SURROUNDED BY MUSIC...

...his whole life, Dale has been influenced by, and exposed to, many music styles. This has helped to make Dale into the diverse, professional drummer that he is today.
At a young age Dale began to realize that so many people he was acquainted with, young and old, friends and family, were musicians or vocalists. His father, Joe Stradiot, played drums and sang in a popular Cleveland polka band. Besides watching his dad’s band practice and perform, one of Dale’s favorite childhood memories includes actually playing drums with his dad on a popular local TV show, ”Polka Varieties”. While only eleven and twelve years old at the time, this was a great early lesson in becoming a precision drummer and band member.


IN THE BEGINNING...
First playing polkas and waltzes, Dale then learned fox trots, rumbas, sambas, big band, show band and eventually the sound that would become his passion, “rock-n-roll”. He taught himself to play “rock” by continuously lifting and setting down a record player needle on an album, over and over again for hours, until he mastered each segment of a song. As Dale’s ear for detail and talent developed, it didn’t go unnoticed. Various musicians, some much older than he, began requesting that he play with them. While still in grade school and junior high, playing weddings, graduations, anniversaries, bar-mitzvahs, and private parties was common. This young drummer was hooked when he realized he could actually earn money doing what he loved!


DALE WAS SOLD OUT...
to making his passion, his love for playing drums and making music, his professional life! He was committed to developing and mastering various “rock” styles, and broadening his base. He began playing with “British Invasion”, “Motown”, “Chicago”, and “Blood Sweat and Tears” style bands.
By his high school years the rock scene was growing, and so was Dale’s passion to be immersed in it. From the early to late 1970’s, Dale enjoyed playing with several very good friends in one of the most popular bands in Cleveland, Ohio at the time. “Jasper” was a top draw in the local and regional music scene, including the legendary “Agora Ballroom”. The band performed at all Agora clubs in Ohio, The Richfield Coliseum, and many other entertainment venues such as private parties, festivals, and amusement parks.


THE 70'S AND 80'S...
From the late 70’s to the mid 80’s, Dale played with bands such as Opera, Artist, Pincher Martin, and Flexi-Digit. Along with a songwriter friend, he traveled to LA and NYC several times, shopping and showcasing songs to record companies. Dale had the good fortune to meet with recording industry icons such as Ray Manzarek of The Doors, and legendary record producer Clive Davis, who “likened his studio work to that of a drum machine”.
Dale has also had the privilege to open for, and actually play with such talent as, The Monkees, Grass Roots, Del Shannon, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, Tommy James, The Raspberries, Eric Carmen, Patti Smith, Player, Donna Summer, Missing Persons, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley.


AND THE BEAT GOES ON...

Dale’s love of music and passion for playing drums is not, and has never been, just a pastime. It’s defines who he is! He believes, “There are a lot of people who play instruments, but very few who know how to make music”. He feels “extremely blessed to have been able to play with such talented individuals during his career; some whose names may not be instantly recognized, but whose talent is equally as great as the ones who are”.
The respect and admiration is returned for it’s been said of him, “Dale is versatile, passionate, and in full command of the drums. He is able to play anything we give him, and he’s a delight to work with also.”

Dale resides in an eastern suburb of Cleveland, Ohio with his wife of 25 years and their two children. Along with managing his own business, he still loves working with close friends choosing and arranging songs and performing music that resonates with all people; Beatles, Country, Motown, Big Band, Southern Rock, Worship, Orchestral and of course, Rock-n-Roll! Most recently, he has reunited with old friends from “Jasper” and is playing with “Ricky and the Rockets”.