History of the CDA Big Band
In the 1950s, the Coeur d’Alene Elks Lodge had a marching band and a men’s Choral group. Sometime in the late 1950s or early 1960s some of the marching band members started a stage band to provide music for the singing group. Shortly thereafter the Elks Dance Band was formed. The Dance Band practiced at the Elk’s Lodge (on Lakeside Ave.) for many years until the Lodge sold the building and moved out to Prairie Ave. We practiced at the Prairie Ave. location for a while, but it just wasn’t large enough for our band. So, we practiced at the First Christian Church on 4th street, (where Jim and Linda Barnett were members), moving later to the Coeur d’Alene Eagles. A few years later, we started practicing at the Hayden Eagles, and we are currently practicing in the band room at the Post Falls High School.
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The Elks Band playing for Christmas at the Elks lodge in CDA
From left to right:
Sax section: Bruce English, Gordon Shern (standing), Jim Barnett, Charles MacLean, Ralph Nelson
Trombone Section: Denny Burt, Bill ? Stan Schedler
Rhythm Section: Bill Gotfredson, Doris Carlson
Vocalist: ?
Trumpet Section: Ken Hill, Gary Ackerman, Wendle Essley, Tom Hanson, Russ Carlson, Dean Cumbes
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Elks Band
From Left to Right:
Sax section: Bruce English, ?, Jim Barnett, Mac MacLean, Gordon Shern, Jack Fullweiler
Trombone Section: ? Martin, Ken Basch, ?
Trombone Soloist: Don Williams
Rhythm Section: Bill Gotfredson, Glen Duran
Piano: Babe Brown
Trumpet Section: Wendel Essley, Tom Hanson, Gene Surplus
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Elks Band
From Left to Right:
Sax Section: Jack Fullweiler, ?, ?, Jim Barnett, Mac MacLean, ?, ?
Trombone section: ?, ?, Ken Basch
Rhythm Section: Bill Gotfredson, Glen Duran
Piano: Babe Brown
Trumpet Section: ?, ?, ?, ?
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Elks Band
From Left to Right:
Sax Section: ?, Ivan Hanson, Ralph Nelson, Charles MacLean, Avery Brush
Trombone Section: ?, ?, Don Williams
Rhythm Section: ?, ?
Piano: ?
Trumpet Section: ?, Tuddy James, ?, ?
The Coeur d’Alene Big Band has a history that began with the merging of the Moonlighters, later renamed the Sounds of Music and the Coeur d’Alene Elks Dance Band in about 1999.
The Moonlighters started in 1970 and kept that name for four years before changing it to the Sounds of Music. Along with the normal dance gigs, the Sounds of Music was invited to perform at the 1974 Worlds Fair in Spokane, Washington.
Jon Harwood, Stan Schedler and Denny Burt were a part of this band before they changed their name in 1974. At one point, both bands were having a hard time finding enough players to fill the positions in the band, so because Jim Barnett was in both bands, he facilitated The Sounds of Music and the Elks band joining together in about 1997, becoming a part of the Elks organization for several years.
The Sounds of Music musicians were a part of the local musicians union, so it was agreed that when the two bands joined, they would only play gigs for the Elks lodges in Coeur d’Alene, Saint Maries, Kellogg, Wallace and Lewiston (all in Idaho) and also gigs in Hamilton Mt and Kimberly BC in Canada. This worked well until the Elks decided to sell their building in CDA and moved to a much smaller building farther North. When this happened, the band had no place to rehearse or store their equipment and the Elks Lodge was unable to help, so the musicians found a new rehearsal space in a church near downtown CDA. It then became apparent that they would no longer be affiliated with the Elks organization so the band decided to separate from them, and became the Coeur d’Alene Big Band in 1999, thinking that our own identity would give us more opportunity to branch out for additional receptions and other gigs. That organization was not a part of the musicians union in the area, and were able to play throughout the community without any issues.
Presently, we mostly play Tea Dances (3:00-6:00pm) at the Coeur d’Alene Eagles Lodge once a month. Two of the things we were most proud of was providing music for the PBS 100 year State Centennial program on television, and we provided music for the Farragut Naval Base Sailor’s Annual Union gathering. This was the 50th reunion of the Marine battalion that took Iwo Jima.
Arts and Entertainment Section,
March 26, 1999
Coeur d’Alene Big Band members, from left, Bruce English, John Wayne Taylor and Stan Schedler are three of the musicians who performed in the CDA Big Band that Saturday night at the Coeur d’Alene Cultural Center.
