Michael Casale loved playing bass, and Syracuse loved him for it

/ February 18, 2014
Michael Casale, with his beloved bass. (Courtesy Kimberly Rossi)

Michael Casale, with his beloved bass. (Photo by Katrina Grady/Life As Is Photography)

In the middle of Syracuse’s celebration of the Beatles just 10 days ago, Doug Moncrief made sure to shout out in support for a Syracuse musician who was too ill to participate.

Moncrief called him Mikey, who “couldn’t make this gig.”

Those in the know cheered.

Moncrief was sending love to Michael Casale, the Syracuse native and veteran bass player who was hospitalized with pneumonia. And Central New York music fans knew about Casale and his contribution to he music scene.

The singer and guitarist for The Todd Hobin Band had visited Casale in the hospital, he told me in a message later, adding that the bass player was able to make what Moncrief described as “a Mike face” after promises of what he’d do if Casale didn’t get better and leave the hospital soon.

Indeed, says Sara Cesta, who lived in Liverpool with her boyfriend of four years, the doctors took him off breathing help after that, and things were looking up.

But the brave man died Sunday afternoon, at the age of 64.

The Syracuse music community grieves.

Casale was the office manager at Beat Street Music. He’d been the bass player for Syracuse Area Music Awards hall of famer Bobby Green and his band A Cut Above from 1997 to 2012. Of late, he’d been part of the recording band for Irv Lyon’s new blues record “I Love the Night.”

I remember enjoying Casale’s work with Bobby Green at neighborhood pub Shifty’s. More recently, I praised his contribution to Lyons’ new CD in a review here on this blog.

Casale was born with Spina Bifida, a disease that left him shorter than most people and affected his walking. His height — he said he was 4-foot-3 in an article published before his friends in the band Orleans played at a Spina Bifida benefit for his 60th birthday party at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in 2009 — and his cane did not stop him from playing music.

“He refused to think of himself as having a disability,” Cesta said Monday. “There aren’t words to describe his love of music. This man could pick up a bass and play the lines of any song, any time, without any rehearsing. His dream was to be a full-time musician. His love for music was so much, it was his soul.”

Syracuse music historian Ron Wray said Monday that Casale and the group Neighborhood Friends hung out when Wray worked at radio station WOLF. “He was a great ambassador for our music scene,” Wray said.

“The music world lost a wonderful musician,” Cesta said. “He was the most dedicated man I ever met.”

Casale leaves a son, Nicholas, who lives in California. Moncrief added that he and Nicholas took that trip to the hospital together just before the Beatles tribute show, not too long after Michael Casale was hospitalized with pneumonia at the end of January.

“It was a very special chunk of time with Nick and Mike,” Moncrief said.

Updated with details about services:

Calling hours will be at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, Maurer Funeral Home in Baldwinsville. A service will follow at 6:30 p.m. in the Maurer chapel.

To extend condolences on the Maurer site, click here.

Please leave your thoughts and memories about Michael Casale by commenting here.

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67 thoughts on “Michael Casale loved playing bass, and Syracuse loved him for it”

  1. I used to hang at the Ground Round with two of my best (Girl) Friends. I’m 67 and bought a jukebox for my wife years back. After she passed I started collecting 45s and Albums for something to keep me busy. I was cleaning them and putting them away and “THEN” I was drawn to this one Album- NEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDS (LIVE) I played it and fell off my chair especially when they said LIVE at the Ground Round- The music-the Sound is just BREATHTAKING- GOD BLESS MIKE AND HIS LOVE FOR THE MUSIC

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  3. I am so touched to read the tributes to Mike…..he obviously was a very special person….I too remember Mike from elementary school through senior year at FM….Mike found me on Facebook in January and wanted to make sure I had received info about our upcoming FM reunion in May…..let him know I would see him there…..shortly after I had been reading Sarah’s posts about Mike being ill…..so sorry to hear of his passing……my thoughts and prayers are with Sarah and Mike’s family….play on Mike….you are a special man and loved by many…..

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  6. Mike, I’d watch you every week, slowly make your way from your car up the 25 foot walkway to Irv’s rehearsal space, then back again. You never complained no matter how winded you got, no matter how wiped out you felt. You were going to make music, and that was a beautiful, fleeting thing. We were singin’ and swingin’, and no cane or disability would keep you from soaring through the notes. You taught me how to get in the pocket, and just be. And now you’ve left us to play with the coolest cats, and my pockets gone to hell. Your “Mikey looks” are just a memory. At least, for a fleeting moment, I got to call you my friend. Goodbye, my friend.

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  7. I first became friends with Mike working at Gaylord’s in the 80’s & 90’s. Being the gentleman and caring person he was always dedicated to working hard. Always concerned about others never displaying his burdens.
    May you sing your songs and play bass in the Heaven above on “Route 66”.

