The Caliber Band returns once again to the WGAR Country Jam at Black River Landing in Lorain, Ohio on Saturday, August 6. The group is one of the area’s premier country cover bands and has been a staple at the annual country music event since 2010.
The group was originally formed as the house band at Mustang Salliz in Streetsboro. When that country club closed it’s doors, The Caliber Band stayed together and started to make larger strides in the local country music scene playing clubs all over Northeast Ohio.
The band has gone through some minor personnel changes, but the core of the group has been in place for quite a few years. John Ryan (lead guitar) and John Zimmerman (bass) were original members of the group since 2005. Bobby Lee (lead male vocals and rhythm guitar) was added shortly after. Mike Raines (drums) was added after that. Some of the changes occurred when the band saw veteran steel player Jerry Brightman leave in 2014 to focus on his Nashville gigs. Brightman had played with everyone in Music City including Buck Owens and on the TV show Hee Haw. Sadly, Brightman passed away last year.
One of the biggest changes for The Caliber Band came when Theresa Rose (who replaced original singer Michelle Campetelli), who had been the group’s lead female singer for five years decided to focus more time on her solo career earlier this year. The group, who is identifiable do their core vocal strength on both male and female songs, auditioned singer after singer without a good fit from any of the candidates. Instead, the band took on what was supposed to be a fill-in with Lisa Caito (known for her vocals with Victory Highway). Caito was to perform when she could, but the singer blended well with the group, so the band worked it out where both female singers would work with the band this year until they could get all of the scheduling straight and then she will take over full time.
“Caliber has been lucky to have such great female vocalists throughout the years. We are very pleased with having Lisa Caito as our female vocalist now,” Bobby Lee explained. “We are looking forward to putting together some new material with her and have already started working on shows for 2017.”
Caito will be performing with The Caliber Band at this year’s Country Jam for the first time. “I am honored and excited to be joining Caliber in this year’s Country Jam,” Caito stated. “I look forward to watching the 2016 line up! It will be one of this summers highlights for sure.”
The Caliber Band has a busy schedule all year long playing fairs, festivals and clubs all over Ohio. They are the regular opening act for all of the WGAR Afternoon Saloons, including the one on August 24 at Quaker Steak & Lube in Sheffield. They have opened for Trace Adkins, Canaan Smith and Cam, this year alone.
You can find out more about The Caliber Band, as well as their performance schedule on their Facebook page or at their website TheCaliberBand.com.
The Caliber Band will be performing at the WGAR Country Jam for the seventh time this year when they take the stage at Black River Landing in Lorain on Saturday, August 6.
Here is a video of their performance at the Stocker Arts Center earlier this year when The Caliber Band opened up for Trace Adkins.
