2007

One of the best known and most influential vocal groups of all times was The Ink Spots. Founded in Indianapolis in 1932, the quartet headed to New York a few years later where they added singer Bill Kenny. With Kenny handling lead vocals, the group scored a hit record with, "If I Didn't Care," eventually selling more than 19 million copies. In 1945, Kenny left to go solo, but a few years later he reformed The Ink Spots and among the new members was Ernie Brown. Ernest O. "Ernie" Brown, Sr. started on the piano at the age of three and eventually learned to play the organ, drums, and guitar as well while leading his own combos. During the late 'forties, he was a member of the Decca recording group, The Blenders, which, like most groups of the time, was modeled after The Ink Spots. Recruited by Kenney as a guitarist and vocalist in 1952, he toured with the group throughout North America. Ernie is numbered among the 14 vocalists and 5 pianists who are regarded by historians as "original" members of The Ink Spots. However, when Kenney did not want to pay the others for an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show to honor returning Korean War Veterans, the group broke up and Kenney went solo once again. A year later, Ernie moved to Columbus where he performed for many years, often as the leader of the well-remembered Ernie Brown Trio. He also wrote and recorded a single, "Rosemary." In 1972, Ernie relocated to Lakeland, Maryland, where the Brown family originated. On July 1, 1983, Ernie passed away. However, several of his children and many of his fans remain in the Columbus area.

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Bill Burczyk graduated from Messmer High School before attending Marquette University. An accordion player, Bill launched the Billy Romans Trio in 1975, playing restaurants, festivals, and fairs, in the Columbus area. For 18 years, the trio entertained the customers at Anderson General Stores on weekends. They also worked the Columbus Oktoberfest, Italian Festival, and the annual Columbus Auto Show. As Billy Romans, Bill has also worked solo, holding down a two year engagement at the Olive Garden Restaurants in Columbus and Heath. He can also be heard regularly at various senior centers, assisted living homes, birthday parties, and anniversary celebrations. At times, he would expand the group to a quartet by adding percussionist. Following the deaths of several members of the trio, Bill put together a duo to work Schmidt's in German Village. More recently, Bill has been playing many solo gigs at senior centers, assisted living homes, and private parties.

A native of Columbus, Frank Cleveland first started singing in the Mt. Vernon A.M.E. Children's Choir. While attending the city's public schools, he took every opportunity to use his tenor voice in East High School operettas, the barbershop quartet, and the Gamut Society, which presented weekly soloists to the school audiences. During his student days he was also a member of the National Association of Negro Musicians Choir, directed by Ara Arnold. Frank was a scholar at Capital University and member of the Chapel Choir led by the legendary Ellis Snyder, as well as the Men's Glee Club. After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and in an 18 year military career, he spent the majority of his time as bandmaster/ commander of the 338th Army Band. However, his first love is choral music and for nearly 30 years Frank directed the Shiloh Baptist Church Senior Choir. He has also served over 30 years as director of the Paul Lawrence Dunbar Afro-American Concert Choir, founded by 2006 Hall of Fame inductee Leonard Napper, Sr. Although he his retired, Frank still shares his skills as an educator by directing the GED Program for the Columbus Public Schools, as well as mentoring young singers in the Columbus Urban League Boys Choir.

Born July 3, 1916 and raised in Columbus, Charles Edward Clonch graduated from North High School, where he studied music and played in the band. Doubling on the alto and tenor sax, clarinet, and various rhythm instruments, Charles played in local bands until the outbreak of World War II. Entering the Navy, he was a member of several Navy bands during his tour of duty. Following the war, Charles gigged with more local bands before joining the Chuck Selby Orchestra. At one point, he turned down an offer to travel with Dean Martin in order to remain in Ohio. During the late 'fifties, Charles managed several music stores out West, but continued to play in several local bands. Returning to Columbus in 1960, Charles managed the Summers & Sons music store in Newark and resumed playing with the Chuck Selby Orchestra at Valley Dale. He played at the reception for Lucille Ball and Gary Morton when they got married. Due to a heart attack in the mid-'sixties, Charles had to cut back on his playing. Still, he continued to work with several newark-area bands, particularly The Wayne Martin Band. Although Charles passed away on March 22, 1999, he has not been forgotten.

Ed Cottle started playing piano professionally in high school in New Jersey. He has been active in the central Ohio music scene since arriving in Delaware to attend college in the early 'sixties. During his junior year, Ed joined the Columbus Federation of Musicians. He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Theory and Composition and composition in 1968. From 1969-1975, he served in the military with the 338th Army Band. Ed has performed solo, and with many bands, on the road, and virtually everywhere in Central Ohio. His resume includes playing in orchestras for shows accompanying Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Steve Allen, Red Buttons, the Mills Brothers, the Stars of the Lawrence Welk Show, and others. He has worked with such local groups as Tom Battenberg's Free Rein, Chuz Alfred, Terrie Finnerty, Meg Murphy, New Remnants Dance Orchestra, and the Columbus Jazz Arts Group. On the road, he has played in the Rudy Scaffidi Orchestra for Admiral Cruise Lines, Marc III Trio in Iowa, Craig Irwin Trio in Michigan, Fr. Clarence Joseph Rivers band in New Orleans and Tampa, etc. As a soloist, he performs standards, show tunes, and ballads.

