The Exact Change was formed as a four piece ensemble in the summer of 1967 as a vehicle to finance my college education as I completed my active duty in the US Army reserve. I was teaching Guitar and other string instruments at Gallucci music studio in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The Exact Change band met with immediate success and secured its place in northeast PA’s musical elite.
The horn section “The BAD ASS BRASS” was added in 1978 as a way to play songs from Chicago, Blood Sweat and Tears, and Earth Wind and Fire.
During the course of my career, exact change is still playing concerts, corporate events and weddings in Northeast Pennsylvania, New York, Philadelphia, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware.
During the past years I have played with and conducted for or arranged for Henry Youngman (comic) , Cab Calloway, The Shirelles, the Temptations, Frankie Valli, The Four Seasons, Neil Sedaka, Del Shannon, and a host of others.
The Exact Change also had the privilege of performing for President Ronald Reagan and Governor Robert Casey at both inaugural celebrations in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1987 and 1991.
In 2010 I formed the foundation “Rock on Judy H.” for my niece, Judy Perry Hartridge, who died of cancer at a very young age. Through music and friends we raised just shy of $250,000 for the NRCI, (Northeast regional Cancer Institute), in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Seven concerts later in 2022 reached our monetary goal. In 2017, I received the spirit of Hope award for our contribution to cancer.
The core members of the Exact Change band include “The BAD ASS BRASS” section, including Gary Rixner (Trombone and lead vocals), Dan Coyle (trumpet, flugal horn), Jim Buckley (alto, tenor, baritone, sax and flute), Tony Vergnetti (lead vocals),Fawn Mukherjee( lead vocals), and Patrick Marcinko (drums and percussion). Members of the full 13 piece band are the finest musicians from the Northeast PA area and the Poconos.
Education
1970 bachelor of science degree, University of Scranton,
1974 MBA major concentration management finance
Studied advanced musical theory with David Kern
US Army reserve veteran (rank specialist 6), Honorable Discharge in 1971