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THE IOLA REGISTER, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1993
PAGE 5
Bella Vista Big Band brings
crowd to feet
By MARY MARTIN
Director of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center
The spirits of Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Benny Goodman
and Gene Krupa would have felt right at home at the
Bowlus Saturday night at the Friends of the Bowlus kickoff.
From the time the Bella Vista Big band was introduced by
emcee Bob Talkington to the moment the crowd surged to
its feet in a spontaneous standing ovation, it was a
memorable concert.
The band's leader and spokesperson, Jack Mitchell, kept
things moving with grace and humor as they moved
through many of the great songs of the 1930s and '40s big
band era. The audience od'd and ah'd as he announced
song titles that obviously struck chords of memory.
Mitchell, who is also the band's drummer, played with a flair
reminiscent of the great Gene Krupa. His solo stints in
"Drummin' Man" and "Sing, Sing, Sing" left the crowd
asking for more. As a show drummer in Chicago, Mitchell
has worked with singers and dancers such as Tony
Bennett, Connie Francis, Anita Bryant, Steve Lawrence
and Gregory Hines. He also was the drummer on all of the
Danny Thomas st. Jude Childrens' Hospital fund raisers in
Chicago.
The band featured many well-experienced musicians, most
of whom shone in solos, sometimes during the evening.
One particularly moving piece was the spiritual "Closer
Walk With Thee," performed by Nina Erickson on clarinet.
Erickson also brought laughter and cheers later in the
program with a comic version of "C'est Si Con."
Former Allen Countains Dick Stitzel and Eric Copening got
big applause from their friends and relatives when they
were introduced. Copening, to those who remember his
past performances on the piano, seemed to have lost
none of his musicianship and has perfected a comic touch
ala Victor Borge. He thanked several local people who had
contributed to his musical training and dedicated the "2nd
Piano Prelude" by Gershwin to the late Florence Hobart.
After the two-hour concert, the band played on for another
house, so that those who had been having trouble keeping
their feet still could finally move with the beat. In a surprise
for the crowd, local musicians Kendall Ashford and Larry
Jones Humboldt were invited to sit in for a couple of the
dance tunes as a reward (or revenge?) for introducing Eric
to popular music. The crowd dancing in the orchestra pit
was large enough at times to send some folks to the lobby
to do their stepping.
The evening was a kickoff and benefit for the newly-formed
Friends of the Bowlus, Inc. More than $1,800 was raised in
memberships and donations for the fledgling endowment
association.
PAGE 5
Bella Vista Big Band brings
crowd to feet
By MARY MARTIN
Director of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center
The spirits of Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Benny Goodman
and Gene Krupa would have felt right at home at the
Bowlus Saturday night at the Friends of the Bowlus kickoff.
From the time the Bella Vista Big band was introduced by
emcee Bob Talkington to the moment the crowd surged to
its feet in a spontaneous standing ovation, it was a
memorable concert.
The band's leader and spokesperson, Jack Mitchell, kept
things moving with grace and humor as they moved
through many of the great songs of the 1930s and '40s big
band era. The audience od'd and ah'd as he announced
song titles that obviously struck chords of memory.
Mitchell, who is also the band's drummer, played with a flair
reminiscent of the great Gene Krupa. His solo stints in
"Drummin' Man" and "Sing, Sing, Sing" left the crowd
asking for more. As a show drummer in Chicago, Mitchell
has worked with singers and dancers such as Tony
Bennett, Connie Francis, Anita Bryant, Steve Lawrence
and Gregory Hines. He also was the drummer on all of the
Danny Thomas st. Jude Childrens' Hospital fund raisers in
Chicago.
The band featured many well-experienced musicians, most
of whom shone in solos, sometimes during the evening.
One particularly moving piece was the spiritual "Closer
Walk With Thee," performed by Nina Erickson on clarinet.
Erickson also brought laughter and cheers later in the
program with a comic version of "C'est Si Con."
Former Allen Countains Dick Stitzel and Eric Copening got
big applause from their friends and relatives when they
were introduced. Copening, to those who remember his
past performances on the piano, seemed to have lost
none of his musicianship and has perfected a comic touch
ala Victor Borge. He thanked several local people who had
contributed to his musical training and dedicated the "2nd
Piano Prelude" by Gershwin to the late Florence Hobart.