Born in Pontotoc, Mississippi, Ruby Elzy was abandoned by her father in 1913 at the age of five, forcing her mother to support her and her three siblings by taking in washing, picking cotton, and teaching at the Pontotoc Colored School. Ruby had already begun singing in church, having learned Negro spirituals from her grandmother, a former slave. While a freshman at Rust College, Ruby had the good fortune to cross paths with a visiting administrator from Ohio State University, Dr. C.C. McCracken. Impressed with her amazing voice, Dr. McCracken persuaded her to transfer schools to take advantage of the music program at OSU. Ruby arrived in Columbus in Sepetember, 1927, where she began studying with Dr. Royal D. Hughes, founder of the university's school of music. While living in Columbus, Ruby was one of seventeen sopranos selected to sing America, a tone poem by Ernest Bloch. They were accompanied by the Cleveland Symphony. She also sang several solos on a WEAO radio broadcast as a member of the Ohio State University Chorus. And on May 27, 1930, she was the first Ohio State student to give a solo public concert. Upon her graduation the next month, she ranked first in her class in the Department of Music and was awarded a B.S. in Education. Moving to Harlem, she made her Broadway debut on October 7, 1930, in the Bill "Bojangles" Robinson vehicle, Brown Buddies. After completing her first year at Julliard and getting married, Ruby was back on Broadway, singing "Where's My Happy Ending?" in Fast and Furious, a music revue. She was hired in June, 1933, as a choral assistant for the film version of The Emperor Jones with Paul Robeson. Soon, Ruby had been elevated to the role of Roberson's girlfriend by the movie's screenwriter, DuBose Heyward. Although the movie bombed, Heyward recommended Ruby to George Gershwin who was busy transforming Heyward's novel, Porgy, into a musical. In 1934, she received rave reviews for her performance in the role of Serena in Porgy and Bess. When the show closed in New York, Ruby went on tour with the road version and appeared in the subsequent revival in 1941. Sadly, Ruby died on June 26, 1943, following routine surgery for a benign tumor. Her body was returned to Mississippi for burial.

Born in Geneva, IL, Thomas O. George grew up west of Chicago. His first instrument was the trombone. The Glen Ellyn schools had a very strong music program and Tom won many awards in small group and full band programs. Moving to Worthington in 1954, Tom attended Denison University and three years later began playing drums with Harry Epp's Muskat Ramblers. He gigged with many other local bands as well, joining the Sounds of Dixie from 1981 until 1990. For the next two years, Tom played with the Lower London Street Jazz Band while helping to found the Toll House Jazz Band. He continues to play with that group and sometimes subs with The Louisiana Purchase. For over ten years, the Toll House Jazz Band has held down a regular weekly job at the Holiday Inn on Lane Avenue. They have also played at various festivals and events throughout the midwest and have performed in Europe on four occasions (Munich, Dresden, and Leipsig, Germany, and Brunico, Italy). A founding member of the Central Ohio Hot Jazz Society, Tom has served on the board for 20 years and was president for four terms. He was also an original member of the American Federation of Jazz Societies and helped form the Midwest Jazz Alliance with clubs in Chicago, St. Louis, West Michigan, and Indianapolis).

Born in Lancaster, Ohio, Dale Groves was 8 or 9 when Professor Otis came through town selling musical instruments from the trunk of his car. Dale's father scraped together the $1.00 down and $1.00 per week plus 25¢ for a one hour lesson and purchased a trombone. A small band was formed from surrounding areas and Dale quickly joined. Dale was in junior high school when the family moved to Columbus. He attended East High Scholl and became active in marching band and orchestra. During World War ll, he formed a big band made up of several musicians from other high schools in and around Columbus. While attending high school, Dale played with the Dick Kelly Orchestra and also in the pit bands at the movie theaters. For a time, he played and traveled with The Stomp Gordon Band. He also played and sat in when called for in many touring bands. After school came the Korean War, active duty, marriage, and a family. Dale only played for his own enjoyment until his boys became teenagers and they wanted to play in a band. In the late 'sixties, Dale and Herb Wilke formed The Sounds of Tyme, a teenage big band made up of musicians primarily from Gahanna and Reynoldsburg High Schools. The band played many venues in and around Columbus including Valley Dale and was featured in the Sunday Magazine section of The Columbus Dispatch. Many of those musicians went on to play professionally around Columbus and with some national acts such as Woody Herman, Buddy Rich and Stan Kenton. In the 'seventies, Dale and Bruno Masdea formed the Fabulous Forties Orchestra that later became Dale Groves and The Fabulous Forties. The band played to sold out audiences all over Ohio and monthly dances at The Valley Dale. Dale and Chuck Selby promoted a 'Battle of the Bands' at Valley Dale with The Fab 40's and The Chuck Selby Orchestra. It was nonstop music and the dance floor was packed. Dale and his wife now live in Clearwater, Florida.

