Everything you never wanted to know about Jef (and then some)
Disclaimer
Please realize that the following information is subject to my memory as it is. And my memory is subject to years of beer shows and too many parties to count. So, if I've missed something, someone or gotten info incorrect, please forgive me.
In the Beginning
I was born in upstate New York and lived in a little town called Kerhonkson. Yes, I know, it sounds like one of those tiny little towns with one post office and a general store. But it wasn't really quite that bad. My father was a manager at The Granite Hotel and Resort up in the Catskills. Some of you may recognize the name from way back when the big names in entertainment were Norm Crosby, Rip Taylor, Phyllis Diller, etc. I have memories of Rip Taylor and visiting the home of Neil Sedaka and playing with his kids.
I guess I should start with my parents. As I said, my dad was in the hotel industry but, he got his start as a crooner with big bands in Miami. I actually have some news articles with girls swarming around him, trying to get his autograph. He was born in Cleveland but I guess moved as a teen to Miami. He also cut a couple of demo records that I still have.
'In other words' -'28MB.wav,'2MB.rm(Real Media),'132KB.ra(Real Audio)
'No moon at all' -21MB .wav','2MB.rm(Real Media),100KB .ra(Real Audio)
I'm sorry if this 'bio' is a little jumbled. I'm just typing as things come to mind as I would in a conversation. My High school composition teacher would have a cow!
Anyway, Dick Hall, my father, or dad as we'll call him here, met my mother at a nightclub where he was singing and she was dancing. Which brings us to dear ol' mom.
Yolanda Di Salvio was a professional dancer and instructor. Born in Montreal, Canada, she had a bit of wanderlust unlike her 8 siblings. (I think that's the right number) She came from a big Italian family that took up residence in Canada. I've got so much family in Canada' Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, 2nd Cousins, I can barely keep track of all of them. But they are the coolest! I couldn't ask for a more loving and generous family. I just wish I could visit them more often.
The time after my parents met is a little bit unknown to me until they got married, had me and settled down in upstate New York. My father worked at the Granite for several years while my mom played homemaker as far as I remember. When I was 7 my parents moved to St. Petersburg, Florida. When I was 8 I found them.
Hopefully you're laughing right now, 'cuz that last sentence was a joke.
Actually, my father brought us to Florida for a hotel management job. Moving to Florida was great for my dad since his family was living in St. Pete too. Which brings us to my dad's only brother, which spawned 3 more cousins for me to try to keep track of. I think the move might have been a little harder on my mom since she was so close to her family up north.
Ok'so lets see' I'm living in Florida, 7 years old and starting school. Bored yet?? (I am) I never really liked school much. I always preferred hanging with friends, playing or using my imagination in some way. I always had an interest in how things worked. I had a habit of dismantling things around the house and never put them back together. A habit my parents never grew to love. I do think it's the reason why I'm so handy now though. It's also why I eventually got a degree in electronics and computer engineering technology. (Boy, am I putting that to good use!)
