for nine years.  At age fifteen Mike formed the band "The Nationality's.  The Nationality's began as a three piece wedding/party band and developed into a very popular and powerful five piece classic rock & roll band.  Mike has also played with local bands such as "The Jim Dykeman Trio", "Private Affair", "Night Moves", and "The Sundowners".  "I am very excited to be working with this group of musicians on this project and believe that the Main Street Band will be a huge success".  Mike is also a partner in "Music Box Productions", a DJ/Karaoke Service that provides entertainment for all occasions.

Herby Blasewitz - Lead Guitar, Sax & Vocals:  Herby has been quoted as saying, "There is nothing I would rather do than play music".  Indeed, music and baseball have been a large part of his life since childhood.  The baseball interest waned, the music did not.  He started out as a drummer (Beatles influence), then switched to quitar in his 20's.  Herby plays five instruments and sings lead and backup.  In the Main Street Band he plays guitar, sax and shares lead vocals.  Herby is also the vocal/musical director and arranger for the MSB.  His major influence is Sir Paul McCartney, both are southpaws.  Herby is a copyrighted song writer and has produced his own CD of original music on which he plays and sings every part.  His former bands include "The Nationality's", "Night Moves" and "Mirage".  Herby also performs a live solo act and is a partner in the DJ/Karaoke business, "Music Box Productions".  He considers himself an entertainer first and will incorporate stand up comedy into his act.  Herby has acted in many theater productions, emceed for various functions and will do an occasional auction.  He was raised and resides in beautiful Athens, New York.

Scott McDonald - Lead Vocals & Guitar:    Scott was born in Westchester County, New York and graduated from Lakeland High School.  He studied voice at The King's College before moving to Atlanta Georgia.  A veteran of musical theatre as well as vocalist to numerous bands, studio work and commercials. Scott has acheived top honors at numerous national talent competitions and has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with such notables as, Grammy Award Winners, "Atlanta Rhythm Section", Broadway stars, Michelle Kitrell, Stepp Stewart, Savion Glover among others.  Scott has sung the National Anthem at Turner Field for the Major League Baseball team, Atlanta Braves..  He moved back to New York in 2005 and is very excited about working with the Main Street Band.

John Wynne - Bass Guitar & Vocals:  The Main Street Band has a special meaning to John.  The formation of the band reunites John with the roots of his rock-n-roll soul.  The 1970's  and 1980's was a time when the Nationality's was one of the areas hardest working and most popular bands.  Both Mike Graziano and Herb Blasewitz were members.  Years later they're back and forming a part of the Main Street Band.

     Previous bands included:  "Private Affair", "Ricochet" and "Way Out West".  "Way Out West's" original CD was released and made its way around the world.  For a time, "Way Out West's" original songs were on the country pop charts throughout Europe.  It even made the top ten charts in Norway, Ireland and Denmark.  "Way Out West" had NECMA award nominations for Horizon Award, Song Writer of the year and Instrumentalists of the year.  They were also a featured artist on the "Danny Mack International All Stars Record Label" out of Detroit Michigan.

     Once again, John with Herby, Mike and add the skills of three additional experienced and "smoking" musicians, you've got a band that's got a kicking sound and there for the right reasons.  HAVE FUN with a great group of FRIENDS.  John has always been a resident of beautiful upstate New York.

Jim Dykeman - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals & Business Manager:  At twelve years of age he formed his first garage band called "The Electrons".  Members included Curt Brandow and Dave Poole. Jim graduated from Ockawamick High School, now known as Taconic Hills Central School and received the national "John Philip Sousa Award" for his musical prowess.  During High School he formed the locally popular seven piece horn group, "The Brass Dimension".  This band received a third place in a multi-state battle of the bands.  Bandmates included Fred Potts, Gary Wallace, Mike Wildermuth, Tom Richards, Don Snow and Ken Lansing.  

      Jim majored in music at Syracuse and while there missed his band and the music gigs back at home.  He transfered to The University at Albany and after graduation continued his formal education at Cornell University.  He also received instruction from the late well known Baritone Sax player, Nick Brignola and Matt Smith, teacher and current contributor to Guitar Player Magazine.  While in college he led a commercially sucessful wedding band, "The Jim Dykeman Trio".  Members included Tim Wills and Leo Guelpa.  After college he began teaching at Columbia Greene Communtiy College.  During this time he was invited to join a regional four piece band known as "Phoenix".  Members included Wendy Cook, Brian Williams and Kevin Nooney.  During the 1990's Jim and his brother Tom were owners of  "The Dykeman Brothers DJ Service".  In the summer of 2008, Jim decided to retire as a High School Principal and devote his time to golf, boating, performing with and promoting  the "Main Street Band".  He is married to the former Elaine Vogt, and resides at Sleepy Hollow Lake in Athens, New York.  

  Walter F. Becker -  Drums & Vocals: 

      I began by professional career at age 14 when I played with a 6-piece instrumental group, playing Herb Alpert, Sergio Mendes, light pop and standard dance music.  Between 1964-1969, I played with various High School pop and rock groups, drumming and singing, as well as singing with the Catskill Glee Club.  While in Greenville High School, I participated in concert and marching band, student chorus, musical and theatre productions. 

     After High School graducation in 1969, I enrolled in the Music Education program at Fredonia State University, near Buffalo, New York as a Percussion Major with voice minor.  In the summer of 1970, I toured 5 European countries with the Fredonia college choir singing German Lieder and Italian compositions.  That was fun...had to learn German and Italian phonetically.  I gained invaluable experience in Chorus, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Jazz Band and Jazz Big Band.  I had a really good jazz trio during those years...miss those guys!  I graduated from Fredonia with a Bachelor of Music Degree. 

     From 1973-1979, I toured with a 6-piece vocal show/road band called "Friends and Company". doing 2-3 shows nightly, 6 nights a week, 48 weeks a year at various hotels and resorts.  We traveled the Eastern US, from NY to Florida to Missouri and Eastern Canada and in the summer of 1977, toured Germany for the US Army USO.  What a blast!  In Germany, we played for Army Troops at isolated missile sites and USO rec bases.  At one site they set us up on a flat bed truck to play for 25 guys who were stationed there.  They really appreciated the break.  I got to travel a bit, too.  You've never seen mountains till you've seen the Swiss Alps!

     Since coming off the road, I have played locally in the Greene/Columbia county area with various bands, playing and singing country and rock and roll.  I have played with the Nationalities, Peaceful Country, Ghostriders, Mirage, James St. Project and now the Main Street Band.  I continue to sing with local church choir groups.  Music has always been part of my faith.

     I have studied with such drum professionals as Henry Adler  (NYC), Ed Schaunessey, Ed Soph, Theodore Frazeur, Louis Marion, and Ed Green (Latin Band House Drummer - Curacao).  I came to the Main Street Band in July 2009 working on vocals and drums.  This is a fun project with good music and good musicians.  MY wife, Tara and I live in Round Top, New York.