Gail Caruso joins Simply Shania
By:Alec Moore
Simply Shania, the critically acclaimed Shania Twain tribute band, has toured the world and performed before thousands overseas, but this year the New Jersey based pop-country music group will be performing much closer to home.
The group will kick off their concert schedule for the spring-summer season on Sunday when the band performs at Fort Dix in Bordentown.
Although that show will be limited to the troops and their families stationed at the military base, local area residents can catch any number of upcoming shows the group will be doing throughout New Jersey.
In addition to a new show for this year, based on Shania Twain’s new hit album "Up," the group has taken on some new band members including fiddler, and Hillsborough resident Gail Caruso.
Ironically enough, Ms. Caruso’s addition to the band strengthens the group’s connection to the town. Valerie Hnasko, the lead singer and star of Simply Shania, grew up in Hillsborough and graduated from Hillsborough High School.
"Gail is a delight to work with," said Ms. Hnasko. "She brings positive energy and enthusiasm to the band, not only is her attitude a tremendous asset, but she’s also a very serious and dedicated musician and it shows in her fiddle playing."
For Ms. Caruso, becoming a part of Simply Shania, is a dream come true.
"I’m honored to be working with such an outstanding group of musicians," Ms. Caruso said. "So far the experience has been challenging but very rewarding."
While Ms. Caruso has received acclaim as a classical violinist she says fiddle music has always been her true passion.
"When I was eight I picked up my grandfather’s violin for the first time and almost managed to play an actual tune," she said.
That virtuoso moment compelled Ms. Caruso to take up classical violin, a decision that would ultimately shape the course of her future as a talented and gifted musician. Throughout her classical training though, Ms. Caruso always had a passion for fiddle music. Although a fiddle and violin are essentially the same instrument, there is a sharp difference between a "fiddler" and a "violinist."
Ms. Caruso noted that it was after hearing the fiddle riffs in the classic, and unmistakable, Charlie Daniel’s song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," that her love of fiddle music was born.
"I’ve always loved the sound of fiddle music and I’ve always loved playing fast," she said, adding that she has especially taken a liking to playing the amplified electric fiddle that she will use when performing with Simply Shania.
Outside of her new role with the country-pop music group, Ms. Caruso is an elementary music teacher, specializing in stringed instruments, in the Franklin Township schools.
"I very much enjoy sharing my talents and I hope to be an inspiration to my students," she said.
Ms. Caruso, who has lived in Hillsborough since 1995, is a native of Rockaway. After graduating from Morris Hills High School, she went on to Montclair State University where she studied the violin under New York Philharmonic musician Oscar Ravina and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education.
Last year, Simply Shania completed several overseas tours to military bases in Japan and the Balkan states in Europe and this year the group can be seen performing in Jackson, Millstone Township in Monmouth County, Berkley Heights and Strausstown, Pa. The group will also be performing at Duke Island Park in Bridgewater on July 13.
For specific information on show times and exact locations, check out Simply Shania’s Web site at www.simplyshania.com. For booking information, call (732) 777-1061 or e-mail the group at shania@optonline.net.