Bob Hughes was born in South Philadelphia, but moved to Columbus at the age of five. He bought his first guitar when he was 13 or 14 with money he earned from his paper route. As a young boy, he used to listen to B.B. King, Slim Harpo, Fats Domino, the Spaniels, Eldorados, and other black artists on WLAC, Nashville, Tennessee. "That influenced my whole life," Bob notes. His friends thought he was "weird" for listening to such music, but Bob didn't care. He would buy Sun Records five for a quarter at Marco's record shop (eventually, he put together a complete collection) and would order others on black labels such as Vee Jay through the mail. He cited a general "lack of feeling" in the popular music of that era as being the reason he preferred, say, Fats Domino to Pat Boone. With Alan Hood, a friend at North High School, Bob began learning to play the guitar. He practiced playing Bill Haley and similar rockabilly tunes, jamming with anybody he could find. Chuck Howard was developing a following at this time. Hughes wanted to play with him, but wasn't good enough. So he joined up with Chuck Dee (aka Charles Dillon) who was doing Howard's songs (as were a number of other groups from Toledo to Huntington). Hughes was paid $3 a night for backing Dee at a club called Rocky's (later the Club Rio). He didn't care about the money; he was just glad to be playing. But the low pay contributed to the enormous turnover of musicians in Dee's band. Finally, the band members broke away from Dee and began calling themselves The Coachmen, while Dee turned to professional wrestling. Over the years, Bob has played with Joey Dee & the Starlighters, Jackie DeShannon (when she was just Jackie D), the Sonny & Cher Show, and the Oxford Watchband. He also has formed a number of bands including Hughes Blues, The Bob Hughes Blues Band, Hughes Muse, Full Spectrum, Magic, The Inmen, Surprize, and numerous others. He has also produced recordings by many local groups. Throughout his career, Bob has tried to keep in mind that his purpose is to entertain the people.

Dorothy Jones, her cousin, and a friend started a vocal group when they were all members of the choir at the First Baptist Church of Coney Island, New York. Originally from Montclair, SC, Jones was influenced by her mother, a soloist with the church choir. After placing third in the Talent Night competition at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, the trio was approached by Jesse Stone, a talent scout, who arranged for them to record their first single on Lamp and gave them their name, The Cookies. Soon they were signed by Atlantic where they gained wider exposure, leading to a great deal of studio work doing back-up vocals for the likes of La Verne Baker, Ray Charles, Ruth Brown, and Chuck Willis. When they were asked to join Ray Charles (as The Raeletts), Dorothy declined because she was pregnant and watched helplessly as the trio broke up. Two years later, Dorothy and her new partners were once again in demand for recording sessions produced by Neil Sedaka, Carole King and Gerry Goffin, and other hot songwriters. Their big break came when they were signed in 1963 to the newly formed Dimension Records label and released "Chains," a Top 20 hit nationally, followed six months later by "Don't Say Nothin' Bad About My Baby." However, behind the scenes things were not going well for Dimension Records and it went out of business within two years. At that point, Dorothy focused her attention on her growing family. She moved to Columbus in 1970, where she and her husband brought up their twelve children. In 1997, several surviving members of the group appeared on Fordham University's WFUV "Group Harmony Review" program to discuss their career. Dorothy and two others resumed performing again as The Cookies and continued up until she was forced to retire due to poor health. Dorothy also recorded as a member of the following groups: The Cinderellas, The Honey Bees, The Palisades, The Stepping Stones, but was often uncredited.

Born in Phoneton, Ohio, Tom H. Ostrander graduated from Lakewood (Ohio) High School, where he played baritone horn in the band. At The Ohio State University, he studied bass trombone and euphonium, was in the Orchestra, Concert Bands, a Marching Band (6-years), and was inducted in the Kappa Kappa Psi (national college band honorary). He also attended Mexico's University of the Americas and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. His introduction to music at age 10 was a bugler, serving in several award-winning Ohio drum and bugle corps, and as Music Director of VFW Post #3424 Columbus Statesman corps. He closed out his bugling avocation as National Senior VFW Champion on the soprano, French horn, baritone, and contra-bass bugles, and drum major. A World War II veteran, Tom was a member of US Army Bands in Texas and Japan. In the Army Reserve, he joined the 83rd Infantry Division Band in Cleveland, was Bandmaster of the 338th Army Band at Fort Hayes, and later the Ohio National Guard 37th Infantry Division Band in Worthington, retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer. Tom and his wife, Elaine, founded Colonial Music, Inc., in 1964 at Mount Vernon. It grew to be Ohio's largest school music retail chain with 8 stores in Hilliard, Marion, Marysville, Mount Vernon, Newark, Reynoldsburg, Westerville, Worthington, and 4 satellites. He retired as CEO on merging with Music and Arts Centers in 2006. Tom was an Adjunct Brass Instructor at the Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Director of the Mount Vernon Community Band, played in the American Legion Franklin Post #1, Germania Band, and Knox County Symphony. He was also Vice President of Local 308 American Federation of Musicians, and still finds time to perform with TBDBITL (OSU Alumni Marching Band).

