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Spotlight Members
Rhythm Section
MIKE BRUCE (bass) - Although he is one of the younger members of
the band, bass player Mike Bruce has 30 years of varied experience under his
belt. Mike joined the group in 1992 and is the rhythm section leader.
He started out playing in a group called "Kato and the
Hornets" when he was 16. "I was the token white in an
all-black group," Mike said. After that Mike played with several
other local groups, then joined the Army, and when discharged he went to
college studying computers. In the mid-1970's he went on the road with
a show band and went back to school to get his degree in electrical
engineering.
Mike has also played with a bagpipe band, and with the touring bands
of Jimmy Dorsey, Dick Jurgens and Sammy Kaye, as well as the Ink Spots and
Four Aces. He has performed with a bluegrass band, country group
and a Greek Band.
He was playing in Illinois when fellow Big Band musician Jack Tartar invited him
to come play with the Gateway
City Big Band in
1992. "I like the structure and discipline this band
requires," Mike said. He adds that the other groups did not
require him to read music like the Big Band does.
Mike's varied experiences add a deep dimension to his music and the
band truly appreciates his skill.
STAN MINOR (drums/guitar/musical director) - How's this for
variety? A guitar/drum/banjo/tuba player who really has rhythm.
That's Stan Minor. Stan was born in Jefferson City, Missouri and went
to Jefferson City High School where he played with the marching, concert, jazz
and dixieland bands. He then got his music education degree from New Mexico State University and a Masters degree from Southwest Missouri State. He has been a music teacher for 18 years.
After college, Stan toured with the famous Glenn Miller Orchestra for
four weeks in the summer of 1983 and spent another six weeks with the Les
Elgart Orchestra. He then began teaching in San Benito, Texas, moved to
Illinois for four years to teach and finally came to St. Louis. He is
Director of Bands at Marquette High School in the Rockwood School District
and his bands consistently win music contests all over the area.
But he still has time for the Gateway City Big Band which he
joined five years ago. He first heard the band at a St. Louis
University basketball game. He knew Bob Waggoner, the leader of the
GCBB at the time, and mentioned how much he liked the band. Bob invited
him to a rehearsal and "the rest is history, " says Stan.
Stan has been married to his college sweetheart, Becky, for 11
years. He met her at Southwest Missouri State in Springfield.
Becky is from Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Stan is enthusiastic about the band, whether he's playing guitar or
the drums. "This is one of the best big bands in the
country," Stan said, "and it will continue to prosper, grow and
entertain the midwest public." We are certainly glad to have
someone with Stan's depth of talent in our rhythm section!
KEVIN SCHRIEWER (piano) - Piano/keyboard player Kevin Schriewer
(pronounced Shreever, "very German") was born and reared in
the German community of Hermann, Missouri. He began classical piano lessons at age five
and branched out from there playing trumpet in the high school band. He
also sang and tap danced in the school musical productions.
Performing was a big part of his younger years. As early as age
13 he was playing with the Moonlight Serenaders of Foristell, Missouri,
followed by the B. A. Wagner Band and the Sonny Leftholtz Band. Though
these bands were generally dance bands, young Kevin enjoyed playing rock and
roll also.
Kevin went to St. Louis University on a golf scholarship.
Before he graduated, "the program was cut" and he went to work for
Chrysler. After two years he enrolled in the Rolla School of Mines
(University of Missouri-Rolla) and acquired a Master's degree in Ceramic
Engineering.
After high school, Kevin "kind of quit music". He
married Debbie and they had two daughters. He traveled worldwide with
his job and has lived in Texas, Ohio and Taiwan. Although Kevin
considers himself "semi-retired" he currently coaches golf at
Duschene High School.
In 1997 Kevin began subbing for dance bands in the St.
Louis area, including the Gateway City Big Band. By
November, 2001 he had become a full time member of the GCBB.
Kevin loves to play jazz and considers Art Tatum one of his favorite
jazz pianists. Although he has played and performed most of his life,
he feels he is still learning. "You have to train your ear to play
jazz, " he explained. His dedication and sense of humor have been
enjoyed by the entire band. He may be still learning but he's having a
good time in the process.
KEVIN WALSH (drums) - Although he's at rehearsal every Wednesday
night, Kevin may not be at all the performances. He is the backup
drummer for band jobs, and a very reliable full time drummer for
rehearsals. This arrangement allows Stan Minor to direct and work with
the Gateway City Big Band during practice and play drums during performances.
Section leader Mike Bruce saw Kevin sitting in with another local
band and encouraged him to join the GCBB approximately two years
ago. Kevin says this is "such a good band, even rehearsal is
fun."
Kevin was reared in Spanish Lake, Missouri, graduated from Hazelwood
East High School and went to Southeast Missouri State in Cape Girardeau, MO,
receiving a Bachelor's Degree.
After teaching in St. Genevieve, MO for a year, he went back to North
County and has been with the Riverview Gardens school district as band
director ever since. He also works with the Hazelwood West Marching
Band in the late summer/fall. He has also directed the Riverview
Gardens Community Band for fifteen years. With his eye on the future,
Kevin achieved a Master's Degree in School Administration at the University
of Missouri, St. Louis.
After years of living in St. Louis County, Kevin and his family are
moving to St. Charles County this summer. Normally, his summer is spent
keeping his ten year old son busy, and enjoying river fun on the Mississippi near Grafton, IL.
JOHN CHRUMA (guitar) - As is often the case with the Gateway City Big Band, John Chruma became a member through the attention of
a current band member. Kevin
Schriewer, piano, invited him to rehearsals to play bass as a
substitute. Also, he was encouraged to
play guitar in order to learn the book and increase his playing time.
John’s father had started teaching him guitar when he was ten
years old. He played during high
school at Francis Howell and in the jazz band at Truman State. His greatest
influence was Freddie Green, guitarist with Count Basie.
John plays bass with the St. Charles and O’Fallon city bands. Playing guitar with the GCBB has presented
a challenge for him because it had been several years since he played on a
regular basis. He says the bass is
more of a leadership role and the guitar is more of a supportive
instrument. He enjoys the
“voicing that complements the piano and acts as the tenor to the
bass”.
John grew up in New Melle, St. Charles County. After
achieving a Bachelor’s Degree at Truman State, he went to Central Missouri for a Master’s in Mass Communications. He is the Vice-President, Sales and
Marketing, for CM Systems, supplying software to construction companies for
accounting and costing. In his spare
time when he isn’t playing with daughters Abbie and Amelia, he enjoys
wood-working. He builds furniture and
actually built the bed he sleeps in. |