-Coeur d’Alene Big Band debuted at the Coeur d’Alene Cultural Center in February 1999 to a packed house.-
CDA Press article - December 28, 2019
by Jennifer Passaro, staff writer
Ron Farnsworth tipped his alto sax for the first sweet notes. It’s not a coincidence the Coeur d’Alene Big Band leader began the swing band’s rehearsal with Begin the Beguine, a song written in the 1930s by Cole Porter to reminisce the slow rhumba dance filling the Caribbean while the rest of the world sat on the cusp of another war.
“We’re a dance band,” Farnsworth said. “We give the dancers energy and they give us energy until we’re all in a lather. We’re all smiling.”
His wife, Sandi Farnsworth, chuckled. Sandi drums for the 18-member-band.
“As the drummer I have to keep things going,” Sandi said. “There’s a lot of push and pull with that many people. There are so many voices coming together - the voices of the instruments.”
Those voices will come together again New Year’s Eve at the Eagle’s Lodge, 209 E. Sherman Ave., to play for a packed dance floor. The Coeur d’Alene Big Band will play 6-9 p.m. followed by Royale from 9 p.m. - 1 a.m. Tickets for each band are $25 or $45 for the whole night and can be purchased in advance at the Eagle's Lounge or at the door.
Tenor saxophonist Kriss Mitchell has been playing big band music for 58 years.
“It’s a language all its own and when you play it, nobody can stand still and everybody has some kind of memory attached to the songs,” Mitchell said. “It makes you feel good, it’s fun to play and to hear and it’s written in a way that brings musicians together. When you play it, you play together as every part is important. It’s not about just one soloist — it’s about the group.”
Farnsworth jumped the band into the “Chattanooga Choo Choo.” The four trombones croaked their bullfrog mouths, hugging the song’s deep notes.
“The magic is the music,” trombone player Bill Moore said. “It’s just endorphins. Flow. I’ve been playing for 62 years. It’s just a feel good. It’s the camaraderie. There isn’t a single person here that I wouldn’t invite into my home.”
Musicians with an appetite for swing keep a certain amount of swagger in each measure. They launched into Charmaine. Even in common time, the room sensed the song’s old wallowing waltz time.
“That sounded OK,” a trumpet player piped up from the far side of English Funeral Home, where the band practices on Thursday nights and threatens to bring the deceased to their dancing feet. Bruce English, a longtime band member, opened the space for the band to rehearse. The residents don’t seem to mind if someone’s playing off key or the trumpets get a little too loud.
“It sounded like a car wreck,” one of the trombone players gruffed.
“Oh it’s just modulating,” piano player LeeAnn Moore said. “It’s a little funny, but it’s right.”
She’s been playing the piano for 65 years.
“Swing music makes me want to dance,” LeeAnn said. “So I’m dancing with the piano when we play.”
“The flamboyant pianist,” Moore said with a grin, spreading his arm toward LeeAnn. “And my wife.”
“The music brought us together,” LeeAnn said, her voice bright like the keys on her piano.
Ruth Pratt has been the Coeur d’Alene Big Band vocalist for 16 years.
“I’ve grown up in this band,” Pratt said. “I can be dragging and I come in here and everything gets better. You rely on each other. Nobody sounds good unless everybody sounds good.”
“This band is a community service thing,” trombone player Stan Schedler said. “It’s all unpaid. We go out to the schools. We’re interested in passing this on to the younger folks.”
Most of the band members picked up their first instruments in elementary school. Many of them played together at Coeur d’Alene High School.
Jon Harwood, Bruce English and Denny Burt, who owns Burt’s Music and Sound in Coeur d’Alene, kept playing together in the basement of the Eagle’s Lodge after high school.
“We were the Moonlighters,” Harwood said. “Then we were the Sounds of Music.”
The Sounds of Music merged with the Elks Club Dance Band to form Coeur d’Alene Big Band. The Elks Dance Band evolved from the nearly 50-year-old Elk’s Club Marching Band in the 1950s, playing music at Elks lodges throughout the Inland Northwest.
English and Schedler were two of the original members of the Elks Dance Band.
“My dad would take me to the Thursday night rehearsals at the Elks Club and I would have a lesson before each band practice started,” Schedler said. “After the lesson my Dad and I would stay and listen to the first half hour or so of the rehearsal.”
