The Louisville
Federation of Musicians
October 2007
The Local celebrated our 110th Anniversary with a special dinner at Glenmary Country Club on Monday, October 22. The planned golf scramble was postponed due to rain and played on Monday, October 29.
| We are sad to inform the members of the loss of guitarist Mike Biggs, 55, who passed away very suddenly on Sunday, October 28. Mike played often with accordionist Don Picozzi, and earlier had performed and recorded with artists such as Bob Hope, Ella Fitzgerald, Sara Vaughn, Jerry Reed and many others. |
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September 2007
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The Local mourns the passing of Life Member Richard Washburn, 70, a trumpet player, who died September 16. Dick had been a member for nearly 43 years. He graduated from IU with a Bachelor of Music Education, and received a Masters Degree in Counseling from WKU. He had over 28 years of teaching experience in instrumental music in the Jefferson County public school system. He also performed and recorded with the Louisville Orchestra as well as with many noted entertainers. |
August 2007
Tickets are now available in the office for the 8th Annual Greater Louisville United Labor Picnic held on Labor Day at the Louisville Zoo. Tickets are $5 in advance or $7 at the gate, and include lunch, drinks, car show, informational booths, kids' activities, and music by John Gage and Gary Falk with Indigo.
July 2007
New keys have been cut for the back door of the Rehearsal Hall and new policies for usage are now in place. Please contact the office to schedule use of the hall and to obtain a key.
June 2007
New Member Benefit: Legal Services
As part of our retainer agreement with Segal, Lindsay & Janes, the following will be provided for our members: One free 30-minute office conference per member per year; unlimited telephone consultation for members; discounted hourly rate; reduced rate on preparation of wills. Please contact the firm at 568-5600 for more information or to take advantage of this.
We regretfully note the recent passing of two of our Life Members:
| Norm Carlisle, 81, died May 31 at Baptist Hospital East. Norm was a Louisville native, a Manual High graduate, and former President and Chairman of the Board for Murphy Elevator Co. He was a WWII USAF veteran, an accomplished jazz musician on saxophone and clarinet, and played with several groups including 42 years with the WHAS Crusade for Children Band. |
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Larry Kaelin, 75, passed away at his residence on May 27. Larry had been a member of the Local for 48 years, and was a member of the first graduating class of Bellarmine College. Local restaurant patrons fondly remember his many years playing piano at Jack Fry's and other locations. |
May 2007
It's Derby Time again ... if you have occasion to visit the airport, be sure to look for and listen to our musicians in the annual musical greeting for Derby visitors. This year all performances are in the main concourse before the security checkpoint.
After Derby the summer concert schedule will be under way. Check our Concert Schedule to see who's playing where, and enjoy a concert in a local park.
March 2007
The new directory is now at the printer and will be mailed to you shortly. Our quarterly newsletter will be mailed the week of March 19.
IN MEMORIAM
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Life Member Ernest "Tubby" French, 91, passed away on February 24. He had been a member since 1942. Tubby was retired from Anaconda Aluminum but was better known in our musical community for being the only remaining original member of the Holy Name Band, having played there for 69 years. He played trumpet during the 1940s through the '80s in several local bands including The French-Spies Orchestra, the L & N Orchestra and the Bavarians. He played all the major hotels and clubs, and played on both WHAS and WAVE radio. |
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Edwin Chestnut, Sr., member since 1946, passed away on January 31, 2007 at the age of 83. Ed earned an accounting degree from the University of Louisville and joined Mammoth Life Insurance in 1952, rising to hold the office of president before retiring in 1992. After his retirement he returned the local jazz music scene as a member of the ReUnity Club ensemble. |
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| Member Paul McDowell, 85, passed away on December 25, 2006. Paul was a bassoonist, member since 1949, a former member of the Louisville Orchestra and a great friend to the local music education scene. |
February 2007
2007 membership dues are now past due. Please contact the office if you are unsure of your status.
January 2007
Our annual Chili Supper and Awards Night was held Monday, January 29. A Fifty-Year service pin was earned by Brooke Hicks, and 25-Year pins went to Ron Jones, Kathy and Matt Karr, Michael Megahan and Marianne Petersen. Those not present have been mailed their pins. This year we had six entrants in the Chili Cook-Off, judged by Randy Hedden and Mike Driscol, co-owners of Diamante's Restaurant. First prize (for the third time!) went once again to Darryel Cotten. Second prize went to Corky Raible and third was won by Joe Lauletta.
