On Monday's post, it was noted that the popular Cleveland TV personality Mike Douglas was going to be emceeing the Mary Lee Tucker Christmas Benefit Show.
Well, as I noted, the rest of the Mary Lee Tucker performers were usually made up of local talent. That included the musical group that would provide backup where needed for the various acts, as well as appear as an act themselves.
As usual, the Biz Grove Orchestra was that group. As noted in the caption accompanying the photo above, which appeared in the Journal on November 29, 1962, "The Biz Grove Orchestra will perform at The Journal's annual Mary Lee Tucker Christmas benefit, produced by the City Club of Lorain on Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. at the Palace Theatre. Leading the 14-piece band is Chuck Bizgrove [sic] at center. Members are: John Byers, piano; Bob Gawn, bass; Bob Aukerman, Mel Gymorie, Vic Kubiak on trumpets; Dick Reed, drums; Gary Potter, and Bill Sheppard and Dick Cooley on trombones; Paul Kumler, Jack Ruth, Ed Nemecek and Frank Katrick saxophones.
Looking forward to your orchestra blog!
ReplyDeleteI remember Charles Bizgrove later on worked at Lorain's Fairhome Elementary School as a custodian.I also saw The Biz Grove Orchestra play a gig at the Midway Mall.I think it was in front of J C Penneys.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing Biz's orchestra in front of Penney's as well. He was my boss at the time at Convenient Food Mart in Amherst.
ReplyDeleteAs the oldest daughter of bassist Bob Gawne, I was at most of the Mary Lee Tucker productions that the Biz Grove Band band was in. My family didn't get free tickets, My dad made sure the Mary Lee Tucker Foundation got their money. My parents donated to many charities, but Mary Lee Tucker was a favorite.
ReplyDeleteIn his high school yearbook, you will find Bob Gawne and Ralph Flenniken (aka Flanagan)as part of a banjo group called "The CoCoNuts". Flanagan was a frequent visitor to our house in Lorain, Ohio when he was visiting or "just passing through". He often brought people with him who were working on various things, usually music related, that he thought my father could help with. One such item was a record player that they were trying to turn into a record cutter/recorder. After they left, my father said it was a waste of a good record player, they could just buy a recorder where they had come from (New York).
Bob Gawne was also the music arranger for the Biz Grove Orchestra and the Jimmy Dulio Band, which he was also a part of, until they disbanded.