Trombonist Ian Polster is a graduate of Bexley High School and earned a B.S, B. Music, and M.A. from The Ohio State University. While in college, he played in the Concert and Marching Bands, Jazz Forum, Regimental Band, Brass Choir, and Columbus Symphony Brass Quintet, sang in the Men's Glee Club, and worked in a number of local bands. He also found time to lead his own band, The Interludes, playing bars, fraternities, and sororities. Over the years, Ian was a member of the bands of Lou Posey, Howdy Gorman, Sammy Hopkins, Bill Graham. He was Director of Instrumental Music for the Xenia City Schools, 1961-66; was an Associate Director of Bands at The Ohio State University, 1966-67; and Director of Instrumental Music and Chairman of Music Theory at Central State University, 1967-70. For 33 years (until his retirement in 2004), he taught introduction to music, fundamentals of music, music composition, music education, 20th-century American music, elementary music theory, studio trombone, and jazz styles at Wittenberg University in Springfield. He is author of or contributor to more than 20 books and monographs on composition, theory, developing music skills, and micro-computer software. The principal trombonist with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra for over 40 years, Conductor of the Springfield Concert Band, and the past Conductor of the Springfield Youth Symphony, Ian serves as Music Director for various community theatre productions. He was a former member of the Stan Kenton Orchestra and its clinic staff and the orchestras of Nelson Riddle and Henry Mancini. His travels as a performer have taken him to Germany and Japan. As a guest of the Tchaikovsky National Conservatory of Music, in 1999 and 2001, he prepared and conducted the first performances of "West Side Story" in Kiev, Ukraine. Even now, Ian serves as Assistant Director of the Ohio State University Marching Band Alumni Band.

Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, Jim Russell first received musical instruction from his parents. Later, during junior and senior high school, he attended the Chautauqua Institute in New York during the summers and was the recipient of the John Philip Sousa award. At the Carnegie Institute of Technology, he majored in clarinet and studied with Louis Paul, clarinet soloist with the Pittsburgh Symphony. In the military, Jim played clarinet and sax in the United States Air Force Band and sang with the Singing Sergeants. Following his discharge, he moved to Columbus and freelanced with Chuck Selby, Ladd McIntosh, Don Carr, and others. He also began teaching, at Newark and DeSales High Schools, and at Van's Music. In 1966, Jim started playing six nights a week with Danny Mann at the Speakeasy, Everglades, and other clubs. In addition to doubling on tenor sax and flute, he began playing the Hammond B-3. In 1968-1969, Jim led his own trio at the New Frontier Lounge, and worked in duos with Al Evans at the Scioto Inn and Vogue Lounge and Jaylene Gray at the Olentangy Inn and the Holiday Inn in Heath. After leaving his job at DeSales, Jim joined the Don Beck Trio at the Sheraton Hotel and the Vogue Lounge, while continuing to work with Don Beck at the Marriott Inn East and Jack Gorham at the Driftwood. He also opened the Worthington Music Studio, which he moved to Terry Piano & Organ. Throughout the 'eighties, Jim worked a number of private parties with the Majestics and his own Jim Russell Trio. The following decade, he continued his teaching at Coyle Music and Hauer Music before co-founding the Columbus Music Academy. He also joined the widely known Black Swamp Saxophone Quartet. Finally, in 2002, he retired.

A native of Mount Vernon, Ohio, Vaughn Wiester began honing his skills as a musician under the tutelage of Robert H. Bechtel. While still in high school, he played and arranged for the Riley Norris Band. After a hitch as a navy trombonist, Vaughn came to Columbus in 1968 to attend Ohio State University and soon joined the Dave Workman Blues Band. Four years later, he became a member of the newly formed Jazz Arts Group led by Ray Eubanks. In 1974, Vaughn was invited to join the Woody Herman Orchestra. After two years on the road with Herman, he returned to Columbus to accept a position at the Dave Wheeler Contemporary Music Workshop and to resume his activities with the Jazz Arts Group as a bass trombonist and arranger. In 1977, Vaughn was invited to join the faculty at Capital University as part of their pioneering Jazz Studies degree program. Throughout this 17-year association with Capital, he taught courses in jazz arranging and jazz history, and directed the prize-winning Big Band Sound Big Band. In 1980, Vaughn joined the Terry Waldo Ragtime Orchestra. Vaughn's arrangements can be heard on recordings by Woody Herman, Waldo's Ragtime Orchestra, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, and the Keith Henson Octet. In 1992, Vaughn was inducted as an honorary member of the national music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha. Vaughn's current activities include his 21-piece Famous Jazz Orchestra, appearing weekly at the Columbus Music Hall; and an 8-piece group, Brasileira, a band devoted to the popular music of Brazil.



