The Day We Kept Music Alive
The Day We Kept Music Alive
An ode to The Fur Rondy Band - 1985
O’ come gather ‘round,
I’ve a tale to lend
Called ‘The Day We Kept Music Alive.’
It’s of heroes, the cold,
an endurance so bold
and the Rondy of one, nine, eight, five.
My story begins with a group of fine friends
whom all might lend a good hand.
Their music when blended,
was somewhat up-ended,
Together they all formed band.
The ‘Fur Rondy Band’ was finally born
A collection of folks and their songs.
Melodies it seemed,
was a primary theme,
with music too often prolonged.
Then came the Fur Rondy,
a chance to parade,
raw talent not worthy of gloat.
They signed themselves up to ride on a truck
they’d cleverly disguised as a float.
Parade day had come,
the weather did numb,
It hadn’t been this cold in years.
They readied to play,
they were out for their day,
regardless of cold fronts or cold rears.
The band tried to tune,
they remained somewhat flat,
though the crowds could probably not hear it.
They tapped all their toes
(those that weren’t froze)
I think you’d agreed they showed spirit.
The director was ready
to start the first march
he’d probably had too much to sip.
A medley was chosen,
though the horns had fast frozen
to the brass player’s ice swollen cold lips.
They played everything song
and couldn’t go wrong.
The drummer missed n’ery one beat.
Through Sousa in two
and impending cold flu’s
crowds cheered down the frost-laden street.
No other bands played.
They all seemed afraid
of the chill that might make them lose it.
But our band members had sworn
to completely adorn
Fourth Avenue in Anchorage with their music.
The end finally came.
New fans had been claimed.
Sax players chipped ice from their reeds.
Fans chanted “Encore!”
They wanted much more.
Their voices were hard not not heed.
So the Fur Rondy Band
took one final stand
and played among glee-ridden cheers.
Thus ends my short tale
of silence derailed
during a cold Rondy of previous years.
—dj—
The Front Row Seats Band - early 1980s
The band performed together from 1983-2025. We’ve played for forty+ years and more than 1,000 gigs including baseball, basketball, softball and hockey games; parades in Seward, Anchorage, Eagle River, Palmer; Super Bowl parties at Chilkoot Charlies and the Sheraton Hotel; The Alascatallo Day Parade in Anchorage; 9-11 First Responder ceremonies and many other special events. Throughout the years, the band saw dozens of musicians filter through. Our core group included about 15 band members who had backgrounds ranging from photographer, Xerox repairman, postal worker, pilot, doctor, nurse, teacher, professor, symphony members and more.
Neal Haglund, Stan Summers, Gail Epson, Les Dennis, David Jensen, Jerry Wilson, Carol Jensen, & Paula Johnson.
Copyright Protected by David Jensen
david@alaskaportraits.com