JoAnn, a Niagara Falls native, has been the secretary for the Niagara Falls Music Hall of Fame since 2017. After serving 30 years as a full-time training and office manager in the US Air Force Reserves at Niagara Falls Air Base, she retired in 2014.

 

Since then, she has dedicated much of her time tenaciously promoting area musicians and hosting music events in the city of Niagara Falls. As president of the LaSalle High School Alumni Association, she and her team have resurrected THE REC dances, which were popular music venues for teenagers in the 60’s and 70’s, and also hosts the annual Lovin’ LaSalle Music Festival held every summer.

 

She has a passion for music that may very well come from her family background. Her paternal grandparents were a violinist and pianist who performed with orchestras and symphonies throughout the United States and Europe.

 

Her father was a professional trumpet player in the 40’s, who also played all over the world with the US Army Band during WWII and also with Red Norvo’s jazz band.  Proud of her family’s musical heritage, JoAnn is delighted to be a part of the Niagara Falls Music Hall of Fame Board of Directors by offering her managerial experience and computer skills.

 

Giving back to the community where she was born and raised is very important to her.  She currently lives in Amherst, New York with her husband Howard.