TOM COX
Tom began playing trombone in 9th grade after playing trumpet for five years. As a Missouri native, he graduated from Fort Osage High School in 1976. He went on to study performance, theory and composition at the University of Missouri, Columbia. In 1993, he decided he wanted to be in a “people profession”, graduated from Meramec Community College, and became a Physical Therapist. He is currently the Rehab Director at Windsor Estates of St. Charles.
He came to St. Louis and played in the Meramec CC kicks band years years ago. One of the members invited him to sit in on a Gateway City Big Band rehearsal in 1982, and he’s been with the band ever since.
Besides playing his horn, Tom's official title is "Equipment Manager" since he’s handled all the band’s equipment for decades. The band depends on him for every single performance we do! .
KAREN SHARP
Trombone/Vocals
A graduate of Lindbergh High School, she was fortunate to have benefited from their highly-regarded music program, being invited to the MMEA conference in Tan-Tar-A with the Orchestra, Symphonic and Jazz Bands. She played and sang in a local classic rock group, Sundance and Brass, until she went away to college. At the University of Missouri-Columbia she played with the Jazz Ensemble and got her first experience singing with a big band. When the Jazz Ensemble director decided to have the band play the Lambert, Hendricks & Ross version of "Twisted", Karen's exposure to the swing and jazz genres helped her step out of the trombone section and clinch the vocalist spot.
After college, Karen hung up her horn for a few years before joining another big band in town where a Gateway member heard her and invited her to come sit in with the Big Band. She was asked to join at her first rehearsal in 1993 and after playing trombone with Gateway for a year, she started singing with them in 1994. She still thinks of herself as a trombone player who happens to sing.
In the Spring of 2001, Karen was asked to assume the responsibility for the band library upon the retirement of long-time librarian Jim Knox. She also is the trombone section's Section Leader and Recording Secretary for the Board of Directors. In that role, she keeps the band's extensive mailing list up to date and compiles the band schedules for the public and the members. She also works with the webmaster to maintain the band's website.
In 2005, Karen and trumpet section leader/front man Rick Sharp were married. In addition to playing in the Big Band, they enjoy playing often at church.
JOHN SORSEN
KEN SUMMERS
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