December 2006
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SEASON'S GREETINGS May THE LOUISVILLE FEDERATION OF MUSICIANS President: Joseph P. Spain
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the joyful music of the holidaysNovember 2006
| IN MEMORIAM The Local mourns the loss of Marvin Ambs, a member for almost 60 years. Marvin passed away November 9 after a courageous battle with cancer. He played trombone with a Navy band during WWII and graduated from U of L's Gardencourt School of Music with a BA and MA in Music Education. |
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Election Results
Election ballots have been returned and counted by the Election Committee. A new Executive Board member was elected to fill the position of member Tim Zavadil, who is resigning after six years of service. Bill Corcoran, music director at Derby Dinner Playhouse, will join Steve Causey and June Kelley-Roy to serve on the board. President Joe Spain and Vice President Gary Falk ran unopposed and will retain those offices. Music Services Representative Rebecca Loeffler ran unopposed for the combined position of Kentucky State AFL-CIO Delegate/AFM Delegate Alternate.
September 2006
Members in the News
Louisville Orchestra violinist Keith Cook is featured in the special Arts and Entertainment Guide in the Sept. 6 issue of LEO. And LO violinist Patty Fong-Edwards can be seen in the September issue of Today's Woman. Jacob Duncan and his group Liberation Prophecy made the cover of the Courier-Journal Saturday Scene on August 19. They have just returned from playing a CD release show in Greenwich Village's Blue Note to kick off their debut album "Last Exit Angel" (available locally at Ear X-tacy).
July 2006
Our General Membership meeting was held Monday, July 17. Two issues were voted on: Whether to amend the Local's bylaws to allow items to be passed by a simple majority rather than a two-thirds majority; and whether to continue providing the member life insurance benefit after this year. Those present voted not to change either, so no bylaws changes will take place. Reminder to those of you who have elected to pay dues twice yearly: The 2nd installment of your 2006 dues is due in July.
June 2006
Life Member Rollen Brandt, 88, a pianist, passed away on June 11. Rollen had been a member with us for 59 years. Besides being a musician and a devoted husband and father, he was an avid ham radio operator, amateur geologist, astronomer, photographer and historian. For 46 years he served as the organist for Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church. During the 1940s through the 1960s he was a pianist in several big bands and dance bands.
May 2006
Life Member Majorie "Margie" Bayer passed away on May 15. Margie was born April 20, 1917 and joined the Local on October 16, 1946. She was a Louisville native and a Shawnee High School graduate. Margie played piano and with her husband Johnny, a vocalist, and two other musicians entertained at clubs and private parties throughout the area for many years. Besides her family, her music, and her job as an elementary school secretary, Margie loved living and boating on the Ohio River, first on a houseboat and then in a summer cottage on Juniper Beach. After Johnny passed in 1985 Margie continued her musical career playing with the Mellotones until last December.
April 2006
The musicians of the Louisville Orchestra have negotiated a new contract. They have elected to help address the organization's financial requirements by accepting salary and scheduling cutbacks in order to maintain the size of the orchestra at 71 players.
March 2006
Our list of members who teach is now available online. This listing is by instrument and provides contact information and the member's zip code to assist in locating the most convenient resource.
We regret the loss of Life Member Benjamin "Buddy" Morris, who passed away on March 16 at the age of 81. Buddy played clarinet, tenor sax, mandolin, banjo and guitar, and had been a member of the Local for 59 years.
February 2006
Louisville Orchestra musicians have updated their website at www.lomusicians.org.
January 2006
The Local's annual Chili Supper and Cook-Off took place on January 26. Fifty-Year service pins were earned by Cletus Amlung and Jimmy Smith, and 25-Year pins went to Grace Baugh-Bennett, Bob Docs, Jeanette Kays, John Manning, Blaise Poth, Julia Preston, Scott Staidle, Lisa Weaver and Ray Weaver. Daryel Cotten won first place for his chili.
December 2005
Red Cross Donorama Blood Drive takes place Dec. 28 & 29
Dues invoices for 2006 have been mailed. Dues payments will increase $2.00 per year for all membership categories. Reminder: Dues payments will be billed semi-annually instead of quarterly.
Late member Bernie Smith's commemorative brick has been placed in the WHAS Crusade for Children "Walk of Fame."
October 2005
At our General Membership meeting on October 24 several reports on current activities were presented. AFL-CIO Delegate Michael Schroeder reported on his attendance at the Kentucky State AFL-CIO Convention in Owensboro. In response to a continuing shortage of military buglers for veterans' funerals the Local voted in a new scale for our musicians who would like to make themselves available for such occasions.
September 2005
The Local mourns the loss of long-time member Ola Miracle, who passed away September 25 at her daughter's home in Lancaster, California after losing her battle with breast cancer.
