March 16, 2014

The second in a series of three winter indoor concerts by the Karl L. King Municipal Band of Fort Dodge was held on Sunday afternoon, March 16, at the Decker Auditorium on the campus of Iowa Central Community College.  These concerts were provided by the City of Fort Dodge.  Conductor of the band is Jerrold P. Jimmerson, and the Assistant Conductor is Dr. David Klee.

     This concert was the band’s traditional Irish Concert in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.  Many familiar Irish tunes were performed, including everyone’s favorite, “McNamara’s Band”, as arranged by former conductor Reginald R. Schive.  Other Irish selections on the program included “The Emerald Isle” by Dave Black, and “Fantasia on the “Dargason”, from the Second Suite in F Major for Military Band by Gustav Holst.

     Several march selections were performed, including “McKinley’s Own” and “Bon Voyage”, both by Karl L. King, along with “The Boys of the Old Brigade” by W. Paris Chambers, and “The Irish Boys” by Bill Wiley.

     A beautiful medley, “Strains from Erin” by Lucien Cailliet was the afternoon’s classical highlight.  This collection of well-known, traditional Irish folk melodies includes “St. Patrick’s Day”, “Those Endearing Young Charms”, “The Rakes of Mallow”, “Killarney”, “The Last Rose of Summer”, “Wearing of the Green”, and “The Irish Washerwoman”.

     The special guest soloist was Bob Patton, baritone, from Gowrie.  Mr. Patton attended the University of Northern Iowa before joining the U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants in Washington, D.C.   During his twenty year career in the military, Patton soloed with the National Symphony and the Boston and Cincinnati Pops Orchestras.  He also performed with the Washington Civic, Baltimore, Wolf Trap, Northern Virginia and Annapolis opera companies.  In 1991 he returned to Gowrie IA and became editor and publisher of The Gowrie News, the fourth generation owner of a 110 year-old family business.  He recently retired from the newspaper after a 20-year career, but is still very active and much sought-after as a vocalist throughout the Midwest.

     Mr. Patton performed three Irish selections with the Band.  The first was “That’s An Irish Lullaby (Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral)” from the Bing Crosby movie Going My Way, followed by the humorous George M. Cohan classic, “Harrigan”, and concluding with everyone’s favorite Irish ballad, “Londonderry Air”.   Mr. Patton led the audience in a sing-along of the traditional Irish favorites, “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” and “My Wild Irish Rose”.