by Dawn Kane | Sep 26, 2025
From the snow-bound city of Buffalo, New York, born in Hamburg and raised on country and blues, Michael Hund still calls his mother “Ma” and speaks with an easy, cool softness. A true gentleman—and one intense guitarist—Michael became fascinated with the instrument at an early age.
After receiving his first guitar for his seventh birthday, he cut his teeth on the popular rock of the ’70s but soon felt the pull of the blues. His mother, a pedal-steel player in several local bands during the ’60s, encouraged him to explore not only the music of his own generation but also the country-blues tradition she loved. Michael quickly immersed himself in the sounds of Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed, then discovered Jeff Beck, which opened the door to the blues masters and the groundbreaking Jimi Hendrix.
The rest, as they say, is history!
In 1986, Michael moved to Los Angeles to earn the respect of the city’s top session players, performing on more than a thousand recording sessions and sharpening his skills along the Sunset Strip. A year later he became a steady studio musician, playing venues across the U.S. and signing a record deal with PolyGram Records.
Michael’s debut CD, GraFFiti, showcases searing guitar riffs and soulful, deep-rooted vocals. His influences are unmistakable, yet he’s evolved into a style all his own—a high-octane mix of blues, southern rock, funk, R&B/soul, and country. A typical GraFFiti show offers something for everyone: original songs and inspired covers, from a twangy Jeff Beck tune to a jam-heavy Allman Brothers classic to a hard-driving Janis Joplin number, complete with Michael’s signature theatrics—screaming solos played with his teeth and behind his back.
Honors and milestones followed. In 1992, Michael became the youngest artist ever inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. After the birth of his son that same year, he returned to Hamburg from Beverly Hills and embarked on worldwide tours from 1993 to 2007.
In 2007 he signed with CMG Records in Nashville, releasing an instrumental and vocal album that quickly sold out. By 2012 he was sharing the stage with legendary vocalist Derek St. Holmes (Ted Nugent). The following year he joined the backing band for Appice Drum Wars and became part of the Texas Guitar Army alongside Hexx Henderson, Pat Travers, Danny B. Harvey, and Kirk Harper.
Michael continued to expand his collaborations: in 2018 he joined a supergroup with Jessie Galante, and in 2019 his original band, Von Hund, began making waves in the music community. In 2020 he became part of the Classic Rock Allstars with members of Talas, Foreigner, Lou Gramm, and Black Sheep. Most recently, in July 2024, he appeared in Guitar World magazine.
Truly, Michael Hund is the kind of guitarist who must be seen!
by Dawn Kane | Sep 26, 2025
Larry served as Executive Chairman for The New Home Company, a position he transitioned to in September 2019 after 10 years as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. He co-founded NEW HOME in 2009. In his position as Executive Chairman, he led the strategic management of the company and was the primary spokesperson with the investment community. Under his leadership, The New Home Company was sold to Apollo Global Management in September of 2021. Larry co-founded The Webb Group in 2022 to provide advisory and consulting services in the homebuilding industry. With his insight and wealth of experience, Larry assists a select group of clients with their strategic needs while focusing on leadership and the customer and team member experience.
Larry’s 35 years of success in the homebuilding industry are distinguished by a conscientious approach toward clients, communities and team members. This includes his many philanthropic commitments such as serving on the boards of HomeAid America, Interval House, and his dedication to helping cities, families and neighborhoods. Larry was twice honored in his career to be named “Builder of The Year” for both John Laing Homes and The New Home Company.
Between 1995 and 2008, he was Chief Executive Officer of John Laing Homes, where he was instrumental in growing it from a small, two-market company to the second-largest private homebuilder in the United States. In June 2006, he sold John Laing Homes in the largest private residential transaction in U.S. history. Prior to joining John Laing Homes, he was Division President for Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties for Kaufman & Broad, as well as Orange County President of Greystone Homes. In 2008, Larry was appointed Chief Restructuring Officer for LandSource, and successfully negotiated the financial restructuring of large land holdings across the U.S.
