The Bridge

The Auburn Knights Orchestra (the current band) is currently seeking donations for new equipment. As of April this year, the Auburn Knights Orchestra, Inc. has gained 501(c)(3) status and would like to welcome any and all assistance to the band. Our bassist, Sidney Simmons, has shown a strong desire to play an upright bass, and we would love to grant him that request. Donations are tax deductible so don’t be shy! If you have any information or would like to contribute, please contact AKO Business Manager Errick Johnson at your earliest convenience. And thanks to everyone for their continued support to both the current band and the alumni association. War Eagle!

If you didn’t get a chance to place your pre-order for the audio or video recordings of the 2009 Auburn Knights Reunion concerts at the reunion, we wanted to let you know that these recordings are now available for sale at the Kelsey Creative Media web site! Each concert was professionally recorded, and in addition to the audio recordings we are offering a special DVD compilation of the entire 2009 reunion weekend. Each concert is included in this one-of-a-kind multi-disc DVD collection. The DVD also includes the following special bonus features:

• A 2009 AKAA Reunion Video Scrapbook: Camera personnel worked all week to capture the magic moments that make the AKAA reunion so special.
• Special interviews with AKAA President Jana Calano and other AKO superstars.

The cost for each individual concert recording is $12, including shipping and handling. The cost for the multi-DVD video scrapbook is $39.99, including shipping and handling. Visit the Kelsey Creative Media web site to place your order! Note that if you did pre-order, we have received word that Kelsey Creative Media currently anticipates a delivery date of early to mid-October.

Did you know that video of performances by various Auburn Knights alumni (and friends of the Auburn Knights) can be seen on YouTube? Some of them include:

• Saxophonist Dave Edwards, who appears in a number of videos with the Lawrence Welk Orchestra. An especially nice one is this clip of Dave’s solo performance of “Misty”.
• Trumpeter Art Depew, who likewise appears in several videos with the Lawrence Welk Orchestra (among others). An especially good one is this clip of Art’s solo performance of “People Will Say We’re in Love”.
• Pianist Victor “Brother” Atkins, who can be seen in a number of videos, including this performance of “Circle of Fourths” with the Delfeayo Marsalis Octet.
• Guitarist Bert Cotton, who can be seen in a number of videos, including this performance with Bonerama at Tipitina’s in New Orleans.

Are there any we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments!

Jack Behrens’ book Big Bands and Great Ballrooms: America is Dancing… Again (available from Amazon.com and other booksellers) offers a nostalgic look back at bands and dance halls, as well as an up-close view of today’s leaders and bands. The book includes some of the history of the Auburn Knights Orchestra, and includes several quotes from Auburn Knights alumnus Dorsey Tippett about how the band has managed to stay together for so long and the future prospects for the Auburn Knights and big bands in general:

“The future of our band is very promising. I believe our standards are classic and will always be around, and people will always have a desire to hear them… I have enjoyed listening to swing ever since I was a little girl. I love it! I believe that is the way it will be for others in the future.”

If you’ve read this book and would like to let us know what you thought of it, let us know!

The 2010 Auburn Knights Alumni reunion will be held July 20-25, 2010, at the Auburn Marriott Opelika Hotel & Conference Center at Grand National. We have once again secured a special room rate of $79 per night; be sure to mention that you’ll be there for the Auburn Knights reunion when reserving your room. More information about the rehearsal and performance schedules will be available closer to reunion time.

The July 2009 issue of The Bridge, the newsletter of the Auburn Knights Alumni Association, is now available for download as a PDF. AKAA members should receive their printed copies in the mail this week.

The April 2009 issue of The Bridge, the newsletter of the Auburn Knights Alumni Association, is now available for download as a PDF. AKAA members should receive their printed copies in the mail this week.

According to a recent report from our library archivists, the Auburn Knights Alumni Association’s music library includes over 2000 charts. If you are a coordinator of one of the era bands that performs at the Auburn Knights reunions and you’re looking for a particular chart, you can download a copy of the library (in Microsoft Excel format) to see if we have it in our library. Contact either Tom Winstead or Bob Jemian (our library archivists) for more information on obtaining particular charts from the library.

This is just a quick note to tell you that Rod Neis, who records the AKAA Reunion concerts each summer, sends word that CDs from the 2008 AKAA reunion have shipped. If you’ve already placed an order, you should expect to receive your CD(s) soon. If you didn’t get a chance to order this summer, an order form will also appear in next month’s issue of The Bridge (the AKAA Newsletter).

Auburn Knights Orchestra alumnus Sonny Harris has been selected for induction into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place on September 26, 2008 at Brock Hall, Wright Center, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama. The time is 6:30 p.m. for the reception and 7:30 p.m. for the program. Tickets are $35 each. Reserved seats are available for those who wish to order tickets via credit card or check to:

Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
1631 4th Ave. North
Birmingham, AL 35203
(205) 254-2731 ext. 21

Tickets will also be available at the door.

Brock Hall is the home of SuperJazz Band, Birmingham’s premier big band, which has featured Sonny Harris since its inception in the 70’s. This band performs four concerts each year. Acoustics are very good at Brock hall, and seating accomodates 300.

Sonny’s nomination is well overdue, and it’s hoped that some Auburn Knights will be able to attend this ceremony!