Mansfield’s Dean Kastran goes full Cyrkle in half-century music career:
Byers Woods to receive grant as part of outdoor children’s literacy trail program
Robert E. McClain Sr.
73-year-old rock star Dean Kastran helped form the Ohio Express in 1967 – just one year after graduating from Mansfield Senior High School.
Dean Kastran has the enviable, lustrous hair one would expect to see adorning the head of a 73-year-old rock star. Which is good, because that’s what he is. Still. In fact, he recently performed in three sold-out shows in Florida as the new bassist for The Cyrkle. Although it’s not the continuing magical, musical mystery tour he would have imagined when he helped form the Ohio Express in 1967. That was one year after he graduated from Mansfield Senior High School.
Kastran explained that back when they started, if you had told him that Ohio Express would play on American Bandstand and perform in Carnegie Hall, he never would’ve believed you. And jumping into The Cyrkle, a band whose 1966 hits included chart-toppers “Red Rubber Ball” and “Turn Down Day,” was not a tough decision to make for Kastran in 2021.
Their recent Sunshine State shows in Clermont, Boca Raton and Daytona Beach were proof that he made the right call to accept the band’s invitation to join an experienced lineup that includes original lead singer Don Dannemann. Kastran learned to play bass guitar after Beatlemania roared ashore from Liverpool into the United States in 1964.
He and his friends helped launch the nationally successful garage band Ohio Express in 1967, a band that performed hits like “Yummy, Yummy, Yummy,” “Down at Lulu’s,” and “Chewy, Chewy.” And while Mansfield’s contribution to the garage-band, bubblegum music era is well documented, what’s likely not as well known is that in the last five decades, Kastran has never really stopped performing. Even while serving two years in the military. That devotion, and the relationships established over a lifetime of music, has landed him a spot in The Cyrkle, another 1960s act that is back to playing in sold-out venues around the country.
His initial shows with the group were in October 2021 in New York and New Jersey, followed by a November show in Indiana. And after a break for the holidays, The Cyrkle did the shows in Florida. There’s much more coming in the summer and spring as well.
Now, some local history. Did you know that legendary baseball catcher, John Roseboro, was born in Ashland in 1933? He played Major League Baseball from 1957 until 1970, most prominently as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. A four-time All-Star player, Roseboro is considered one of the best defensive catchers of the 1960s, winning two Gold Glove Awards. He was the Dodgers’ starting catcher in four World Series with the Dodgers winning three of those. Roseboro was also known for his role in one of the most violent incidents in baseball history when future teammate and friend, Juan Marichal, struck him in the head with a bat during a game in 1965.
Now, we’d like to take a moment to highlight an event that you should know about. On February 25th at 4pm, model railroaders of north central Ohio will unite at the Ashland County Historical Society’s Freer Home for a series of lectures and talks. Are you a fan of Model Railroads or curious and want to learn more? Get to know more about the hobby, see demonstrations, and learn why this is a pastime enjoyed by millions of Americans.
Next, From Ashland Source. The Ashland County Park District is one of the groups that will benefit from more than $28,000 in grants for children’s literacy trails. Specifically they’ll get $5,173 for a new trail at Byers Woods.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine, and Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz announced the grants earlier this week.
They’ve been awarded as part of ODNR’s Recreational Trails Grant Program, will fund trail and trailhead construction, maintenance, and storybook signage for each trail. Similar to ODNR’s Storybook Trails at 11 state parks, the local trails will promote the benefits of early literacy and a healthy lifestyle. Governor DeWine explained that developing an appreciation for reading at a young age is so important for children as they grow, and they’re excited to award these grants to help more communities combine the love of reading with the love of nature.
Finally, we’d like to take a moment to remember the life of Robert McClain Sr. Bob was born in 1934, attended Madison schools, and was a farmer most of his life. In 1953, he married his soul mate, Shirley Albro. They celebrated 68 wonderful years together. Robert and Shirley had three sons.
He is survived by his wife, two sons, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Thank you for taking a moment with us today to remember and celebrate Bob’s life.
