The Norsemen: Winners of The Essex County Fair Battle of the Bands 1967 or 1968

JOIN US ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 16TH FROM 5p.m. to 7p.m. for the Return of THE NORSEMAN to Essex County Fair to help commemorate our 160th year!


If anyone out there can remember this event, PLEESE feel free to comment.



The Norsemen ‘classic rock and roll’: Decades ago in the 1960’s, a local group of young men got together and formed a musical group that played extensively in the Plattsburgh, Altona, Mooers, Ellenburg, Westport and Ticonderoga area. Well known for their diverse selection of songs and brilliant three part vocal harmonies.
Mark Facteau was the percussionist/vocalist, very well known for his accomplishments as a performer for many other well known groups from the Plattsburgh area.
Serge Bouchard was the bass player/vocalist and went on to develop his talents as a solo performer, recording bass, keyboard and guitar passages and playing solo as “Lonestar” throughout the Plattsburgh area.
Terry Infante was the guitar player/vocalist and spent several years playing in various groups in the Lake George, Glens Falls and Saratoga area. He has also enjoyed performing as a guitar/vocal soloist in that same region.
After a thirty-six year break, The Norsemen have re-grouped and picked up where they left off. They’re back with the great harmonies, songs from the sixties, thru today and excited to play again for old friends and new.
Come join us !

In reminisce, I talked with Ernie Lapine and he told me that Serge Bouchard, as a one man band on keyboard, was one of the first entertainers to appear at Essex County Fair in the early 70's, when he was new as Essex County Fair Manager (to his credit of service, the early part of his 20 years in that position). Serge played under one of the buildings down the midway across from Egglefield Ford. Ernie said he can remember attending the Battle of the Bands contests and that it went on all night long.

Serge filled me in on the night they played and won the Battle of the Bands at Essex County Fair, though he was not sure of the year. Each band played for one hour and they were judged on their performance. The judge or one of the judges for their performance was drummer, Jerry Petterson from the band, Sam the Sham and The Pharoahs, who performed "Wooley Bulley. It just happened that "Wooley Bulley was one of the pieces the Norsemen played that evening. He could remember a couple of the bands they played against, a rock band from Ticonderoga and a band call the Penetrators. Serge thought The fairs Battle of The Bands contest lasted only four or five years at most from the mid to late 60's.
Serge, his brother, Pete (who played lead guitar and sang the fourth part of the harmony), Terry Mark played together until 1970 or 71. According to Serge's wife Pat, who is ecstatic they are playing Essex County Fair, "their harmonies are wonderful".