IN MEMORIAM:
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Member Omer "Shorty" Chesser, the last surviving member of Louisville’s well-known Hayloft Hoedown players, passed away on August 18, 2005. Shorty had been a member of Local 11-637 since 1946. He hosted "Early Morning Frolic" on WHAS Radio for more than 14 years, and then became a regular on WHAS-TV shows "Howdy Neighbor" and "Hayloft Hoedown." After leaving broadcasting he became a real estate agent. Most recently he performed occasionally with the late Randy Atcher and Randy’s son Mark as the trio "High, Wide and Handsome." |
| Life Member Alene Wilson-Russ passed away on Sept. 11, 2005. She started with local bands singing country music, and performed with Clayton "Pappy" McMichen who sponsored her into Local 11-637 in 1957. On the local radio circuit they played on WAVE and WHAS, and also on live broadcasts from Howell’s Furniture Store. She spent some time in Germany where she played occasionally with local groups and as backup to Ray Price. Back in the States she continued to play with Pappy for benefits and special events, and also with his friend Ernest Tubb. |
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July 2005
President Joe Spain and Vice President Gary Falk attended the AFM National Convention in Las Vegas. Look for election results and convention news in your August International Musician.
May 2005
Summer concert season is here! Check out our listings and enjoy some free live music today.
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March 2005
We are pleased to note that popular pizzeria and local musical venue Clifton's Pizza has finally launched their website, providing music fans with up-to-the-minute entertainment listings. Check out when your favorite groups are up next, and enjoy great sounds and tasty Italian dishes in an intimate, casual setting.
For another
convenient listing of Louisville entertainers, visit the
Louisville Jazz Society's
website for Jennifer
Lauletta's weekly update of who's playing where.
January 2005
Our annual Chili Supper and Awards Night was held Monday, January 31st. Nearly a hundred folks showed up to eat chili and socialize. Life Members received special certificates from the AFM commemorating their years of service, and Bob Barnes received his 50-Year pin. Others earning pins were Gary Stonecipher, 50 Years, Joe Caruso, 25 Years and Nancy Blanford, 25 Years. Those not present have been mailed their pins and certificates.
CONTRACT GUARANTEE PROGRAM Is a Winner
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July 2004
In an effort to stem a regrettable wave of missing items, we have again re-keyed the Rehearsal Hall door. The Board will be implementing new procedures for distributing the new keys to try to retain more control over the Hall and its furnishings. Those members who use the Hall frequently will be advised of the new arrangements.
New scales were voted on and approved at the July 12 General Membership meeting. A mailing for the membership detailing the changes has gone out. Note that CMP and MPF jobs will still be paid at the previous scale until all Metro Councilors and Co-Sponsors have been advised of the new rates.
June 2004
Our new directory is nearly ready to go to the printer. It has been decided to hold off final print preparations until the proposed new scales are voted upon at the July 12 General Membership meeting, as it is a convenience for members to have the scales bound into the directory. Second-quarter newsletters were mailed out Thursday, June 10. These are mailed at our nonprofit bulk rate, which represents a considerable savings in postage, but sometimes delays their delivery. Local post offices have two weeks to distribute this type of mail; most of them deliver it promptly but if you have not received your copy by the end of the month, please call us.
May 2004
The Louisville Orchestra's Fox 41 TV
May 27 Tickethon
was complicated by the onset of severe weather conditions in the
Louisville area, necessitating many cutaways to radar screens and
broadcast tornado and storm warnings. Subscriptions are now on sale
for July's Roarchestra concerts at the Louisville Zoo and the new
series for 2004-2005.
April 2004
Scott Provancher, the Louisville Orchestra's new Executive Director, will start May 1.
March 2004
We note the passing of two long-time members, both on Saturday, March 27:
Francis Atcher, 87, a Life Member, and Robert Domian, 66.
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Francis
Atcher |
Bob
Doman
1938 - 2004 |
February 2004
Our annual Chili Supper and Awards Night, held on February 23, was a big success. President Joe Spain cooked up a big batch of the "house" chili, with support staff Virginia Taylor and Rebecca Loeffler decorating the Rehearsal Hall and setting out food and beverages. Contestants in the Chili Cook-Off were Daryel Cotten, Marti Carter, John Roy and Donnie Loeffler. Our Celebrity Judge, District 8 Metro Councilor Tom Owen, awarded top honors to Daryel Cotten.
Those receiving 50-Year pins were: Roy Hare, Bruce Fowler, Jerry Sharp and Ardella Purcell. Recipients of 25-Year pins were Steve Crews, Jonathan Leight, Tim Baker, John Pedroja, Heidi Poth-Tracy, Robin Hicks, Susannah Onwood, Gary Hicks and Steve Presley.
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In sadder news, we have lost another long-time member. David Capito, 46, who had been a member since the age of 14, died on Monday, February 23. |
January 2004
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Roy McCarty 1926-2004 Life member Roy McCarty, Jr. passed away Thursday, January 29. He had been a member of the Local since 1959.
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Denny Inzer
1946 - 2004 It is with great sadness that we note the sudden demise of our long-time member Denny Inzer.
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