T-Dice

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Classic Rockers with Jimmerson, Basset and many names

T-Dice also known as Tumbling Dice, Scarab and Airborne was a popular classic rock band that played Pittsburgh area clubs in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The talented roster was comprised of former Wild Cherry guitarist Bryan Bassett, singer Gary Hohman, bassist/singer Jeff Jimmerson, drummer Jack Mrozowski, and guitarist George Marcinko.

The band began as Tumlbing Dice making appearances at the Meadows Race Track, the Evergreen Hotel in the Pittsburgh's North Hills and Baltimore's Essex Club in 1979. After a six week road trip performing in Florida, they returned to Pittsburgh in August of 1980 appearing with a new name "Scarab" at the Stage One club. During 1981 they appeared under the name Airborne. Learning that the name Airborne was trade marked they returned to their original name Tumbling Dice working at the Decade in 1981 and 1982. They shorten the name to T-Dice when they were informed the name "Tumbling Dice" was also trade marked.

In Pittsburgh T-Dice appeared at Stage One in Holiday Park, Mancini's in the Rocks, Fat City in Swissvale, Someplace Else in the South Hills, the Decade in Oakland, Heaven in downtown Pittsburgh and other clubs. They played original songs penned by Gary Hohman along with rock covers.

WDVE featured their song song "Lookin' For a Home" on the WDVE' Pittsburgh Rocks volume 2" compilation album released in 1981.

The band signed with manager Charlie Brusco, who had worked with the Outlaws, Styx, Lynard Skinner and other bands. They later signed with manager Kerry Childers who booked them into the Miami club scene..

Recorded with Felix Pappalardi

Their big break came when they recorded at Criteria Studio in Miami with producer Felix Pappalardi. Felix had been a member of the band Mountain and had produced recordings of Cream. But their recording was halted when Felix was fatally shot by his wife in New York in 1983. T-Dice was unable to complete the sessions and missed the chance to land a record deal with a backing of a major producer..

T-Dice broke up in Miami. Jeff Jimmerson, George Marcinko., and Jack Mrozowski returned to Pittsburgh and reformed the band. Gary and Bryan Bassitt remained in Miami for a year before returning to Pittsburgh in 1984. Back in Pittsburgh another version of the band formed with Gary Hohman ,Bryan Basset, bassist Ed Brown, guitarist Lee Marks, and drummer and Ron Beitle.

Tumbling Members Go Air Born

After breaking up in 1984 the band members went air born tumbling of in many directions.

Guitarist Byran Bassett joined The Silencers replacing Warren King and played with them until they disbanded. In 1984 Bryan formed the Mystic Knights with Warren King, keyboard player Gil Synder from the Houserockers. and former Silencers drummer Ron 'Bryd' Foster. Bryan left the Mystic Knights to move to Orlando Florida to become an engineer, producer, and session guitarist for King Snake Studio. Bryan recorded, mixed, and produced over 75 Albums/CD's during his 15 years with King Snake. His guitar was featured on more than 25 blues albums. Byran began 4 years of touring with the band Foghat in 1988. In 1993 he joined Molly Hatchet and toured with them for seven years through 1999. Bryan appeared on three of Molly Hatchet’s CD releases. He left Molly Hatchet to rejoin Foghat as Rod Price’s replacement in 1999. Bryan has written songs on several of Fog Hat’s CDs and continues to perform and record with Foghat.

Gary Hohman was the lead singer of the popular band Modern Man in 1983. He later became a record producer. Gary produced children's singer Frank Cappelli's "Pass the Coconut" album in 1991.

Drummer Jack Mrozowski moved to Los Angeles in 1984 where he gigged and recorded for seven years. He returned to Pittsburgh in 1991 and has since worked with Tony Janflone Jr., Billy Price, Airborne, B. E. Taylor, Glenn Plavone, Shari Richards and others. He led his own band "Mo Black's Magic" for 5 years. He appeared on Jill West's 1997 album "Code Blue". George Marchinko also appeared on the Jill West "Code Blue" album.

Jeff Jimmerson became the national anthem singer for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He first sang the national anthem for the Penguins in December 1990. Jimmerson appeared in the 1995 Jean Claude Van Damme film Sudden Death as the "Anthem Singer". Jeff also performs with the B.E. Taylor band and a version of Airborne that he formed in 1990.

T-Dice Live 1982 -Stage One