Band Members

Where did the name Crash Cadillac come from?

It was 1979 and the guys were getting ready for their first real gig and realized they had no name but nothing they came up with sounded right. Then one night, Harry Cratsley, the original lead singer, showed up late for practice and came in saying “I crashed my cadillac”.  It was then decided that they would be Crash Cadillac and the T-Street Cruisers. T-Street was a short name for Tonawanda Street in Riverside where many would cruise up and down the street back in the 70’s.  T-Street Cruisers was eventually dropped and the band is now known only as CRASH CADILLAC.

Don Vaccaro
Guitar, Vocals, Soundman
Don began playing guitar at the age of 9, 
under the direction of Lee Carroll. 
He started CRASH CADILLAC in 1979, 
after coming off the road with a band called INCOGNITO.  
A couple of his old guitar students had a band called STAR, 
so when he decided to start an oldies band, 
he incorporated a few of them along with 
a few other friends that he had played with years ago.  
Over the years, Don has placed with numerous bands, such as:  
INCOGNITO
LANDSLIDE
SOUTH 57
DONNIE & THE DREAMERS
Many thanks go out to my lovely wife, 
Donna, 
for managing our schedule, emails and mailings, 
along with being my personal roadie and so much more. 
Don has been married to Donna for 45 years and has two daughters.

 

Bob Steff
Bass, Vocals
Bob started playing in 1967, 
being mostly self-taught, 
but with a lot of influences from a good friend, Dan Hairfield.  
He’s played a lot of different types of music over the years from 
country to hard rock. 
Bob has performed with the bands 
ALASKA
LANDSLIDE
SOUTH 57
DONNIE & THE DREAMERS.  
Bob is married to Lori and has one daughter.

 

Frank Marini
Keyboards,Vocals
Frank played in a band called ISAAC 
in the 70’s with Lance Diamond.  
In the early 80’s he worked with the bands named 
TOUCH
NICKLE CITY PLATERS
In the later 80’s he was with a 
top 40 group called NRG 
and after that a band based out of Niagara Falls called LEGEND. 
In the 90’s he turned it down a couple of notches and was hired 
by a wedding band called THE FOUR WINDS. 
Frank was also a member of 
DONNIE & THE DREAMERS.  
Frank is married to Claudia and has one daughter

Jim Mecurio
Drums, Vocals
Jim began his music career as the drummer for 
Crash Cadillac from 1979-1989. 
He has worked with the power trio Double Shot 
& progressive rock band Stone Cold during the 1990’s. 
After a short stint with the country music band 
Divided Highway in the year 2000, 
he played with the blues/rock group 
Rabbit Foot between 2001-2010. 
He was reunited with Don Vaccaro 
& returned to Crash Cadillac in 2012. 
Over the years, 
Jim has had the privilege of working with other 
musicians in WNY on a part time basis.  
Jim Is married to Debbie and has one daughter.

Davey Zobrist 
is an entertainer, 
born and raised in the Black Rock section of Buffalo. At 9 years old, Davey started trumpet lessons at Public School #79, and then went on to West Hertel Middle School to be the 1st chair Trumpet in the school band under "Band Leader" Paul Cecala, where he also learned to play the French Horn.  Once he entered high school (Riverside HS), he continued his musical education by learning to read music, as well as learning and understanding music theory.  Davey started his 1st band at 13 Years old with 3 friends.  Then, in 1979, at the age of 17 he joined the US Navy and performed with a band aboard the USS Lexington.  Davey toured with the original Twister himself, Chubby Checker, giving him years of experience on the road, across the US and abroad. 

In the 90's, Davey was co-founder of the Buffalo Band "Renegade" which eventually went on to become Davey Z & the Renegades. In 2013, after a 14 year run, Davey Z & the Renegades dissolved and Davey joined up with former members of a band called Powerplay, in addition to being a co-founder of Mid Life Crisis.  Mid Life Crisis went on to play together successfully on a local level around WNY. In the past, 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010, Davey organized and put together several Make a Wish Benefits, to help raise money for the MAW foundation of WNY and also worked with the crew of 97 Rock during the MAW Radiothon in Buffalo.  Davey is a BMA nominee, married to Shawn, has 4 children & 10 grandkids. Davey is definitely a family man with a great mom, and several nieces and nephews.

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