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  8. Gary, (Sprague) what a wonderful and warm tribute to Michael better known as “Mikey”. I am so happy to know that you and Michael remained friends throughout the years. I also met Mike in Grade School. And we would hear his voice on the “telephone” (Speaker Phone) and we were told that he had a closed circuit TV in his house and he received a visual, as well as the audio. That was amazing for 1960-1961 (approx.) The TV didn’t become popular (or common place) until 1955, so this was like a quantum leap of technology back then. By the time I made it to Junior High and High School, Michael and I were in numerous classes together. We both had a sister in the same class ahead of us. So our families knew of each other. I really treasure my memories of Mike, as we were both from hard working families trying to keep it together, with a strong Faith in God and core values of the family unit. I will miss him for a long time…When I heard of his passing I first thought of Gary Sprague and Terry Vickery.. Both of these men showed their true friendship and loving devotion to a man of music. Farewell my favorite “Music Man” You are now whole in the grasp
    of Jesus and your family. Cynthia Fitch Class of 1969, F-M

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    • Cynthia, I am so glad to hear the effort made back then to keep Michael plugged into the classes. Of course, I can tell you all loved it when he actually was able mix with everybody in person Thanks for sharing the love here.

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  9. Mike was the primary bass player for a 25 piece orchestra that accompanied a 75 voice choir that I directed in Saratoga Springs for a week-long festival in the mid to late 90s. In short, Mike was just plain awesome, and I don’t use superlatives very often. His dedication to rehearsing and performing were exemplary! And his enthusiasm – we’ll, many of you know – was flat out ridiculous! We have remained in continuous contact ever since. I will never forget him and his contributions.

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  11. Although I am saddened at the loss of Michael Casale, I am happy that I believe there is a special place in Heaven’s band of those who have gone before him… This was a fine tribute to a man who was inspiring, Mark.

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  12. aw, what a sad loss to his family, those who knew him, and the music community at large. mike sounds like he always had a wonderful attitude and saw his life as an opportunity rather than a challenge. what a special man )

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  13. When I first heard the name Michael Casale it was assigned to a speaker box on a counter in the corner of Miss Parker’s 5th grade classroom at Fayetteville Elementary School. Today this would be a Skype video linkup but then it was just an open phone line. In Mr. Durgy’s 6th grade class I finally met the person that belonged to the voice. We became friends and over the years of school we where what I would call, “Friends in passing”. In the summer of 1969 when everyone else was leaving town to go to college I called Michael to see if he had any musician friends left to play with. We were joined by a drummer, David Gaudio, and started our first endeavor at making music. We did well enough to get a few jobs here and there. After that group disbanded Mike and I struggled to find an identity and sound. Looking back all I remember is that after a year or so one day something clicked and we were replacing frustration with excitement and enthusiasm. The list of group configurations, places played, states traveled to, performances in Canada, broken down cars and other, now laughable, situations are way too many to go into.
    The 18 years we worked together saw us grow as musicians and people.
    In the mid 70’s we were on the road for 3 years. We came back to Syracuse did the day job thing and made music at night. We both got married to girls named Peggy and settled into homes and made families of our own. During that time we recorded 2 live albums at the Ground Round.
    In 1987 Peggy and I moved to Arizona to pursue a life change, due to the recession of that time.
    Without Mike at my side I floundered musically for quite a while.
    It was only then that I realized how much I depended on him.
    Most everyone looked at Michael as a person learning to get past his inabilities. I learned a harder lesson. God sends his teachers in many shapes and sizes. God sent Michael to teach me how to work hard for the things I want, be grateful for the gifts I have and work around those I don’t and the harder lesson was humility.
    While on the road Michael and I became huge Star Trek fans because every afternoon in our hotel room if you flicked through the cable channels you could see it 3 or 4 times in a row.
    No matter what transpired between us, good or bad, I have always kept in my heart this thought to resolve the bad – “I have been – and always shall be – your friend.”
    I will miss my brother.

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    • Gary, It is so nice to hear about your time with Michael and the band. As fellow FM Class of “69 graduates I remember him and you (and many others). He is definitely a very bright light and in the last few years we got to know each other a bit via FB. I will certainly miss him and his wonderful persona. Thank you for telling your story as it helps to fill in the pieces of his life.

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  14. I first met Mike in the late 80s when, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his band Neighborhood Friends, I wrote a story about them for the New Times. I saw him quite a bit over the years and was glad to call him my friend.

    One beautiful summer evening a few years ago, he was playing with Bobby Green at Johnson Park in Liverpool. I arrived just in time to hear the band launch into a furious version of Funky Nassau, with Mike laying down a funky, note for note version of that classic bassline. I didn’t smile any more broadly that whole summer, I bet.

    Rest in peace, buddy

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  15. Mike was a great neighbor. Our condolences to Sara and his son. We’ll miss chatting with him out front. Always learned something new.

