Central Kentucky’s Young at Heart Big Band opens its show at Porter Memorial Baptist Church with its theme song, Young at Heart.
With white hair, a goatee, and wearing a blue sports coat, ninety-seven-year-old George Ely sits between two other band members and plays his saxophone. Ely is the oldest member and president of the group.
“It has given me something to do. I’ve been in the band now for 31 years and it keeps me busy. I enjoy it and fellowship, obviously the fellowship,” said Ely.
Ely said the band was initially established at the University of Kentucky more than four decades ago as part of the Donovan program. It recognized that senior citizens have a lot to offer. The band is on its own now and George Ely is happy to be part of it.
The slender eastern Kentucky native says playing in the band is good for the band members and good for the audience.
“We get a lot of pleasure out of the audiences. I’ve had remarks. One lady came to me as I was putting my horn away after the performance and she said, this is the happiest day of my life. It brought back so many memories, “ said Ely.
There are usually 22 musicians who play each concert. They are all volunteers and most are retired. Several band members are in their 70s 80s and 90s. The lead trumpet player and music director for the group, Reg Richwine, enjoys playing a solo. He says the non-profit organization performs at various places including churches, Veterans halls, and senior centers.
“The music we play is geared to the 40s and the big band era. So, a lot of the residents grew up listening to this music and dancing to this music. So, it’s important to me because we’re bringing back an era that was so predominant in the 40s but you don’t hear these tunes very much anymore,” said Richwine.
The band’s mission is to introduce and preserve big-band-era music. The non-profit also helps young musicians by supporting public school music programs.
Sitting at the piano and playing along with the song Satin Doll, Claire Vance wears a leopard print jacket and has short highlighted hair. The 83-year-old is the only female musician in the group. She says there are also two female vocalists. Vance believes in the band’s mission.
“It keeps my skills going. Plus, I do some good, I think. It keeps me young too,” said Vance.
On this Thursday afternoon audience members Connie Bowen, Jan Meade, and Rosemary Houp are all smiles at the Young at Heart Concert.
“Oh, I loved it. As I was saying, oh they knocked us off our feet. That’s why we could hardly get up. Brings back memories of music I saw when I was growing up," said Bowen.
” I just think it’s wonderful that they’re the age they are and they are as active and involved as they are,” said Meade.
” It was awesome. And the drummer. He’s my favorite," said Houp.
The drummer Barry Miller said he’s been playing drums since he was 14- years- old. He gets emotional when he recalls the joy Young at Heart Big Band provides.
“It’s really fun to play really good music. And it’s really fun to play with good musicians and it’s fun to have people respond to us. I mean, people come up to us and say, that’s the best thing that happened to me today. We play at a lot of nursing homes and we get a lot of people who they come in, in a wheelchair and they sit there motionless. We start playing and they respond,” said Miller.
At age 92 John Cantrell said he creates the playlist for each performance. There are over 300 songs to choose from. Cantrell said there are usually 14 songs in the hour-long concert.
“What I try to do is pick up-tempo tunes that will keep the audience interested, a strong opener, and finish with something that’s familiar and hopefully really up-tempo and exciting,” explained Cantrell.
President of Young at Heart Big Band, George Ely, said he schedules 36 concerts a year in places around the Commonwealth.
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