Upstate N.Y. gets singing congressman

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- The new Democratic majority in the House will include a New Yorker with a pedigree in 1970s rock music.

John Hall, who defeated incumbent Sue Kelly in the Empire State's 19th congressional district, was a member of the band Orleans and worked as a session musician on albums with Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin.

The Times Herald-Record in the Hudson Valley said Hall celebrated his victory Tuesday night by belting out an a cappella version of Jackson Brown's "I Am a Patriot" to the delighted crowd of supporters at his victory rally.

Hall is best known to music fans as the singer on "Still the One" and "Dance with Me."