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  16. My family has been lifelong friends with the Casale family. Mike was a joy to know. Mike just loved music period. I never even thought of his disability when I was around him because he never allowed it to be a statement. His love if music always shined through and I never saw a disability. My prayers go out for him and his family…

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  17. “Mighty Mike” has been an inspriration to meet for almost 20 years- I first saw him play at a benefit at Styleen’s Rhythm Palace in 1995, killing a version of “Born in Chicago” w my father Mark. It became immediately apparent that the man could really place and he was having the time of his life!
    Over years, I grew to know Mike and looked forward to seeing him at events and jam sessions, talking shop, trading licks, and sharing that pure enthusiasm for music and supporting others through our role as bassists.
    One anecdote, in particular, shines in my mind: Mike had gone a music industry event and was at the Ampeg display. These events have thousands of musicians trying out gear and playing as many notes as possible ALL day long. The bassists, in particular, are slapping, strumming, and playing “Flight of the Bumblebee” at breakneck speeds- but not our man Mike. While he was grooving away on a new amp the great bassist T.M. Stevens- a giant man with rainbow dreadlocks and a resume including James Brown, Mick Jagger, and countless others- walked in the display area. Everyone tried to play their funkiest line in the presence of a “Bass God”.
    Mike told me he cranked up his amp and yelled to TM: “Hey TM, tighten up on that bass man!” and launched into the signature groove from “Tighten Up” by Archie Bell and The Drells. TM responded with a huge laugh (search for the man- he is incredible stage presence) and hovered over Mike as he pumped out that classicly simple and funky bassline for all he could.
    I am blessed to be a musician, to be two feet taller than my late friend, and for the gift of health and familiy in this short life. I am grateful to have known him, been humbled by his courage and strength, and pray that I may have the opportunity to “Tighten Up” in his honor for the rest of my life.
    We love and miss you Mike!

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  18. Great article, Mark. I will miss Mike tremendously. He had a heart of gold, a huge passion for music, and was a great supporter of local talent. He was always encouraging and enthusiastic about anyone’s musical projects, and a smile rarely left his face. We lost one of the kindest souls we had in Syracuse. R.I.P. Mike.

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  19. Mike grew up with us in the Class of ’69 at Fayetteville-Manlius. As kids, we’d delight in pulling Mike along on the little scooter he used to use to get from class to class. He never let his disability get in the way of his enthusiasm. You knew Mike, and you knew a guy who refused to be defined by the physical challenges he faced daily.

    As we grew, we knew Mike as a musician. Out of high school it was playing with Gary Sprague in various iterations of the group “Neighborhood Friends” (in which I was privileged to play in the mid-70’s). And ultimately this is what came to define him–the joy he shared in playing and singing and being part of the scene. Others knew him as a lover, a dad, a friend and colleague–a deeply sensitive man always ready with a quip or a music fact that was never understated in its delivery!

    A couple years ago Mike got me and Gary back together for a reunion concert as part of the Liverpool summer concert series. What a joy to play with him once again, something I hoped to be able to do again. It’ll never be, not in this lifetime.

    You assume people like Mike, and life as we know it, will be with us forever. That things won’t change or at least not that fast. But that’s not the case. It catches up with you and its always done too soon. Michael’s time with us was done too soon. Yet, in other ways given the physical challenges he faced throughout his life, he way outlived expectations, exponentially beat the odds and anyone privileged to know him is mighty grateful Mike made it so. He might have been small in stature but his heart knew no bounds. Still doesn’t.

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  20. Great write, Mark. Mike had one of the most beautiful souls the world will ever know. It was an honor and a privilege to call him friend. There is indeed a gaping hole in our music community now. We should all cherish the memories and consider ourselves fortunate to have known such an amazing human being.

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  21. You will be missed! I will never forget you playing with us for our 25th wedding anniversary at the palace theater! You and your son are awesome musicians, and our thoughts and prayers are with you nick at this time……

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  22. Mike was a great man, always quick with a story about one of his exploits in music – who he’d met, who he’d jammed with, who he had seen play recently. And he always had a word of encouragement for me when we would shoot the breeze – “I like your band” he would tell me, “and I like it best when you play your original tunes!” We will all miss you Mike and we will all keep playing!

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  23. Michael’s love was music; that’s where his light was brightest. May it be that we all remember his example, and keep his legacy alive by refusing to “label at first sight” and see all people with disability as a beautiful soul with very special gifts… just like you Mike ❤

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  25. I have so many fond memories of sitting in with various blues bands when just a young girl… Mike always made me feel welcome, and grateful of these opportunities… He was a pleasure to play with and talk with… and although small in stature, his amazing spirit was grand and encompassing. He will be greatly missed by all that knew him. RIP Mike.

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  26. Mike and I played together a number of times at our jam sessions at the Schuster music and art salon (aka, their home on North Street). We also crossed paths many times at blues, pop and jazz venues. Our music sensibilities and tastes were very similar and we would get excited about the same songs. He was so encouraging to me as I learned to play in public and taught me a bit in those sessions. He will be greatly missed in the central New York region.

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  27. Oh man… I was thinking of him right before I heard. He was there when I when i purchased a couple of my favorite basses. What a cool guy. An encouraging personality.

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  29. Neighborhood Friends was the first duo I ever heard at 16… Ground Round, North Syracuse…. My first interest in guitar and performing…..

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