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22 . the catoctin banner . August 2010 . www.thecatoctinbanner.com
Remembering the Big Bands
On a recent afternoon I spent
considerable time going through my
record collection which consisted
of quite a few of the old 78’s and
the LP’s which I had collected over
the years. It was a most enjoyable
afternoon. As I played some of the
records and enjoyed the delightful
music, my mind wondered back to
the days when the big bands were
popular.
Remember the names of Guy
Lombardo, Harry James, Woody
Herman, Stan Kenton, Glenn Miller,
and Benny Goodman? And don’t
forget Les Brown, Duke Ellington,
Lionel Hampton, Tommy Dorsey,
Buddy Rich, Wayne King and the
more recent Lawrence Welk. I am
sure there were others I may have
overlooked, but make no mistake
about it, these bands were on “top
shelf” in the big band class.
I am sure that most everyone will
agree that very few developments
in popular music have captured the
popular imagination the way the
big band sounds did. Although big
band jazz enjoyed the spotlight as
the dominant American pop form,
nothing compared to rock music’s 50
years and counting. Its influence still
lingers.
Have you ever wondered about
the big band sounds, how they have
slowly, and quietly faded from the
American scene? In the 50’s, 60’s,
and 70’s, the big band rivivals were,
in fact, persistently predicted with
the apparent belief that the youth,
unstable in affection and interest,
would eventually tire of rock’s
big beat, and would embrace the
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In today’s world we find that big
band jazz is not having the influence
as expected, and it too will be joining
the passing parade. The big band
leaders are passing away, one by one.
The surviving band leaders, because
of age and illness, have cut back on
their schedules.
Let’s face it, maintaining the
sound and feel of the big bands is no
easy task. Precious few new bands
have emerged to fill the gaps left by
the older organizations. The music
is in a precarious position. It is
indeed a very strange situation. The
musicians seem to like it. In every
large city, there are big bands going,
and the guys are eager to play big
band music. However, the music
lacks sufficient popular appeal, which
makes viable enterprises.
Why, you might ask? The
economics of the big bands is one of
the reasons. It must be remembered
that the standard big band generally
employs fifteen to twenty musicians.
Obviously, such an ensemble costs
more to maintain and move than a
quartet or a quintet. The big band
era wasn’t just a victim of economics.
After World War II, the music
changed and so did the audience.
It wasn’t long after World War
II ended; big bands began to fade,
but not entirely. Television came
along and provided exposure for a
few bands. The Les Brown Big Band
provided music for the Bob Hope
show and the Count Basie Orchestra
recorded fairly regularly for singer
Frank Sanatra. Lawrence Welk and
his orchestra became very popular as
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a result of his own weekly television
show.
Frederick County was very
fortunate to have several big bands. I
am sure that there are some residents
who remember such bands as Dick
Harp, Johnny Knepper, Zel Smith
and Clarke Sheetenhelm. Area
citizen, Raymond Birely, played
saxophone with these bands and
formed his own, “Ray Birely’s
Big Band.’ I remember on several
occasions visiting Pen Mar Park on
a Sunday afternoon to hear the “Ray
Birely Big Band” and to enjoy a
dance in the historic Dance Pavilion.
Ray Birely died in 1994, but
his death did not end the big band
sounds in the try-state area. Ray’s
son, Rocky, has maintained the
leadership of the band as a tribute
to his late father and is dedicated
to keeping alive the “big band”
tradition in our area. Surely, everyone
will agree that big band music was
designed with dancing in mind.
Thanks Rocky, keep up the good
work.
Photo Courtesy George W. Wireman Collection
Historic Rohrersville Band to Give Concert
Sunday August 15
Thurmont’s summer concert series for 2010 will come to an end on Sunday
evening August 15 and will feature the historic Rohrersville Band, celebrating
its 173rd anniversary.
Organized in 1837 as “McCoy’s Cornet Band,” the band was founded by
G. Washington McCoy who operated a marble-cutting business in Rohrersville.
McCoy was an accomplished E-flat clarinet player and served as the band’s
director for much of the 1800s. In 1882 the band adopted a new constitution
and changed its name to the Rohrersville Cornet Band of Washington County.
The band was incorporated in the State of Maryland in 1894 and today is the
oldest community band in Maryland in continuous service.
The Rohrersville Band has been a faithful participant in Thurmont’s summer
concert series since its beginning in 1987 and enjoys taking an active part in
Thurmont’s annual firemen’s parade. A very special and enjoyable program has
been planned for the August 15 concert in Thurmont Memorial Park, which will
begin at 6:00 p.m. Lawn chairs and blankets are requested for seating in the park.
The concert coordinator, George Wireman, joins with the Commissioners of
Thurmont in expressing sincere thanks to all who have supported and attended
the summer concert series.