After the two-hour concert, the band played on for another
house, so that those who had been having trouble keeping
their feet still could finally move with the beat. In a surprise
for the crowd, local musicians Kendall Ashford and Larry
Jones Humboldt were invited to sit in for a couple of the
dance tunes as a reward (or revenge?) for introducing Eric
to popular music. The crowd dancing in the orchestra pit
was large enough at times to send some folks to the lobby
to do their stepping.
The evening was a kickoff and benefit for the newly-formed
Friends of the Bowlus, Inc. More than $1,800 was raised in
memberships and donations for the fledgling endowment
association.
The Bella Vista Big Band
The Bella Vista Big Band was formed in 1989,
comprised of retired singers and musicians who had
moved to Bella Vista and the surrounding area and who
wanted to continue to play the big band music that had
been so important in their lives.
Lee Williams, who had traveled the mid-west with his own
band in the late thirties, forties and early fifties, was the
band's founder and first director. When a stroke forced
Lee to retire in 1991, Chuck Davis became the new
director. Chuck moved to Texas in 1992 and the band
voted it's drummer, Jack Mitchell, to be the new director.
In September of 1995, Lee Williams passed away and
the band honored his request to play at his service,
playing the tunes that Lee had loved so well, and
featuring the song that Lee has used as the theme song
for his own band. The Bella Vista Big Band continues to
use Lee's "Blue World" as it's own theme song in a
tribute to Lee.
In 1992, the Bella Vista Big Band was selected, by
blind audition, out of several hundred applicants to
perform at the Arkansas Ball during President Clinton's
inauguration. Originally scheduled to play for one and a
half hours, the crowd's enthusiasm for the band caused
the musical director of the ball to hold the Bella Vista
Big Band on stage for four and a half hours! The band
was invited back in 1997 to play an encore performance
for the same event at President Clinton's second
inauguration.
Many of the original players remain in the band, but as
band members retired or moved from the area, new
singers and players have joined. There is always a
waiting list of musicians who want to become part of this
popular group.
Now under the direction of Charlie Danielson, the Bella
Vista Big Band plays for dances, concerts and
fund-raisers throughout Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and
Oklahoma. It has recorded it's concerts in Iola, Kansas,
Rogers, Arkansas (with guest star Henry Cuesta from
the Lawrence Welk show) and at Pops In the Park in
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. These are available in both
video and audio cassettes and CDs.
Order Information
The Bella Vista Big Band was formed in 1989,
comprised of retired singers and musicians who had
moved to Bella Vista and the surrounding area and who
wanted to continue to play the big band music that had
been so important in their lives.
Lee Williams, who had traveled the mid-west with his own
band in the late thirties, forties and early fifties, was the
band's founder and first director. When a stroke forced
Lee to retire in 1991, Chuck Davis became the new
director. Chuck moved to Texas in 1992 and the band
voted it's drummer, Jack Mitchell, to be the new director.
In September of 1995, Lee Williams passed away and
the band honored his request to play at his service,
playing the tunes that Lee had loved so well, and
featuring the song that Lee has used as the theme song
for his own band. The Bella Vista Big Band continues to
use Lee's "Blue World" as it's own theme song in a
tribute to Lee.
In 1992, the Bella Vista Big Band was selected, by
blind audition, out of several hundred applicants to
perform at the Arkansas Ball during President Clinton's
inauguration. Originally scheduled to play for one and a
half hours, the crowd's enthusiasm for the band caused
the musical director of the ball to hold the Bella Vista
Big Band on stage for four and a half hours! The band
was invited back in 1997 to play an encore performance
for the same event at President Clinton's second
inauguration.
Many of the original players remain in the band, but as
band members retired or moved from the area, new
singers and players have joined. There is always a
waiting list of musicians who want to become part of this
popular group.
Now under the direction of Charlie Danielson, the Bella
Vista Big Band plays for dances, concerts and
fund-raisers throughout Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and
Oklahoma. It has recorded it's concerts in Iola, Kansas,
Rogers, Arkansas (with guest star Henry Cuesta from
the Lawrence Welk show) and at Pops In the Park in
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. These are available in both
video and audio cassettes and CDs.
Order Information
* bella vista big band *
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