Saturday, September 15, 2018

MORE BANDS


10 comments:

Chic Silber said...


For friends Don Covington

& the late Chuck Schlarbaum

Chic Silber said...


The "WindJammers" play for

our "Ring Of Fame" induction

ceremony on St Armands Circle

in Sarasota each early Spring

Chuck Schlarbaum passed his

baton & music library to the

new bandleader Andrew Glover

Roger Smith said...

In which season did Chuck have the Beatty show band? And where was he in line of succession to Boom-Boom?

Last time I was on the show, my great pal, the late Russell Dain Darr was Maestro. I had known Russ since the 1972 Castle show, and had the privilege to meet his lovely ballerina wife and their two daughters.

Chic Silber said...


Neither Kenny nor I are certain

It was definitely after Boom Boom

Ramon Escorcia was leader before

he went over to Sells & Gray

but not sure when that was either

Later on it was Charles Bertini

Perhaps Don can help us here

Bob Swaney said...

Nice series. For several years in Hampton on military nights, we’d invite military band conductors from Ft Monroe and Langley AFB to be guest conductors of the Ringling band for the Star Spangled Banner opener. As a memento, we presented them with a signed certificate proclaiming them a guest conductor. They loved it! The circus band tempo was a little slower than normal to accommodate the American flag bearing elephant with rider.

In those days, we would often have military color guards and military guest ringmasters at shows in military heavy cities around the country. The seven-member Military District of Washington Joint Service Color Guard in DC was especially impressive. Ringling Bros. was a proud corporate team member of DoD’s America Supports You program.

Chic Silber said...


Thanks Bob

Don said...

Chic and Roger,

According to Windjammers Unlimited, Boom Boom had the band 1960-1964; Ramon Escorcia in 1965; Chuck Schlarbaum 1966-1974; Jimmy Ille 1975; Charlie Bertini 1976-1978; Eugene Nichols 1979; Russell Darr 1980-1982; Charles Weigle 1984-1987; James Haverstrom 1988-1996; Leigh Ketchum 1997-1999

Don Covington

Chic Silber said...


For any of those who didn't know

Jim Ille was married to Kay Hanneford

Kay's daughter Nellie was adopted

by Struppi & Tommy after Kay died

Nellie & her husband maintain the

"Royal Hanneford Circus"

Chic Silber said...


Just another episode in

As The Mirrored Ball Turns

Roger Smith said...

Thank you, DON. I recall Boom telling me '64 was his 5th year over there, but I didn't know it was his last. I did know his next gig was touring for Slingerland Drums, as a demonstrating salesman, and no one could do that better than Boom.

Charles Weigle was in Russ Darr's band in '81, but I thought his name was Clark--?
He later married Judy Eppolito, whose job on the advance was by then called Marketing Director.

That season of '81 had us on 2 lots in New Orleans, and we all went down to Bourbon Street. I sat with Johnny Herriott in a club where Jim Ille had the band, and on breaks he regaled with how woeful it was to have married a Hanneford. I had already known how rough he was on Kay Francis, but in consideration of my company that night, I held my peace.