Coeur d’Alene Big Band debuted at the Coeur d’Alene Cultural Center in February 1999 to a packed house. The band currently plays Sunday Tea Dances on the third Sunday of the month, 3-8 p.m. in the Eagle’s Lounge, October to May.
Farnsworth announced the next song and Sandi leapt up.
“Sorry, I can’t play without my cowbell,” Sandi said.
The room filled with chatter. It was the day after Christmas.
“You know,” Moore said, leaning toward Shedler. “I like my kale with a silent ‘k’.”
Eric Haakenson overheard and chuckled, swinging his bass. Haakenson’s father, Bob, plays trumpet in the band and his son Karl used to play trombone.
Farnsworth launched the band into La Rubia, Sandi keeping cowbell time.
“My husband started in the band first, then I joined,” Sandi said. “My husband and I don’t do anything without the other.”
“It feels like family and joy and teamwork all wrapped up in an amazing group of people who come together once a week for the relationships with each other and the great love of music,” Mitchell said. “I am so humbled to be able to play with all of them. The amount of talent and musicianship in this group is beyond words.”
The CDA Big Band played at many events and social occasions around the area, but the main event became playing a monthly Tea Dance and fund raiser for the CDA Eagles.
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The CDA Big Band at their debut in 1999 playing for the Arts and Cultural Center
From left to right:
Sax section: Bruce English, Jon Harwood Jr, Jim Barnett, Ron Farnsworth, Sandi Farnsworth
Trombone Section: ?, John Wayne Taylor, Stan Schedler, Denny Burt
Rhythm Section: ?, ?, ?
Vocalist: ?
Trumpet Section: Wendle Essley, ?, ?, ?, ?
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Wendle Essley and Denny Burt
Denny Burt was a member of the Elks Dance band and he also opened Burt’s Music store in CDA, ID. Denny played with the combined band and was part of the CDA Big Band when it debuted in February, 1999.
Wendle Essley was a trumpet player with the band for many years and he was also a member of the Elks Dance band. He was a fixture in the community, both as a musician and an old car enthusiast. The way Wendle could play solos was masterful and so beautiful, so he played many of the solo features for the band.
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CDA Big Band playing at the CDA Eagles
From left to right:
Piano: LeeAnne Aerlyn
Sax Section: Phyllis Vanairsdale, Jon Harwood, Ron Farnsworth, TJ Cerny, Linda Barnett
Drums: Sandi Farnsworth
Trombone Section: ?, Stan Schedler, ?, ?
Vocalist: Ruth Pratt
Bass: Eric Haakenson
Trumpet: Phil Aarhus, Bob Haakenson
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Hayden Concert Series Opener - June 2018
The CDA Big Band has opened the Hayden Concert Series for many years, playing at the Hayden City Park for hundreds of fans.
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Doris Carlson, piano
Doris taught piano lessons in her home and played in numerous bands over the years including the Coeur d’Alene Big Band. She was a member of the Eagles and Elks and performed music at these establishments as well. Doris was honored for her volunteer work at Pinewood Care Center where she had entertained the residents weekly for more than 50 years.
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Dick Bussey
Lead trumpet player
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Denny Burt and John Wayne Taylor
Part of the trombone section
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Bruce English and Phyllis Vanairsdale
Bruce and Phyllis are/were Tenor sax players in the band. Bruce English owns English Funeral Chapel and has played in the CDA Big Band for over 35 years. He serves as the treasurer for the band and provides many laughs and much entertainment during rehearsals.
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Jim Barnett
Lead alto and band leader - Music was a large part of his life; he played in numerous combos before starting the Moonlighters, which became the "Sound of Music" Big Band that he ran for many years before joining that band with the Elks dance band and several years later becoming the "Coeur d'Alene Big Band," where he was the music director. Jim was a charter member of the North Idaho College Community Concert Band, playing with them for over 38 years. He also played with the "Swing Street" Band in Sandpoint for several years. Linda and Jim Barnett, both saxophone players, are original members of the Perfection-Nots.
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Jon Harwood
Lead tenor
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CDA Big Band
Left to right:
Trombones: Denny Burt, John Wayne Taylor
Bari Sax: Linda Barnett
Back Row: Dick Bussey, Sandi Farnsworth, Erin Haight
Bass: Dick Kuck
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Stan Schedler and Denny Burt
Trombones
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Bill Gotfredson
Bill enlisted and served 21 months in the Spokane Air National Guard which later became the 560th Air Force Band. The band not only provided entertainment for troops, but also necessary parade marches and ceremonial events. Bill was an accomplished trumpet and stand-up bass player. He was passionate about his music, playing as a bassist for “Ham on Regal” plays as well as the Coeur D Alene Big Band and Tuxedo Junction Big Band. He was 85 when he played his last gig.