The Columbus Senior Musicians Hall of Fame, Inc. Class of 2007

			Dale Groves Bob Hughes Dorothy Jones Johnson Tom H. Ostrander Ian Polster Jim Russell Vaughn Wiester
	Ernest O. "Ernie" Brown Bill Burczyk aka "Billy Romans" Frank Cleveland Charles Edward Clonch Ed Cottle Ruby Elzy Thomas O. "Tom" George


		ERNEST O. "ERNIE" BROWN, SR. One of the best known and most influential vocal groups of all times was The Ink Spots. Founded in Indianapolis in 1932, the quartet headed to New York a few years later where they added singer Bill Kenny. With Kenny handling lead vocals, the group scored a hit record with, "If I Didn't Care," eventually selling more than 19 million copies. In 1945, Kenny left to go solo, but a few years later he reformed The Ink Spots and among the new members was Ernie Brown. Ernest O. "Ernie" Brown, Sr. started on the piano at the age of three and eventually learned to play the organ, drums, and guitar as well while leading his own combos. During the late 'forties, he was a member of the Decca recording group, The Blenders, which, like most groups of the time, was modeled after The Ink Spots. Recruited by Kenney as a guitarist and vocalist in 1952, he toured with the group throughout North America. Ernie is numbered among the 14 vocalists and 5 pianists who are regarded by historians as "original" members of The Ink Spots. However, when Kenney did not want to pay the others for an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show to honor returning Korean War Veterans, the group broke up and Kenney went solo once again. A year later, Ernie moved to Columbus where he performed for many years, often as the leader of the well-remembered Ernie Brown Trio. He also wrote and recorded a single, "Rosemary." In 1972, Ernie relocated to Lakeland, Maryland, where the Brown family originated. On July 1, 1983, Ernie passed away. However, several of his children and many of his fans remain in the Columbus area. BILL BURCZYK aka BILLY ROMANS Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Bill Burczyk graduated from Messmer High School before attending Marquette University. An accordion player, Bill launched the Billy Romans Trio in 1975, playing restaurants, festivals, and fairs, in the Columbus area. For 18 years, the trio entertained the customers at Anderson General Stores on weekends. They also worked the Columbus Oktoberfest, Italian Festival, and the annual Columbus Auto Show. As Billy Romans, Bill has also worked solo, holding down a two year engagement at the Olive Garden Restaurants in Columbus and Heath. He can also be heard regularly at various senior centers, assisted living homes, birthday parties, and anniversary celebrations. At times, he would expand the group to a quartet by adding percussionist. Following the deaths of several members of the trio, Bill put together a duo to work Schmidt's in German Village. More recently, Bill has been playing many solo gigs at senior centers, assisted living homes, and private parties. FRANK CLEVELAND A native of Columbus, Frank Cleveland first started singing in the Mt. Vernon A.M.E. Children's Choir. While attending the city's public schools, he took every opportunity to use his tenor voice in East High School operettas, the barbershop quartet, and the Gamut Society, which presented weekly soloists to the school audiences. During his student days he was also a member of the National Association of Negro Musicians Choir, directed by Ara Arnold. Frank was a scholar at Capital University and member of the Chapel Choir led by the legendary Ellis Snyder, as well as the Men's Glee Club. After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and in an 18 year military career, he spent the majority of his time as bandmaster/ commander of the 338th Army Band. However, his first love is choral music and for nearly 30 years Frank directed the Shiloh Baptist Church Senior Choir. He has also served over 30 years as director of the Paul Lawrence Dunbar Afro-American Concert Choir, founded by 2006 Hall of Fame inductee Leonard Napper, Sr. Although he his retired, Frank still shares his skills as an educator by directing the GED Program for the Columbus Public Schools, as well as mentoring young singers in the Columbus Urban League Boys Choir. CHARLES EDWARD CLONCH Born July 3, 1916 and raised in Columbus, Charles Edward Clonch graduated from North High School, where he studied music and played in the band. Doubling on the alto and tenor sax, clarinet, and various rhythm instruments, Charles played in local bands until the outbreak of World War II. Entering the Navy, he was a member of several Navy bands during his tour of duty. Following the war, Charles gigged with more local bands before joining the Chuck Selby Orchestra. At one point, he turned down an offer to travel with Dean Martin in order to remain in Ohio. During the late 'fifties, Charles managed several music stores out West, but continued to play in several local bands. Returning to Columbus in 1960, Charles managed the Summers & Sons music store in Newark and resumed playing with the Chuck Selby Orchestra at Valley Dale. He played at the reception for Lucille Ball and Gary Morton when they got married. Due to a heart attack in the mid-'sixties, Charles had to cut back on his playing. Still, he continued to work with several newark-area bands, particularly The Wayne Martin Band. Although Charles passed away on March 22, 1999, he has not been forgotten. ED COTTLE Ed Cottle started playing piano professionally in high school in New Jersey. He has been active in the central Ohio music scene since arriving in Delaware to attend college in the early 'sixties. During his junior year, Ed joined the Columbus Federation of Musicians. He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Theory and Composition and composition in 1968. From 1969-1975, he served