The Vintage Brass Band of Springfield, Illinois, formed in March of 2009, is the Capital City’s newest up-and-coming professional brass ensemble. The band includes a talented mix of professional musicians and accomplished local amateurs under the baton of R. Todd Cranson. Our members hail from all corners of central Illinois including Springfield, Peoria, Carlinville and Urbana-Champaign.

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The band, formed in 1966 will play for the 50’s and 60’s decades class reunion on the square inside the main tent. The group performed for dances and parties in the late 60’s, winning a couple of battle of the bands competitions, but hasn’t played together for 40 years. 

All but one of the original band members are expected to perform.  They include Steve Bertsche (keyboards),  Jay Schlitt (bass), Tom Connolley (guitar), Bob Goodpaster (vocals), and Bob Bobell (drums & vocals).  John Schlitt (vocals) will not be able to attend.  In his place, Mark Anderson, who sings locally, and Tom Connolley’s son, Brad, will fill in. 

The group will be performing many of the songs they did back in the 60’s that include Gloria by the Shadows of Knight, Lil Red Riding Hood by Sam the Sham, and California Sun by the Riverias.  In addition, the group will do some 50’s classics. The group will play for about an hour.  Tom Connolley, speaking for the band, said “with the advent of advanced PA systems, we should be able to produce a sound that is actually much better than it was in the 60’s.  We’re all very excited and look forward to the party.”  

So how do you pull this off with band members scattered across the country?   Band members have received the music charts for the songs to be performed.  Each musician will practice his part to a specific beat set by a metronome.  Rehearsals as a group will begin in Mt. Pulaski five days before the actual engagement. 

In photograph…(cemetery) 

Front row (l – r) Bob Bobell, John Schlitt

Back row (l – r) Steve Bertsche, Jay Schlitt, Tom Connolley, Bob Goodpaster