July 4

Conductor Jerrold P. Jimmerson planned a fun evening of music that was pure Americana.  The concert openned with an impressive new selection, An American Fanfare, and also featured one of the standard works in contemporary band literature, American Overture for Band, by Jenkins.  Marches, of course were a part of this special program, and included Karl L. King’s Loyal Americans, Fred Jewell’s E Pluribus Unum, and King’s galop, Rough Riders.

Senator Daryl Beall, Democrat, from Fort Dodge, was a special guest for the evening.  Senator Beall was elected in 2006 to his second four-year term to the Iowa Senate. He represents the people of Calhoun, Greene and Webster counties.  Beall was born in Fort Dodge and grew up near the Calhoun County town of Somers. He earned his associates degree at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, and later earned a B.A. in political science from Buena Vista University and a Master of Public Administration from Drake University.   Beall has had a variety of life experiences, from teaching at Urbandale High School to being twice elected to the Fort Dodge School Board and later managing his family-owned furniture business in Fort Dodge.   Beall was a newspaper columnist, editor, publisher and public relations manager at weekly and daily newspapers in Iowa, Colorado and South Dakota before returning to Fort Dodge, where he was marketing director for The Messenger.  Senator Beall was featured as the narrator during the King Band’s performance of Testimonials To Liberty, originally written in 1986 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty.

A Dixieland Combo performed a bit of traditional American jazz with the Original Dixieland Concerto by John Warrington.  It included three traditional tunes, Jazz Me Blues, Ballin' the Jack, The Original Dixieland One-step.

Other well-known compositions included Karl King’s ragtime selection Ragged Rozey, and popular songs from the 1940’s with a medley titled Homefront: Musical Memories of World War II arranged by James Christensen.  Heard in that number were Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree, I'll Be Seeing You, It's Been A Long, Long Time, Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition!, Bell Bottom Trousers, Thanks For The Memory, and The White Cliffs Of Dover.

The concert closed with God Bless America, and America’s national march, The Stars and Stripes Forever, followed by the playing of our National Anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.