When they aren't rocking a crowd of thousands of people, Jerry Parton and the Mosfets also find time to design and manufacture complex semiconductors and sensors for high tech company INFICON.
On Friday night, the Mosfets were one of 13 bands taking the stage at the Onondaga County War Memorial for the Rockin' the Red Cross Battle of the bands fundraiser. Bands representing local schools, engineering firms and Lockheed Martin all played before a panel of judges and a boisterous crowd.
"It's a fundraiser but it's a really fun fundraiser because it's a rock concert and you've got all these musicians playing all these different types of music, you've got people coming out to support them," said Parton.
All of the proceeds from Friday's show go the Red Cross. Last year it brought in $45,000 that helped disaster victims locally and across the country.
"Not only is it a great outlet, it's also an opportunity to show kids you've got to give back to your community," said Van Buren Elementary School teacher Peter Addabbo shortly before he and the BandiT band took the stage.
While some of the bands had a chance to show their wild side, the Red Cross received help from a lot of donors who might not attend more traditional fundraisers.
"And we have brought together a group of people that are not typically involved with giving donations to charity and through this event we've been able to get a whole new group of people energized about what the red cross does and how much they can help," said Red Cross board member Mark Gustavson.
