Art started Square Dancing in 1976 at the age of 12 at the “Teen Travelers” in Lowell, Ma. He graduated in June of 1977 the week after graduation their caller Phil Kandrut held an amateur caller night. Knowing this was coming up Art taped Phil’s calling, studied it for hours and memorized it exactly.The night of the dance Art got up and did the singing call he studied (Send Her Roses) verbatim to what Phil did on the tape. Phil was so impressed that he let Art do another later that night.
Art’s mom and dad, who were in attendance at the time, were so excited they contacted their caller who had an old sound system for sale and bought it for Art as a present. Less than four months later, at the ripe old age of 13, Art did his first solo dance – a father and daughter dance for the Girl Scouts of New Hampshire (which he did every year till 1991).
Square Dance Calling Timeline
1976 Started learning Square Dancing at Maverick Squares in Tewksbury, MA
1976 Marverick Squares folded in November so moved to Teen Travelers’ class in Lowell, MA
1977 Graduated Plus at Teen Travelers
1977 Called first Singing call “Send Her Roses” at an amateur callers night at Teen Travelers.
1977 First calling job a Father and Daughters Girl-Scouts dance
1980 Attended callers school at “East Hill Farm” in Troy NH with Al Brundage & Earl Johnston.
1980 Called his first ‘solo’ club level dance at the “Depot Squares” in Shirley Ma.
1982 Became club caller for the “Twirling TNT’s” teen club in Manchester, NH
1985 Meets his future wife Amy while attending a TNT’s dance that he wasn’t even calling for.
1986 Amy and Art got married and of course Art called a square dance tip at the reception (click here to see the video)
1988 Became club caller for the “Two Hearts as One” in Gardener, MA
1988 Became club caller for the “Spindle City Squares” in Lowell, MA
1991 Art’s day job moved him to Maryland. He and Amy settled down in Hagerstown Maryland
1992 Became club caller for the “Gateway Swingers” in Frederick, MD were he was their caller until they folded in 1998.
1997 Became club caller for the “Gad-Abouts” in Hagerstown, MD and he is still their caller.
2000 Called at his first National Convention in Baltimore, MD.
2012 Recorded his first singing call “Hip To Be Square” on Alter-Ego Recordings and in 2013 he recorded “The Way” also on Alter-Ego.
2015 Begin recording with Gold Rush Records with the singing call “The Living Years” and in 2016 “Love Song”
2016 Founded “Art’s Stars” Advanced Club
2017 Celebrated his 40th Anniversary of calling with a surprise “This is Your Life” Dance/Party at the “Gad-Abouts”
2018 Begin recording on SDBob Recordings and is still on recording on that label
2018 First National Calling trip calling in Houston Texas then in 2019 to both Houston and Austin Texas.
Art and Amy have two adult children: Sondra who was born in 1988 & Randy who was born in 1990 and two grandchildren Oliver and Sam.