in the military with the 338th Army Band. Ed has performed solo, and with many bands, on the road, and virtually everywhere in Central Ohio. His resume includes playing in orchestras for shows accompanying Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Steve Allen, Red Buttons, the Mills Brothers, the Stars of the Lawrence Welk Show, and others. He has worked with such local groups as Tom Battenberg's Free Rein, Chuz Alfred, Terrie Finnerty, Meg Murphy, New Remnants Dance Orchestra, and the Columbus Jazz Arts Group. On the road, he has played in the Rudy Scaffidi Orchestra for Admiral Cruise Lines, Marc III Trio in Iowa, Craig Irwin Trio in Michigan, Fr. Clarence Joseph Rivers band in New Orleans and Tampa, etc. As a soloist, he performs standards, show tunes, and ballads. RUBY ELZY Born in Pontotoc, Mississippi, Ruby Elzy was abandoned by her father in 1913 at the age of five, forcing her mother to support her and her three siblings by taking in washing, picking cotton, and teaching at the Pontotoc Colored School. Ruby had already begun singing in church, having learned Negro spirituals from her grandmother, a former slave. While a freshman at Rust College, Ruby had the good fortune to cross paths with a visiting administrator from Ohio State University, Dr. C.C. McCracken. Impressed with her amazing voice, Dr. McCracken persuaded her to transfer schools to take advantage of the music program at OSU. Ruby arrived in Columbus in Sepetember, 1927, where she began studying with Dr. Royal D. Hughes, founder of the university's school of music. While living in Columbus, Ruby was one of seventeen sopranos selected to sing America, a tone poem by Ernest Bloch. They were accompanied by the Cleveland Symphony. She also sang several solos on a WEAO radio broadcast as a member of the Ohio State University Chorus. And on May 27, 1930, she was the first Ohio State student to give a solo public concert. Upon her graduation the next month, she ranked first in her class in the Department of Music and was awarded a B.S. in Education. Moving to Harlem, she made her Broadway debut on October 7, 1930, in the Bill "Bojangles" Robinson vehicle, Brown Buddies. After completing her first year at Julliard and getting married, Ruby was back on Broadway, singing "Where's My Happy Ending?" in Fast and Furious, a music revue. She was hired in June, 1933, as a choral assistant for the film version of The Emperor Jones with Paul Robeson. Soon, Ruby had been elevated to the role of Roberson's girlfriend by the movie's screenwriter, DuBose Heyward. Although the movie bombed, Heyward recommended Ruby to George Gershwin who was busy transforming Heyward's novel, Porgy, into a musical. In 1934, she received rave reviews for her performance in the role of Serena in Porgy and Bess. When the show closed in New York, Ruby went on tour with the road version and appeared in the subsequent revival in 1941. Sadly, Ruby died on June 26, 1943, following routine surgery for a benign tumor. Her body was returned to Mississippi for burial. The story of Ruby Elzy has been published in Black Diva of the Thirties: The Life of Ruby Elzy by David E. Weaver of Columbus. THOMAS O. "TOM" GEORGE Born in Geneva, IL, Thomas O. George grew up west of Chicago. His first instrument was the trombone. The Glen Ellyn schools had a very strong music program and Tom won many awards in small group and full band programs. Moving to Worthington in 1954, Tom attended Denison University and three years later began playing drums with Harry Epp's Muskat Ramblers. He gigged with many other local bands as well, joining the Sounds of Dixie from 1981 until 1990. For the next two years, Tom played with the Lower London Street Jazz Band while helping to found the Toll House Jazz Band. He continues to play with that group and sometimes subs with The Louisiana Purchase. For over ten years, the Toll House Jazz Band has held down a regular weekly job at the Holiday Inn on Lane Avenue. They have also played at various festivals and events throughout the midwest and have performed in Europe on four occasions (Munich, Dresden, and Leipsig, Germany, and Brunico, Italy). A founding member of the Central Ohio Hot Jazz Society, Tom has served on the board for 20 years and was president for four terms. He was also an original member of the American Federation of Jazz Societies and helped form the Midwest Jazz Alliance with clubs in Chicago, St. Louis, West Michigan, and Indianapolis). DALE GROVES Born in Lancaster, Ohio, Dale Groves was 8 or 9 when Professor Otis came through town selling musical instruments from the trunk of his car. Dale's father scraped together the $1.00 down and $1.00 per week plus 25¢ for a one hour lesson and purchased a trombone. A small band was formed from surrounding areas and Dale quickly joined. Dale was in junior high school when the family moved to Columbus. He attended East High Scholl and became active in marching band and orchestra. During World War ll, he formed a big band made up of several musicians from other high schools in and around Columbus. While attending high school, Dale played with the Dick Kelly Orchestra and also in the pit bands at the movie theaters. For a time, he played and traveled with The Stomp Gordon Band. He also played and sat in when called for in many touring bands. After school came the Korean War, active duty, marriage, and a family. Dale only played for his own enjoyment until his boys became teenagers and they wanted to play in a band. In the late 'sixties, Dale and Herb Wilke formed The Sounds of Tyme, a teenage big band made up of musicians primarily from Gahanna and Reynoldsburg High Schools. The band played many venues in and around Columbus including Valley Dale and was featured in the Sunday Magazine section of The Columbus Dispatch. Many of those musicians went on to play professionally