Oneonta’s Muller Plaza is home to the brand-new Al Gallodoro Memorial Stage.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 21 honored the musician and his legacy before a small crowd of onlookers and many members of his extended family.
Kevin Wood is a grandson of Gallodoro. He spearheaded an online fundraising campaign that kick-started design of the stage named after his grandfather. Wood said, “Congratulations, Oneonta. You are home to the greatest woodwind player that ever lived.”
Gallodoro mastered three instruments. He played the alto saxophone, clarinet and bass clarinet. His professional career spanned more than nine decades. He performed for nearly six decades in New York City. He came to Oneonta in 1981 and spent the last 27 years of his life playing at local venues.
“My grandfather taught music at both colleges (Hartwick and SUNY Oneonta),” said Alison Gallodoro Koprowski, one of his granddaughters who has lived in Oneonta for 40 years.
“He was pegged as a jazz artist,” said Wood, but Gallodoro also performed classical music with orchestras under famous conductors including Leonard Bernstein. He shared the stage with legendary performers including George Gershwin, Bob Hope, Duke Ellington, Tommy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra and Milton Berle.
Wood shared personal highlights of his grandfather with the public.
Alfred J. Gallodoro’s parents were immigrants from Sicily who settled in Chicago. They named him Fortunato Gallodoro.
Wood said Gallodoro only completed the sixth grade. “He was a musical savant,” Wood said. “He started playing clarinet at seven years old. He never studied music. He was self-taught.”
Gallodoro went to work at the age of 13 and performed continuously until his death at age 95 on Oct. 4, 2008. He married at 15 years old. His wife was born in New Orleans.
“I knew Al since I was a little girl. I took clarinet lessons from him and played throughout high school,” Koprowski said.
“I think he would be so honored,” Koprowski said. “It would really warm his heart to see all these people come together to celebrate him.”
Gallodoro was born June 20, 1913. The stage was built in time to honor his birthday. “He would have been 112 years old as of yesterday,” Wood said.
Wood said the entire process from concept to completion of construction took three years. He suggested the idea to Mayor Mark Drnek over a beer in downtown Oneonta.
Wood’s mother, Alice Gallodoro, was Al’s “biggest supporter,” said Wood. She was one of the “super donors” who gave $1,000 to get the project started. She passed away on April 12 and did not get to see its completion.
Joanne Gallodoro is Al’s only living sibling. She, too, gave $1,000 toward the project.
The stage is designed after a “beautiful marquee in New Orleans,” said its architect, Andrew Thomas. Thomas said he designed it with three goals in mind. The first goal is to honor Gallodoro and his legacy. The second goal is to help revitalize downtown Oneonta. The third goal is to invite people to enjoy the stage as a pergola when performances are not in session.
“It is a real privilege to work on this project,” Thomas said. The intention is to celebrate the life and legacy of Gallodoro every year on his birthday.
“Al was my great-grandfather. Kevin Wood is my uncle,” said Dan Wood. “At 95 years old, Al had an entire year of gigs set up when he passed away. He was a really awesome dude.”
Former Oneonta mayor John Nader said, “I met Al when he moved to Oneonta. He was quite a fixture on the local music scene. I cannot think of a better artist to name this stage after.”
Michael Gallodoro, another grandson who lives in Richmondville, said, “My grandfather taught me to play the trumpet. It was a little intimidating playing for him.”
Traci Gallodoro, Michael’s wife, said,” He came and gave his great-granddaughter (Keira Gallodoro) music lessons since the fifth grade.”
Wood said, “He was a perfectionist. He practiced six hours per day and sometimes 12 hours per day.” Wood estimated that his grandfather spent more than 300,000 hours playing his instruments.
JoAnn Chmielowski, Gallodoro’s manager, friend and pianist, was at the event to participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Joseph Campbell Jr. who grew up in Oneota and knew Gallodoro for more than 30 years, now lives in Lexington, Massachusetts. He said, “My father, Joe Campbell Sr., who passed in 2019, was one of Al’s greatest friends. We visited Oneonta every chance we got and the visits were often punctuated by going to Cathedral Farms, Christopher’s or Main St. Oneonta to hear Al and his friends play — often as a duet with JoAnn Chmielowski or a quintet.
“I first met Al at his sister Alice’s home in about 1987 for Al’s birthday party, where he played brilliantly and with intense feeling with his friends and grandson Kevin. The music was incredible and that’s when I realized Oneonta had a true virtuoso — the triple threat, Al Gallodoro!”