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JIM MOORE (alto sax) — It’s always a big
event within the band when a long-time member decides to retire, but it was
an earth-shaking event in December of 2010 when Jim decided to retire from
the band. Jim, more than anyone, was
the “face” of the Gateway City Big Band for most of his
incredible 40 years with the band.
He was right in the center of the band visually, the center musician
in the sax section in the front row, the lead alto sax player and the
dominant sound in what the late Charlie Menees
called “the best saxophone section in the Midwest” (or occasionally “the
universe”).
When our nightly band breaks came the other musicians would scurry to do
what musicians do on breaks, but Jim would head straight for the audience,
walking from table to table meeting the crowd and, of course, telling
jokes. Often they were the same
jokes on every gig, but they were new to the crowd, and they loved
them. Mainly, the crowd enjoyed
seeing how much fun Jim had telling the jokes – as he just loves to tell jokes.
The GCBB was part of Jim’s life almost every
day. Jim was the band’s business
manager and handled the booking of the band for most of the years he was
with the band. Included in that commitment was the promotion of the band –
another job he loved. He talked
about the band constantly, and was on the phone so frequently that the
Moore family added a second phone line so that Jim’s beloved wife Pat (an extremely patient person) could have
access to a phone too. At each gig
it was guaranteed that as I walked away from the bandstand someone in the
crowd would approach me to ask, “Could you point out Jim Moore for me?”
Jim honed his wonderful people skills selling Stetson Hats door to door;
Fuller Brushes would have been far too easy for Jim. He was a gunner in a B-17 during the war
and played in the 521st Army Air Force Jazz Band throughout the
U.S. He attended Westminster College
and built a successful business, Moore Research, which continues to this
day.
Although Jim is no longer active in the band we still see him at an occasional
gig or private band function. He and
Pat continue to travel, entertain and do the things they love. Jim gave the Gateway City Big Band his best, and he was a
major force in making the band what it is.
If you see him be sure to go up and say “hi”. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled if you do, and
there’s a pretty good chance he’ll tell you a joke or two.
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