around Columbus and with some national acts such as Woody Herman, Buddy Rich and Stan Kenton. In the 'seventies, Dale and Bruno Masdea formed the Fabulous Forties Orchestra that later became Dale Groves and The Fabulous Forties. The band played to sold out audiences all over Ohio and monthly dances at The Valley Dale. Dale and Chuck Selby promoted a 'Battle of the Bands' at Valley Dale with The Fab 40's and The Chuck Selby Orchestra. It was nonstop music and the dance floor was packed. Dale and his wife now live in Clearwater, Florida. BOB HUGHES Bob Hughes was born in South Philadelphia, but moved to Columbus at the age of five. He bought his first guitar when he was 13 or 14 with money he earned from his paper route. As a young boy, he used to listen to B.B. King, Slim Harpo, Fats Domino, the Spaniels, Eldorados, and other black artists on WLAC, Nashville, Tennessee. "That influenced my whole life," Bob notes. His friends thought he was "weird" for listening to such music, but Bob didn't care. He would buy Sun Records five for a quarter at Marco's record shop (eventually, he put together a complete collection) and would order others on black labels such as Vee Jay through the mail. He cited a general "lack of feeling" in the popular music of that era as being the reason he preferred, say, Fats Domino to Pat Boone. With Alan Hood, a friend at North High School, Bob began learning to play the guitar. He practiced playing Bill Haley and similar rockabilly tunes, jamming with anybody he could find. Chuck Howard was developing a following at this time. Hughes wanted to play with him, but wasn't good enough. So he joined up with Chuck Dee (aka Charles Dillon) who was doing Howard's songs (as were a number of other groups from Toledo to Huntington). Hughes was paid $3 a night for backing Dee at a club called Rocky's (later the Club Rio). He didn't care about the money; he was just glad to be playing. But the low pay contributed to the enormous turnover of musicians in Dee's band. Finally, the band members broke away from Dee and began calling themselves The Coachmen, while Dee turned to professional wrestling. Over the years, Bob has played with Joey Dee & the Starlighters, Jackie DeShannon (when she was just Jackie D), the Sonny & Cher Show, and the Oxford Watchband. He also has formed a number of bands including Hughes Blues, The Bob Hughes Blues Band, Hughes Muse, Full Spectrum, Magic, The Inmen, Surprize, and numerous others. He has also produced recordings by many local groups. Throughout his career, Bob has tried to keep in mind that his purpose is to entertain the people. DOROTHY JONES JOHNSON Dorothy Jones, her cousin, and a friend started a vocal group when they were all members of the choir at the First Baptist Church of Coney Island, New York. Originally from Montclair, SC, Jones was influenced by her mother, a soloist with the church choir. After placing third in the Talent Night competition at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, the trio was approached by Jesse Stone, a talent scout, who arranged for them to record their first single on Lamp and gave them their name, The Cookies. Soon they were signed by Atlantic where they gained wider exposure, leading to a great deal of studio work doing back-up vocals for the likes of La Verne Baker, Ray Charles, Ruth Brown, and Chuck Willis. When they were asked to join Ray Charles (as The Raeletts), Dorothy declined because she was pregnant and watched helplessly as the trio broke up. Two years later, Dorothy and her new partners were once again in demand for recording sessions produced by Neil Sedaka, Carole King and Gerry Goffin, and other hot songwriters. Their big break came when they were signed in 1963 to the newly formed Dimension Records label and released "Chains," a Top 20 hit nationally, followed six months later by "Don't Say Nothin' Bad About My Baby." However, behind the scenes things were not going well for Dimension Records and it went out of business within two years. At that point, Dorothy focused her attention on her growing family. She moved to Columbus in 1970, where she and her husband brought up their twelve children. In 1997, several surviving members of the group appeared on Fordham University's WFUV "Group Harmony Review" program to discuss their career. Dorothy and two others resumed performing again as The Cookies and continued up until she was forced to retire due to poor health. Dorothy also recorded as a member of the following groups: The Cinderellas, The Honey Bees, The Palisades, The Stepping Stones, but was often uncredited. TOM H. OSTRANDER Born in Phoneton, Ohio, Tom H. Ostrander graduated from Lakewood (Ohio) High School, where he played baritone horn in the band. At The Ohio State University, he studied bass trombone and euphonium, was in the Orchestra, Concert Bands, a Marching Band (6-years), and was inducted in the Kappa Kappa Psi (national college band honorary). He also attended Mexico's University of the Americas and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. His introduction to music at age 10 was a bugler, serving in several award-winning Ohio drum and bugle corps, and as Music Director of VFW Post #3424 Columbus Statesman corps. He closed out his bugling avocation as National Senior VFW Champion on the soprano, French horn, baritone, and contra-bass bugles, and drum major. A World War II veteran, Tom was a member of US Army Bands in Texas and Japan. In the Army Reserve, he joined the 83rd Infantry Division Band in Cleveland, was Bandmaster of the 338th Army Band at Fort Hayes, and later the Ohio National Guard 37th Infantry Division Band in Worthington, retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer. Tom and his wife, Elaine, founded Colonial Music, Inc., in 1964 at Mount Vernon. It grew to be Ohio's largest school music retail