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Bob Leatherwood
Trumpet
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Erin Haight
Vocalist
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Linda Barnett
Linda plays Bari Sax in the band and was a part of Sounds of Music before they became CDA Big Band. She was married to Jim Barnett and has been the music librarian for the band for quite some time. She and Jim were among the founding members of the Perfection-nots marching band which participates in the CDA 4th of July parade.
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Ron Farnsworth
Ron played 2nd alto to Jim Barnett and then became the lead Alto sax player in the band and the musical director.
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Ed Brown
Ed Brown
Ed Owned the Professional Drum Center in Spokane and a large music/drum store in California where he was also a professional musician. Ed also founded the old Swing Street Big Band in Sandpoint, ID. Ed invented and patented a line of quick release marching percussion harnesses, as well as a line of rolling stands for things such as concert bass drums, gongs, mallet percussion instruments, concert chimes, cymbals, hand percussion tables, and more. The name of the line was Gold Line Percussion Products. They were used by high schools, colleges, symphonies, marching bands, and top 12 drum corps all across the country. Several area schools still have some of them and use them to this day.
Ed was originally from Toronto, Canada. He was the drummer for the Canadian Air Force Band while he served during the late 1940's and early 50's. He also had a degree in mechanical engineering, hence projects like Gold Line. He also played all around the area. In the early 1970's, being a ski bum, Ed and Margie semi retired and moved to the Sagle area, because they both loved to ski! After a few years, Ed got bored, moved to Spokane, and rented a little house on West Garland Avenue in Spokane and opened up a new Professional Drum Center. He wrote a percussion repair manual for band directors that is still in print. During the late 70's to the early 90's, almost every top high school drummer in the Spokane area was one of his students.
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Phyllis Vanairsdale
2nd Tenor sax - Phyllis loved music and played the piano and the saxophone. She played in numerous big bands and enjoyed performing.
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CDA Big Band
Left to right:
Front row: Francis Cox, Sandi Farnsworth, Ron Farnsworth, Jon Harwood, Jim Barnett, Linda Barnett, Bruce English, Ray Cox
Back Row: Wendle Essley, Kenny Hill, Denny Burt, Bill Gotfredson, Dick Bussey, Stan Schedler, John Wayne Taylor, Ed Brown, Doris Carlson
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CDA Big Band at the CDA Eagles
Left to Right:
Front row: Bruce English, Kriss Mitchell, Jon Harwood, Ron Farnsworth, Sandi Farnsworth, TJ Cerny, Linda Barnett
Back Row: LeeAnne Aerlyn, Bob Leatherwood, Phil Aarhus, Dave Steele, Bob Haakenson, Wendle Essley, Ruth Pratt, Bill Moore, Denny Burt, Stan Schedler, Eric Haakenson
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CDA Big Band in Wallace, ID
Left to Right:
Ruth Pratt, vocalist
Sax section: Bruce English, Kriss Mitchell, TJ Cerny, Ron Farnsworth, Linda Barnett
Trombone Section: Andrew Asper, Bill Moore, Stand Schedler
Rhythm Section: Eric Haakenson (bass), Sandi Farnsworth (drums), LeeAnne Aerlyn (piano)
Trumpet section: Bob Haakenson, Pete Obligato, Bob Leatherwood, Wendle Essley, Phil Aarhus
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CDA Big Band at Spokane Valley Eagles
CDA Big Band has played at various Eagles Aeries in the area for many years.
Sax Section: Bruce English, Jon Hardwood, Linda Barnett, TJ Cerny
Rhythm Section: LeeAnne Aerlyn, Sandi Farnsworth, Eric Haakenson
Trombone section: Stan Schedler, Bill Moore, Dennis Grant, Andrew Asper
Trumpet Section: Bob Haakenson, Pete Obligato, Bob Leatherwood, Phil Aarhus
Vocalists: Ruth Pratt and Ron Farnsworth
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CDA Big Band at Hayden Park Concert Series opener
CDA Big Band has been a participant to open the Hayden Concert Series for many years.
