Rockin' Ocala for 25 years: One Flight Up celebrates with a concert on Feb. 10
Tracy Parks gives local classic rock band One Flite Up two thumbs up.“They’re awesome,” said Parks, a former federal government office administrator from New Mexico. Parks has heard the group a number of times at Charlie Horse bar and grill in Ocala and said when One Flite Up is playing at that venue, she will be there. This year marks 25 years One Flite Up has been “Rockin’ Central Florida” with favorites like “Green River” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, “All Right Now” by Free and gentler sounds like “I’ll Be Around” by the Spinners.The group also plays the classic “Can’t Buy Me Love” in the style of the Beatles along with more current hits like “Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton.The band has played venues from the Jockey Club in Ocala, Light Up Ocala and the HITS horse show. It also has played the House of Blues in Orlando, the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee and opened for the rock group Kansas, known for hits including “Dust in the Wind.”
Parks said the band members are “excellent musicians” and interact with the audience like “family.”
“(The band members) are down to earth and they take time to mingle,” Parks said.
Cindy Critchfield and Denzil Cormican have both heard One Flite Up play.“We love them (and) they play good dance music,” Critchfield. Both remarked on the variety of genres, quickly shifted and played well by the band. Glenn O’Connor, 67, a founding member, plays rhythm and lead guitar for One Flite Up. O’Connor, a representative with Pfizer Inc., was at a music event in Kissimmee in 1999 which involved “jammin’” with a friend who told him “you need to start a band.” He took the advice and contacted the other original members.
O’Connor attributes the longevity of the group to a mix of personalities who “like each other” and “no drama.”
Founding member Kenny Thomas, 71, an Ocala native, retired from the commercial refrigeration industry. He plays rhythm and lead guitar for One Flite Up.
Thomas said the group held many early practices in a member’s second floor office and the band’s name came from holding practice sessions one flight up.
Thomas said the band members have a positive chemistry.
“We like each other (and) we feed off each other while we are playing,” he said.
Thomas said some years ago the group was playing a circuit along with an established country and western performer who gave an opportunity for the group to move into full time performing but the members didn’t follow up on the offer.
One Flite Up vocalist Craig Frazee, 67, who also plays guitar and harmonica, joined the group soon after it was founded.
Frazee is a native of the area and has sung at First Presbyterian Church of Fairfield. He recently retired after 23 years as facilities manager with Radiology Associates of Ocala. Mark Pollera, founding member and drummer for One Flite Up, left the group after a couple years and moved to Pittsburgh. He maintained regular contact with fellow members and rejoined the band about two years ago.
Pollera has ties to the equine industry and works with Johnson & Johnson.
Mark Shelnutt, former state prosecutor here from 1980 to 1984 and private practice attorney here since, handles bass guitar for One Flite Up. He joined the band in October 2023.
The band’s members share a basis in Christian faith. Thomas called faith a “cornerstone.”
One Flite Up has played benefit sessions for the local American Heart Association and other organization over the years.
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Shelnutt said people who hear the band‘s offerings already know the lyrics.
“That’s why they call it classic rock,” he said.
If you can go
What: One Flite Up: Rockin’ Central Florida for 25 years
When: Feb. 10, 7 to 11 p.m.
Where: Charlie Horse, 2426 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: One Flight Up will play on Feb. 10, celebrating 25 years of rocking