chain with 8 stores in Hilliard, Marion, Marysville, Mount Vernon, Newark, Reynoldsburg, Westerville, Worthington, and 4 satellites. He retired as CEO on merging with Music and Arts Centers in 2006. Tom was an Adjunct Brass Instructor at the Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Director of the Mount Vernon Community Band, played in the American Legion Franklin Post #1, Germania Band, and Knox County Symphony. He was also Vice President of Local 308 American Federation of Musicians, and still finds time to perform with TBDBITL (OSU Alumni Marching Band). IAN POLSTER Trombonist Ian Polster is a graduate of Bexley High School and earned a B.S, B. Music, and M.A. from The Ohio State University. While in college, he played in the Concert and Marching Bands, Jazz Forum, Regimental Band, Brass Choir, and Columbus Symphony Brass Quintet, sang in the Men's Glee Club, and worked in a number of local bands. He also found time to lead his own band, The Interludes, playing bars, fraternities, and sororities. Over the years, Ian was a member of the bands of Lou Posey, Howdy Gorman, Sammy Hopkins, Bill Graham. He was Director of Instrumental Music for the Xenia City Schools, 1961-66; was an Associate Director of Bands at The Ohio State University, 1966-67; and Director of Instrumental Music and Chairman of Music Theory at Central State University, 1967-70. For 33 years (until his retirement in 2004), he taught introduction to music, fundamentals of music, music composition, music education, 20th-century American music, elementary music theory, studio trombone, and jazz styles at Wittenberg University in Springfield. He is author of or contributor to more than 20 books and monographs on composition, theory, developing music skills, and micro-computer software. The principal trombonist with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra for over 40 years, Conductor of the Springfield Concert Band, and the past Conductor of the Springfield Youth Symphony, Ian serves as Music Director for various community theatre productions. He was a former member of the Stan Kenton Orchestra and its clinic staff and the orchestras of Nelson Riddle and Henry Mancini. His travels as a performer have taken him to Germany and Japan. As a guest of the Tchaikovsky National Conservatory of Music, in 1999 and 2001, he prepared and conducted the first performances of "West Side Story" in Kiev, Ukraine. Even now, Ian serves as Assistant Director of the Ohio State University Marching Band Alumni Band. JIM RUSSELL Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, Jim Russell first received musical instruction from his parents. Later, during junior and senior high school, he attended the Chautauqua Institute in New York during the summers and was the recipient of the John Philip Sousa award. At the Carnegie Institute of Technology, he majored in clarinet and studied with Louis Paul, clarinet soloist with the Pittsburgh Symphony. In the military, Jim played clarinet and sax in the United States Air Force Band and sang with the Singing Sergeants. Following his discharge, he moved to Columbus and freelanced with Chuck Selby, Ladd McIntosh, Don Carr, and others. He also began teaching, at Newark and DeSales High Schools, and at Van's Music. In 1966, Jim started playing six nights a week with Danny Mann at the Speakeasy, Everglades, and other clubs. In addition to doubling on tenor sax and flute, he began playing the Hammond B-3. In 1968-1969, Jim led his own trio at the New Frontier Lounge, and worked in duos with Al Evans at the Scioto Inn and Vogue Lounge and Jaylene Gray at the Olentangy Inn and the Holiday Inn in Heath. After leaving his job at DeSales, Jim joined the Don Beck Trio at the Sheraton Hotel and the Vogue Lounge, while continuing to work with Don Beck at the Marriott Inn East and Jack Gorham at the Driftwood. He also opened the Worthington Music Studio, which he moved to Terry Piano & Organ. Throughout the 'eighties, Jim worked a number of private parties with the Majestics and his own Jim Russell Trio. The following decade, he continued his teaching at Coyle Music and Hauer Music before co-founding the Columbus Music Academy. He also joined the widely known Black Swamp Saxophone Quartet. Finally, in 2002, he retired. VAUGHN WIESTER A native of Mount Vernon, Ohio, Vaughn Wiester began honing his skills as a musician under the tutelage of Robert H. Bechtel. While still in high school, he played and arranged for the Riley Norris Band. After a hitch as a navy trombonist, Vaughn came to Columbus in 1968 to attend Ohio State University and soon joined the Dave Workman Blues Band. Four years later, he became a member of the newly formed Jazz Arts Group led by Ray Eubanks. In 1974, Vaughn was invited to join the Woody Herman Orchestra. After two years on the road with Herman, he returned to Columbus to accept a position at the Dave Wheeler Contemporary Music Workshop and to resume his activities with the Jazz Arts Group as a bass trombonist and arranger. In 1977, Vaughn was invited to join the faculty at Capital University as part of their pioneering Jazz Studies degree program. Throughout this 17-year association with Capital, he taught courses in jazz arranging and jazz history, and directed the prize-winning Big Band Sound Big Band. In 1980, Vaughn joined the Terry Waldo Ragtime Orchestra. Vaughn's arrangements can be heard on recordings by Woody Herman, Waldo's Ragtime Orchestra, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, and the Keith Henson Octet. In 1992, Vaughn was inducted as an honorary member of the national music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha. Vaughn's current activities include his 21-piece Famous Jazz Orchestra, appearing weekly at the Columbus Music Hall; and an 8-piece group, Brasileira, a band devoted to the popular music of Brazil.