Local Organization Turns Kids into Rock Stars

At 15, Tony Busey can’t buy a drink at Greenwich Village’s famed Webster Hall, but he’s already headlined there, thanks to a Pelham-based arts organization.

Since the 90s, Pelham's Youth Arts Forum has sought out precocious artists to usher into the SoHo’s bright lights. Completely self-funded, founder Barry Salottolo sees his organization as a critical opportunity for youngsters, throughout the country, who don’t have enough artistic outlets at school.

“It's something that they need,” said Salottolo, a former public school teacher. “You would have less kids killing themselves and feeling bad about themselves, if they had a way to express themselves.”

Salottolo peruses hundreds of videos on YouTube to find young musical talent that deserves to be featured on a more prominent stage. By hooking up with the Youth Arts Forum, these bands get a break without investing in costly agents, publicists and producers.

Hailing from Jackson, MO, teenage rock band VonAmp is one such crew that was able to skip from jamming in a barn, to playing out in New York City.

“When we first started posting on YouTube, we just thought it was cool thing,” Busey remarked. “We never thought someone in New York would be looking at our music.”

But Salottolo wasn’t just checking out their music, he was compiling a list of seven acts to perform at his October “Kids Helping Kids” concert at Webster Hall. This event--which costs about $5,000 to execute--has a two-fold mission. Salottolo brings young musicians together to learn from one another’s styles, and donates the proceeds to help feed homeless kids.

“What I love about a concert like this is that people are in disbelief at who’s playing,” Salottolo said. “They sound like old bands. The expression is priceless. It’s something that’s really special.

So when VonAmp—who draws its inspiration from the likes of Led Zeppelin, Motley Crue and Poison—got they call to play at Webster Hall, the four teenagers did what any record-deal seeking group would do. They packed up into a 12-person van and made the 22-hour trek to New York City.

“All the famous artists were all over the walls. You feel like you’re walking in their footsteps,” remarked Taylor Barrett, 18, the band’s lead guitarist. “You’re standing on stage playing and just, boom, you’re going from here to that level. You ask yourself if it’s real.”

In between major events, Salottolo keeps the organization’s momentum going by alternating the monthly featured artist on the YAF website and inviting musicians to record in a studio in River Bank, NJ. And while the musicians span the country—from Glen Rock, NJ to Jackson, MO—Salottolo strategically picked Pelham as his home base.

“Pelham is a very artsy town,” Salottolo said, “that's why I chose Pelham.”