There’s something magical about watching young musicians absolutely nail a classic rock song — not just going through the motions, but actually putting their heart and soul into it, and making it their own. That magic was on full display when the Central Pennsylvania Youth All-Star Band tackled The Who’s iconic 1971 anthem “Baba O’Riley.” But what makes this story even cooler is that the legends themselves noticed.
Yeah, you read that right. Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who — two names that literally wrote the book on arena rock — heard the cover and had some serious praise for these rising musicians from our own backyard.
When a Cover Gets Heard by the Originals
Most bands covering a song don’t expect the original artists to ever stumble across their version. But the internet has a way of connecting people in unexpected ways, and that’s exactly what happened here.Last year, the Central Pennsylvania Youth All-Star Band recorded their cover of Baba O’Riley at Warwick Township’s Atrium Audio, under the guidance of producers Grant McFarland and Carson Slovak. The band was made up of eight young musicians, all under the age of 18, hailing from different parts of Central PA: Noah Gibney, Faith Noel, Alex Lee Warner, Addi Grace, Ethan Valentine, Carmine Gontz, Levi Dickinson, and Amani Weary.The video — which was shot by Josh Nesmith of Nesmith Films — showcased not only their talent but their personalities, energy, and youthful drive. And it clearly hit the right notes because Pete Townshend himself shared the video on his Facebook page. But it didn’t stop there.
Roger Daltrey, frontman of The Who and one of the greatest rock vocalists of all time, took it a step further. He recorded a personal video message praising the band’s performance.“I’ve got to tell you, I am really impressed,” Daltrey said, casually holding a guitar on his lap. “The way it’s filmed is really good, but the music you’re playing, and the characters in it — every one of you, your personalities are coming out and you’re singing from the heart, and it shows. It’s wonderful. The ending is really original, and I loved it.”
Music That Builds the Future
The Central Pennsylvania Youth All-Star Band was formed by the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame, an organization dedicated to celebrating and elevating musicians from the region, both past and present. Executive Director Brandon Valentine explained that the youth band is designed as a revolving lineup — so that each year, a new group of young musicians can be showcased.
This isn’t just a one-time experience for the kids involved. It’s a project meant to inspire, encourage, and open doors. And honestly, how many teenage bands can say their version of Baba O’Riley got the thumbs up from Roger freaking Daltrey?
Producer Grant McFarland summed it up perfectly: “We are extremely honored that iconic rock legends Pete and Roger have had awesome things to say about this project! I think it’s even cooler that these young adults from the band get to have this experience. These are formative years that can shape their future musical endeavors, and it’s a great feather in their cap.”The story gets even better. After nearly a year of trying to get the video to The Who’s team, Daltrey’s management finally sent a video of Daltrey’s praise to the Hall of Fame late last year. Not only did he share the message publicly, but Daltrey also expressed interest in using the band’s video for a future project connected to the Teenage Cancer Trust (known as Teen Cancer America here in the U.S.), a charity he’s been involved with for decades.
“It’s sort of a win-win-win for everyone,” Valentine said. “He’s helping his nonprofit and our nonprofit.”
What’s Next for the Youth All-Star Band?
If you thought covering The Who was the end of the road for this talented crew, think again. A fresh lineup of the Youth All-Star Band recently recorded a holiday cover just in time for the 40th anniversary of the charity anthem “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” This new group includes returning members Noah Gibney, Addi Grace, Levi Dickinson, Ethan Valentine, and Alex Lee Warner, plus newcomers Virginia Franks, Addily Park, Ava Karlita, Julia Denne, CZ Moe, Ismael, and Juliet.
And they’re not slowing down. One of the band’s big projects for 2025 will be recording a cover of a song by none other than Taylor Swift — who, fun fact, launched her own career as a young musician right here in Pennsylvania. After getting the attention of The Who, the Hall of Fame hopes they can catch Taylor’s ear too.Valentine put it best when talking to the young musicians: “The tagline I keep saying to them is, persistence pays off.”
Why This Matters
Here at Tone Tailors, we love stories like this. Not just because it’s rad to see young players crushing a classic rock anthem, but because it’s a real reminder of how music connects people — across generations, across genres, and across the globe.
Think about it: a group of kids in Central PA plug in, jam out on a 50-year-old rock classic, and before they know it, they’ve got Roger Daltrey smiling and cheering them on from across the pond. That’s the power of music, and it’s exactly what we believe in at our shop. Equip and inspire. That’s the goal — and these young musicians are proof that when you give kids the tools and the encouragement, they can create something big.
So if you’re a young musician, a parent, a teacher, or just someone who loves to see fresh talent honored and lifted up, give the Youth All-Star Band’s cover a listen. Share it. Show it to a friend. And remember, every great musician starts somewhere. For these kids, it started right here in Central PA — and now they’ve got rock royalty cheering them on.