Throughout his career, Larry has been honored and recognized by the industry for his philanthropy, marketing excellence and visionary leadership. He holds a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Harvard University. Larry has been invited to teach classes in the real estate field at the University of Southern California, University of California, Irvine; Harvard University, Stanford University and Cornell University. Larry was inducted into the California Homebuilders Hall of Fame in 2006. He regularly delivers keynote addresses at national conferences for trade organizations, such as the Urban Land Institute and the National Association of Homebuilders.
by Dawn Kane | Sep 26, 2025
Larry Petzing played three sports at HHS. He was an all-star on the undefeated 1974 Wall of Fame football team, captain of the basketball team, the main pitcher on the baseball team, the Art Howe and Buffalo Evening News Outstanding Senior Athlete and the Jack Horrigan Outstanding Athlete and Student. In the County of Erie Baseball Association 19 and under league, he pitched 15 straight complete game wins including the two deciding games in the championship series in 1975 for the Lake Shore Reds. At Middlebury College Larry played football and baseball. Starting at cornerback and returning punts the three seasons he was eligible for varsity football, the team won two NESCAC Championships, and Larry in 1978 set an interception record that still stands and was ALL NESCAC and ALL ECAC.
Larry graduated Cum Laude in Mathematics and Economics from Middlebury and Beta Sigma Gamma with an MBA from Rutgers University after coaching football for Middlebury. He then embarked on a 32 year career at PricewaterhouseCoopers (20 years as a partner) including: 4 years in the National Office in NYC, co-authoring a published technical accounting book, 19 years in the Boston office as an mergers and acquisition partner, and being elected to serve for four years on the PwC Board of Partners chairing the firm’s finance committee.
Larry is an avid skier and golfer now residing in Sarasota, Florida and in Vail, Colorado with his wife Leslie and their dog Rider. They have two sons – Drew and Dean, who both coach in the NFL. They also co-parented/raised Marcell Cooper. Larry is forever grateful for his parents Harry (Bud) and Helen and for growing up in Hamburg with a great group of friends, teammates, coaches and teachers.
by Dawn Kane | Oct 14, 2024
Lieutenant Colonel Jason (JP) Pieri was born and raised in Hamburg, NY. He attended school under his original last name, Brinser, before changing his last name to Pieri in honor of his stepfather. After graduating, he attended Saint Bonaventure University. He graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications and was commissioned into the United States Army.
He served as a Tank Platoon Leader in the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor in Bosnia-Herzegovina from 2000 through 2001. He then served as a Tank Company Executive Officer for the 2nd Battalion, 72nd Armor at Camp Casey, Republic of Korea.
In 2005, Jason joined the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry in Schweinfurt, Germany, as part of the storied 173rd Airborne Brigade. He commanded C Troop in Kunar Province, Afghanistan from 2007 to 2008, where they earned the honor of congressional delegation visits for outstanding combat performance.
In 2011, Jason was one of two Army officers selected to attend the Marine Corps’ School of Advanced Warfighting. After graduating, Jason served as a campaign planner for ISAF Joint Command in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Jason joined the 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry, serving as Squadron Operations Officer. He was selected as the Operations Officer for 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, where he completed the Army’s first Armored Brigade Combat Team rotation to the Republic of Korea since the Korean War in the 1950s. Jason then joined the 1st Cavalry Division in 2016 as the Operations Officer (G3).
In 2016, Jason was selected to command the 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry, from 2017 to 2019. He was selected as the Fort Jackson Operations Officer (G3) from 2019 to 2021. Jason led the Army’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts, enabling Fort Jackson to become the first installation in the Department of Defense to successfully complete their mission during COVID. Jason retired in 2021 but continued service as an Army civilian. He is currently the Chief of Plans and Operations for Fort Jackson’s garrison.
Jason holds two master’s degrees from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and School of Advanced Warfighting. His most notable awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Award, and Combat Action Badge. He is a graduate of the Army’s Airborne School.
Jason and his wife Erin have been happily married for 22 years and have two daughters, Ellie (21) and Emma (18), and a son, Jared (13).
by Dawn Kane | Oct 14, 2024
Gurf Morlix has been inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame, the Austin Music Hall of Fame and was named Instrumentalist of the Year by the Americana Association. He has produced records for scores of Americana icons such as Lucinda Williams, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Blaze Foley, Mary Gauthier, Slaid Cleaves, Robert Earl Keen and more. He has produced 15 solo albums which have received global critical acclaim.
Visiting planet Gurf has always been an enlightening experience. After all, this Gurf Morlix fellow – Lackawanna born, Texas honed – has provided us with countless indelible musical moments in the last 50-plus years: his exemplary guitar playing, the many albums that he assumed the role of producer for, his instrumental accompaniment to artists ranging from Blaze Foley to Warren Zevon, – Gurf has a singular worldview and can be both harrowing and heartening, often at the same time.
