Posthumous Honor Bestowed Upon Legendary Oswego Rocker
By Tom and Jerry Caraccioli
“He had a presence about him,” former Barry James Band and current Frostbit Blue drummer John Bletch said as he describes his friend and former bandmate.
“He also was one of Oswego’s greatest musicians and nicest people you would ever want to meet. All the bands starting out in Oswego at that time looked up to the Barry James Band.”
Local legendary musician Barry James McCaffrey headlined the list of this year’s inductees into the Oswego Music Hall of Fame when he posthumously received the Joseph P. Spereno Hall of Fame Award in ceremonies that took place at the Oswego Elks Club on March 23.
Established in 2017, the Oswego Music Hall of Fame honors local musicians “who have kept Oswego dancing, singing and smiling for years.” McCaffrey, the renowned singer-songwriter and leader of the Barry James Band, becomes the eighth local musician honored with the Joseph P. Spereno Hall of Fame Award.
He was among 47 other musicians, teachers, technical people and bands recognized by the Hall of Fame for their dedication and love of providing entertainment and music in the Port City.
Beginning in 1975 as Mind’s Eye, Barry, his younger brother, Tommy, bassist Tim Smith, drummer Scott Columbus (later, of heavy metal “Manowar” fame) and keyboardist-singer Bill Feeney evolved into the Barry James Band featuring a melodic rock-style that the band is still remembered for today.
Fifty years later, McCaffrey’s music continues to be heard when Bletch and his mates introduce original BJB songs including “Lake Ontario Twilight,” “West Seneca St Theme” and “Elevator,” to the delight of the knowingly enthusiastic crowds.
“Oswego somehow became a special place in the musical world,” Tom McCaffrey said. “With the level of talent and what was happening with all the different bands, we were all inspired to play like the people we saw. Barry was a big part of it back in the ‘70s.”
Founding member and president of the Oswego Music Hall of Fame Nancy Spereno sees it as a way of remembering parts of peoples’ lives that may have otherwise been forgotten.
“All musicians give parts of their lives up performing to make people happy,” Spereno said. “They never seem to get the recognition or thanks they deserve. We wanted to make sure that all the musicians that entertained us would be remembered in our little musical history and not be forgotten.”
The Oswego Music Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization that was created to celebrate the rich music traditions of Oswego. Funds raised through ticket sales of the annual Oswego Music Hall of Fame Induction event provide life-changing opportunities to children who might not otherwise have the chance to “scratch a creative itch” that develops as a youngster.
The organization endows scholarships for area high school seniors wanting to pursue careers in music (the prestigious Joseph P. Spereno Scholarship), finances student lessons at Oswego County music schools, fund the purchase of musical instruments for local elementary school-aged children and classes and honors the musical talent of area musicians.
“The Hall of Fame recognition is a way of giving back to local musicians after all the years they have, some very unselfishly, contributed and performed to make people happy,” Hall of Fame treasurer and board member Melissa Klefbeck said. “This is really the heart of what we’re doing.”
Like other legendary musicians of a bygone era, the end of McCaffrey’s life came to an end too soon. The Barry James Band founder and leader died in a tragic car accident in 1984 at 30 years old. More than 40 years later, McCaffrey receives the musical recognition all of his Oswego peers thought he had already been awarded.
“The Hall of Fame is so wonderful for the community,” Tom McCaffrey said. “I do believe Barry deserves this honor. His songwriting was unique. Around this area if you say the title, Lake Ontario Twilight, many, many people know the song. He touched this musical community in a special way that is still being felt today.”
Along with McCaffrey, other 2025 Hall of Fame inductees included: Dam Dog, Joseph P. Spereno Award; Mike Shiel, Entertainment Award; Dirtroad Ruckus, Entertainment Award; James J. Dillabough, Enrichment Award; Pat Hillman, Enrichment Award and Joe Trionfero, Educator Award.
Tom and Jerry Caraccioli are freelance writers originally from Oswego, who have co-authored two books: “STRIKING SILVER: The Untold Story of America’s Forgotten Hockey Team” and “BOYCOTT: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.”