Thursday, July 31, 2008
Kenna Holm
BAND CONCERTS IN THE PARK
Band in the early 1970's that played at the Sunday Band Concerts in the Park
I've been thinking all week about the great band concerts we have had forever on Sunday evenings at the park. I was so excited to go up Sunday evening and get some good pictures of the band playing and then it rained -and no band concert. But I've decided to go ahead and write about them anyway.
When I was young, we loved to walk up to the park and listen (?) to the band playing all their wonderful music. We did a lot of running around as I recall. There used to be a lot of tall bushes we would run through and hide in.
The park on Sunday evening was the place to be. We met friends and boyfriends and had lots of fun. Now days, I'm not sure I'd ever let kids take off alone to go to the park at night like we did.
I think the first conductor of the Band I remember was JD Christensen and I think the band was made up of the high school students that were in his band at school. JD did a lot with the band. They went to parades, played at all the games and also did the band concert in the park.
The year I was a sophomore, I had the privilege of being a twirler with the band along with a few other girls. Helen Harmer Walker, Connie Smith Cloward were also a baton twirlers. I remember marching in the Days of 47 Parade in Salt Lake one year and I thought that parade would never end. It was so hot.
After JD retired Lewis Huff took over as the band director for the band concerts. Therewere people from all over that cameto playin the band not just high school students. Lew had all his kids that were so talented that played in the band. There was Farrell (now deceased), Larry, Wayne, Colleen (Wilson), and Lou Ann. That was quite a thing for him to be proud of. Theywere a talented family. Along with his family there were a lot of familiar faces like, Monte Taylor (he was the greatest. I miss that guy) Cordell Chipman (who is still playing every week). and many others.
After Lewis retired, I think Roger Holt was the next to take up the baton and then it passed on to Wayne Huff (Lewis' son)
Years ago they would practice in the old Central School that was on the corner across from the park and after it was torn down they practiced in the old Jr. High (the one they just tore down). After Young Living Essentials bought the building, the band then practiced at the Park View School.
Every year the concerts start about the first of July and go until Labor Day. The last performance on a Sunday eveningis the day before Labor Day. They presented the Payson Royalty then and have their fathers escort them to the band stand.
Many years ago, Ferran Hiatt and Nadine (Davis) Marvin got together and wrote new words for the queens to the tune of 'Moments to Remember'. At that time, Ferran asked Lylia Carlisle and myself along with he and Stewart Scharrer to sing this song to the queens. Lylia and Iwent on to sing that same song each yea rto the queens for over 30 years. Two years ago we decided that was enough and we quit doing it.
There were lots of queens we sang the song to. We had several different male singers that took part with us over the years. The last few years Jay Thomas, Roger Tuckett, Lylia and I sang it. We also sang the National Anthem at the end of the concert. It was fun and the queens were always so beautiful. In all those years of singing to the queens, we only had one queen who ever wrote a thank you note to us.
It's amazing how many people enjoy the music in the park on Sunday evenings. They bring their blankets and chairs and enjoy the music and visiting with old friends. The kids love to run up and down the little hill and play over on the bear cage. The little pond and the beautiful flowers add so much to the atmosphere.
Gee it's fun enjoy the concerts now and it's always really fun to remember back when....
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