The Bridge

The Auburn Knights Orchestra currently has several open positions on the band and will be holding auditions on Sunday, September 10 for the following instruments: Sax, Trombone, Trumpet, Drums, Piano, and Bass.

If you think you may be interested in auditioning, please contact the AKO business manager, Ricky Callaway, to schedule an audition time. Otherwise please forward this information along to anyone who you think may be interested.

The Auburn Knights, while primarily a student-aged organization, is not directly affiliated with Auburn University and therefore membership is open to musicians of all ages. Scholarships are available, including a new fund specifically for incoming freshmen.

Thanks for your help getting the word out!

If you weren’t able to attend the 2006 reunion, or didn’t get a chance to place your order while you were there, we’re still accepting orders for CDs and cassettes of the 2006 AKAA Reunion. Download a copy of the order form and get your order in today!

The 1959-60 Auburn Knights “Happy” LP album, now in digitally remastered CD form, is available. This particular band, featuring players such as Dave Edwards, Teeny Mahaffey, Herb Edwards, Frank Butenschoen, Harold Alexander, Norm Boldin, Dale Mann, Bobby Boettcher, Bob Collins, Bob Mayfield, Bud Goodrick, Sonny Harris, Toni Tennille, was a 50s band that crossed the dateline on 1/1/60. The ‘59-’60 band was a continuation of the great 50s era which produced some of the best bands in the AK history, and this band was the band that brought together all the drive and training that had been developing throughout the mid- to late ’50s.

If anyone would like to order or reorder, please contact Mary Kate Gach. The CD is $15, plus $2.50 shipping and handling, with all proceeds going to the Auburn Knights Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. Mary Kate’s contact information is:

Mary Kate Gach (mkgach@aol.com)

P.O. Box 130242

Birmingham, AL 35213

(205) 933-0557

Note: Make checks payable to Mary Kate Gach.

If you took any photos at the 2006 Auburn Knights reunion and wouldn’t mind sharing them for print in upcoming issues of the newsletter, please contact newsletter editor Lyle Johnson as soon as possible (at editor@auburnknightsalumni.org). Thanks!

Vic Atkins forwards this message from Auburn Knights alumnus Tommy Goff:

I have been fortunate enough to hear all of the Auburn Knights Orchestras since 1951 and I believe the 2006 version is as good as any of them! I’m even more sure that the current trumpet section is better than any of the past ones, and I’m including ones that had Don Culley, Rudy Blackmarr, Ronnie Bretz or Rob Cothran in them. And, although it has been a long time since Toni Tennille was on the band, I believe the current vocalist, Dorsey Tippett, is every bit as good as Toni was!

In 1965 it looked very much like the Knights would fold – like every other college dance band apparently did – but all who heard their performance Saturday night would agree, I’m sure, that the band is going great and will be around for many years to come. Many thanks to Steve Means and Dale Quillen for realizing back in 1965 that having reunions and performing at them would turn things around and contribute greatly to the future success of the band.

I would appreciate your sending this note to other Knights, especially the current ones.