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The Guys

Jim Milan - (Fredrick James Milan, Jr.) born in the 2nd year of the Warren G. Harding administration. Born/raised in Clinton, Iowa; WWII vet; musician in army; attended Tulsa University and played with Leon McAuliffe Western Swing Band; Joined Conoco 1949 Ponca City, OK; moved to Fort Worth 1950. 37 years with Conoco; avocation, trumpet player - bands, shows, rodeo.

Mark Thomas - A 1981 graduate of U.T. Arlington appearing with the UTA Jazz Orchestra at jazz festivals around the world. He has played with dixieland bands for the Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks, and Six Flags Over Texas. He has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Frank Rosolino, Carl Fontana, Ed Shaughnessy, Rich Little, Bob Crosby, Dionne Warwick, Toni Tennille, Tony Orlando, Vaughn Monroe, and Sheena Easton. Mark is a musician and board member of the American Jazz Composers Orch. Mark is employed with American Airlines IT Dept.

Jon Stone - Jon is a University of North Texas graduate and is a former member of the 1:00 Lab Band. He has worked in the DFW area as a freelance professional musician for many years, performing with many of the top national artists, including Natalie Cole, Duke Ellington, Red Skeleton, Ray Charles, Don Henley, the Supremes, the Temptations, and Henry Mancini. Locally, Jon has worked with the Harvey Anderson Orch, Miss Texas Pageant, the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, Fort Worth Symphony, and the Casa Manana Orch. He is a teacher and clinician in the DFW area.

Brian Standridge - As a freelance artist,Brian has performed with Aretha Franklin, Vic Damone, The Four Freshmen, The Pointer Sisters, The Temptations and Brother Dave Gardner, just to name a few. Brian has also performed with the Fort Worth Symphony, the Miss Texas Pageant Orchestra, the Moslah Shrine Band, the Stock Show Rodeo Band, Shakespeare in the Part, the Symphony Big Band in the Garden, as well as his own group, the Classic Jazz Orchestra. Brian is a long time music educator, currently teaching at Nolan Catholic High School.

Richard Murrow - Richard is currently the principal tubist with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, American Chamber Brass, and co-founder of the jazz group Brazzology. He has recorded with the Dallas Wind Symphony and the Dallas Jazz Orchestra. As a freelance Bass player over 30 years, he has performed in various genres from pop/commercial, rock, jazz, country, to stage musicals and recording studios. Richard has taught Tuba and Euph. at TCU since 1996, and at UTA 15 years prior. 

Tom Reynolds -Tom studied with the great jazz guitarist, Jim Hall, and with Mick Goodrick at Berklee College of Music in Boston. He played in the Jazz Ensemble with Max Roach at the U. of Mass. In Fort Worth, he was in the house band in Como, backing Robert Ealey, blues singer. He has worked a variety of singers/musicians including John Raitt (Bonnie's father), Smokey Robinson, Bob Weir, Steve Miller, Tom Scott, and Dave Grusin. Currently he plays at the Kimbell Art Museum, the Modern Art Museum and also with the Raybans.

Danny Prado – Danny is a 1972 graduate of Stephen F. Austin University and a retired band director serving 33 years in the public schools with stints in Jacksonville ISD, Hurst-Euless Bedford ISD and Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. He is still very active in the music education scene in Texas with clinics, consultations, supervising student teachers, and judging jazz, concert band, and marching contests. Since retirement, he has been much more active on the freelance scene in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Area and performs with a variety of local musicians. When not involved in the above activities, you can usually find him enjoying his family and wonderful wife, Kathy, and………….fly fishing!

Curt Wilson -Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies (Emeritus) at Texas Christian University for 35 years. He has performed with Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians and the Harvey Anderson Orchestra among others. Curt has been Director of Concerts In The Garden Swing Orchestra since 1999. His ensemble at TCU participated in eight international tours and performed with over fifty internationally-known artists including Louie Bellson, Clark Terry, Don Menza, Wayne Bergeron, Carl Fontana, Roy Hargrove, and Conte Condoli.

Ron Puckett - Ron lived and worked in Las Vegas for over 20 years. He has worked and recorded with many of the stars including Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Dionne Warwick, Dianna Ross, Johnny Mathis, Steve Lawrence and Edie Gorme, and Tom Jones. He traveled with Paul Anka, Wayne Newton, Doc Severensen, and Woody Herman. Ron was a member of the Las Vegas Symphony and taught trumpet at UNLV. Ron graduated from TCU with a BBA in Finance.

Richard Powell - Richard is a TCU graduate with BM and MM degrees in piano performance. He is currently a professor at Tarrant County College NW Campus. He has worked in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for many years on many of the top shows and stars that have come through this area, including Mel Torme, Bill Cosby, Bob Hope, Rich Little, Red Skeleton, and jazz greats Don Menza, Erbie Green, and Mike Vax. Richard has soloed with the Dallas Symphony and presently playes with the Dallas Jazz Orchestra.

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