| John played a solo on "It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing" at the GI Joe Collector's Club Convention Dance. | |
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John played at the 1985 North Suburban Ball. |
| Former Role in Roseville Big Band: |
Lead and second trumpet |
| Member during: |
1978 through 1984; also 1989-1990 |
| Occupation: |
Grade school teacher, insurance agent |
When John joined the band, Kurt Johnson was the lead trumpeter, so John played second, taking the improvised solos. Ed Hemauer and Marty Marentic rounded out the section. When Kurt left the group, John played lead and the improvised solos, until Glen Newton joined the section to play second trumpet and some of the solos. As the group evolved, John continued to be featured as a trumpet and flugelhorn soloist while sharing the lead parts with Glen, Mark Lee, and others. Roseville Big Band concerts have also featured John's fine harmonica playing.
While playing in the Roseville Big Band, John also played trumpet in the worship services at Presbyterian Church of the Way in Roseville, and he was the driving force behind arranging for the band to perform a concert at the church. Now, at the beginning of the next century, he plays in the traditional worship services and the praise band at Peace Church in Eagan, Minnesota.
John also plays in the Just Friends big band founded by Paul Pizner at Hamline University. When Paul directed the Roseville Big Band, he invited John to rejoin the group, and John was one of the featured performers in the Roseville Big Band concerts in Acapulco, Mexico.
In the late 1960's, John played in the Bagdad on the Subway Municipal Swing Band with Brian Dole, who, like John, would later join the Roseville Big Band.