Crimson Rose

Before Dead Center at Garcia’s at The Cap, Westchester Country was the home to the longest running Grateful Dead Night in the country at the Fore n Aft in White Plains. Some of the greatest musicians in the Deadhead world graced the stage playing the music of the Grateful Dead. Those musicians would later on become members of DSO, God Street Wine, Stella Blue’s Band, and BRO. Going to Dead night at ‘The Aft was a right of passage in Westchester County. The band that dominated the scene there was Crimson Rose. For 8 of the 17 years, Crimson Rose and its successor High Time (Which featured members of CRB) played to a full house every summer.

Crimson Rose was a very young band when it started playing clubs in Westchester. Not only were the band members not old enough to drink, (When the drinking age was 18) they were too young to drive. Their musicianship belied their age. Jonathan Koerner was a shredder, his twin brother Greg equal to the task on Bass. Doug Grean was a creative counterpart. David Hickey a soulful blues vocalist reminiscent of a young Gregg Allman at his peak. Marc LoPonte gave the band strong vocals and harmonies, Avram Lavinsky skillful on the keys and Ron Sassone and Rich Baker were the band’s solid double drummers.

One of the highlights of the bands career was a legendary Jorma Kaukonen show at the Fore n Aft largest crowd in its 36 years operating as a rock club. Over 600 people crammed into the 200 seat club for a Jorma Acoustic show with Crimson Rose as the opener. Towards the end of Crimson Rose’s electric set a 40 something year old Jorma Kaukonen hopped onstage with an electric guitar and started jamming with the band of teenagers from Rye. Instead of leaving after a song or two Jorma kept the set going leading the band through some Hot Tuna songs, then ending with a rousing version of Jefferson Airplane’s Volunteers. Shortly after the CRB and Jorma left the stage, the Fore n Aft was raided by Fire Marshals who made everyone leave, and reenter before they would allow the show to go on. It’s the stuff of legend.

Crimson Rose’s popularity was no fluke. Members of the band continued in the music world long after the band broke up.

Guitarist Doug Grean is a noted Los Angeles producer who was a long time collaborator with Scott Weiland. Doug can be heard on recordings of Velvet Revolver, Sheryl Crow and Stone Temple Pilots among others, he’s appeared on the Grammy’s, Jimmy Kimmel, Howard Stern, Jay Leno, AXS-TV among others; He played with Slash, Stevie Wonder, Steven Tyler and a bunch of other Rock n Roll A-listers. His current jamband project is Saturn Returns.

Bass Player Greg Koerner has been juggling a life as a Father, practicing attorney and touring musician. He was Vince Welnick’s (Tubes, Grateful Dead) Bass player after the Grateful Dead broke up, Briefly played bass for Dark Star Orchestra, tours regularly with Charles Neville, and worked with Garth Hudson and Kenny Brooks among others.

Avram Lavinsky was a founding member of the Bill Graham presents band Dreamspeak, and can be heard on a Blue’s Traveller record, and has collaborated and recorded with John Popper. He has released a solo album and plays honky tonk at small clubs while raising a family.

Marc LoPonte remained active after Crimson Rose joining High Time, and the Lost Highway Ramblers. He was music director at WFUV and a DJ at Westchester’s 107.1. He returned to the NY area after living in Cambridge, MA for many years. He’s best known as vocalist in Stella Blue’s Band.

Crimson Rose has not played a music club in over a decade. Their last club reunion show was in 2001.