(circa 1990)
1990 Bio
Ruby and Charlie, The Happy Faces, are a two piece group that sounds like four! They are a dance band, a show band, a cocktail party and/or luncheon music band but most of all, they are a FUN band. Their repertoire spans 60 years of musical styles from big band to the latest line dance and is programmed for each engagement to provide just the right atmosphere and variety.
Ruby sings in the style of Karen Carpenter, Toni Tennile and Rosemary Clooney. She plays a Roland RD-200 Digital piano which is MIDIed to an Oberheim Matrix 6R synth module. Her keyboards provide the harmonic and rythmic drive for The Happy Faces. Charlie provides the variety in the instrumental melodic section playing alto and tenor sax, Yamaha WX-11 wind synthesizer, harmonica and put's the bottom in the group witha a bass guitar.
Their sound is reproduced with a top quality Yamaha P.A. system. The final mix can be hooked directly into a house system if desired. Whether it's a gala new year's party with 500 or an intimate dinner party for 25, the sound and music always fits the occasion.
The Happy Faces have been working professionally as a group for 25 years and have a huge following in Florida and the Mid-West areas. They were chosen by Carnival Cruise Lines to play on the inaugural voyages of the “Holiday” cruise ship. The U.S. Navy flew them to Guantanimo Bay, Cuba twice to perform at their various clubs.
Happy Faces Productions is their recording studio where the duo has produced six of their own albums. The studio is quite busy doing audio and video production work for other musicians, ad agencies and area churches and businesses. HFP is also a cruise only CLIA travel agency and hundreds have been personnally escorted by Ruby and Charlie, cruising the Caribbean and Hawaii.
Ruby Massey is a graduate of Glenville State College, Glenville, WV and has taught music in the Florida and Ohio Schools for 11 years. Charlie Massey is also a graduate from Glenville State College and has a masters from Ball State University in Muncie, IN. He has taught in Florida and Ohio for 20 years.
CLICK FOR RUBY AND CHARLIE VIDEO (quicktime format)
"We retired the Happy Faces after
31 years, in 2003. Ruby went back
to singing in
church where I found
her
50 years ago....... haha
She sings tenor and solos a
few
times each year.
She also plays in
the
bell choir. "
Happy Faces Productions
Charlie's home page
Ruby sings with the PCC Band
Sadly, Charlie passed away on March 14th of 2012. He will be greatly missed.
CHARLIE
MASSEY, 73
Musician
WINTER HAVEN - Charlie Massey, 73 died March 14, 2012 of multiple causes.
Charlie was born September 13, 1938 in Glenville, W.Va. He was the son of Mr. & Mrs. J.J. Massey. He received an AB Degree from Glenville State College and a masters degree from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Charlie and Ruby met in college and were married December 21, 1957.
For many years Charlie was a band director in W.Va., Ohio and Florida.
Later Charlie and Ruby started a music duo called "THE HAPPY FACES". They played in many states and even Guantanamo Bay, Cuba at the military base. They were fortunate to play on a new cruise ship "THE HOLIDAY" for several months.
Charlie is survived by his wife Ruby; his daughter Debby Massey of Ft. Lauderdale; his three sisters Jeannie Conrad of Walker, W.Va., Letitia Dubusky of Lexington, Ohio, Willa Jane Loftis of Linn, W.Va. and one brother Jim Massey of New Matamoras, Ohio.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 27 at Hope Presbyterian Church located at 2110 Cypress Gardens Blvd. with Dr. Thomas McGrath officiating.
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