‘Rainycrest Rascals’ get ready for another Christmas performance

Their name may not be familiar to many around here but the “Rainycrest Rascals” have been entertaining hundreds of people for the past three decades.
Originally founded in 1970 by Art DeBenedet, Joey Ossachuk, Arnie Lahti, Angelo Dittaro, and Cliff Peterson, the group has been playing a wide range of music for the residents of Rainycrest Home for the Aged here once every month for the last 30 years.
“Before we joined as a group, the musicians’ union used to pay performers to entertain,” noted Dittaro. “Me and some of the other guys would perform around the town, playing at barn dances and other family events.
“Then one day, we decided to get together and we agreed to play once every month at Rainycrest,” he added.
Comprised of two guitarists, two accordion players, and one drummer, the band has enjoyed entertaining people at the home over the years although Dittaro isn’t sure how much longer they will be able to continue.
“We are all volunteers, there are no strings attached,” he noted. “We have had a lot of changes take place, what with a number of our members passing away.
“It is getting harder and harder to get together due to our age, and it is also very hard to get out there,” he said. “But we are going to go as long as we can, or until we can find a group to replace us.”
Given the name “The Rainycrest Rascals” from a resident of the home, the group has never missed an opportunity to perform for their grateful audience.
“We usually play there every fourth Wednesday of the month,” Dittaro said. “The seniors at the home just love the music we play because it is the kind they grew up with.
We play fox-trots, jive, and even some polka,” he remarked. “We usually concentrate on music from the 40s, 50s, and 60s–that was when music was music.”
One of the highlights is the wheelchair dance that’s held at the home for those seniors unable to dance to the jazzy sounds of the band.
“At the wheelchair dance, the seniors are rolled around to the music,” Dittaro noted. “They really enjoy that a lot because it gives them a chance to dance along with the other people who come each month to dance to the music.”
Due to the age of most of the members, Dittaro has decided it’s time to give the group a bit of publicity–something he has never done before.
“I have never asked for anything that wasn’t entitled to me,” he confessed. “But I think that 90 percent of the population does not know we even exist.
“It is unfortunate really. The town is always honouring one group or another, and we never get mentioned,” he said. “I am only mentioning it now because I am hoping people will join our group so we can keep entertaining the seniors at Rainycrest.”
The Rainycrest Rascals will be holding their annual Christmas party and dance there tonight starting at 7 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
For more information about joining the band, contact Dittaro at 274-6292.