[Dixielandjazz] Bob Helm Memorial

[Robert S. Ringwald]

From: "Leon D. Oakley" <diamondstack@email.msn.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2002 3:58 AM
Subject: THE FRIENDS OF BOB HELM MEMORIAL PLANS
 
Dear Friends,
 
A Celebration of Bob Helm's Life is scheduled to take place on 
November 11th, 2002, Monday, Veterans Day, at the Royal Order of 
Moose Lodge, 13233 San Pablo Ave., San Pablo, California. This 
Event is Hosted by Earl and Alice Scheelar, and this special 
event will take place from 4 P.M. to 9 P.M.
 
Bob in his 88 years played with MANY Jazz Bands, and it will be 
impossible for a number of reasons to represent all the Bands and 
Musician Friends he worked with at this Memorial.
 
The plan, however is to assemble (5) Bands to play (5) 45 minute 
sets between 4 and 9 P.M., and that those Bands be led by 
Musicians who have included Bob in their Bands, and with minimum 
duplication of Musicians.
 
The Leaders, soon to be asked, but not yet confirmed, shall be: 
Everett Farey, Carl Lunsford, Earl Scheelar, Bob Mielke, Clint 
Baker, John Gill, and Vince Saunders. Yes, I know that is more 
than (5) Bands, but with the last(2)Leaders listed being from 
N.Y.City and Costa Mesa respectively the travel possibilities may 
make their choices more difficult than the local contingents.
 
The group led by myself, THE FRIENDS OF JAZZ BAND which was 
formed to allow the world to experience the Alto Sax playing of 
Bob Helm these last few years, is omitted from this event as we 
will be playing a Tribute to Bob Helm 6 days later for the 
NOJCNC, Sunday November 17th, at the same location, from 1:30 to 
5:30 P.M. This was a job Bob had on his gig list, and maybe the 
last job he had scheduled. Good friend Richard Hadlock will stand 
in for Bob.
 
If I were to guess a few Bands that may be possible to easily 
assemble, those would include:
 
THE ZENITH JAZZ BAND, THE PORT CITY JAZZ BAND, THE CAFE BORRIONE 
ALL STARS, THE E. McGOON's JAZZ BAND, and THE OAKLAND "A's" JAZZ 
BAND. If THE SOUTH FRISCO JAZZ BAND & THE JOHN GILL JAZZ BAND 
from THE GOLDDUST" can be transported to this event........Well, 
we can only hope!
 
More information will follow.
 
Kind Regards,
 
Leon Oakley.