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A BRIEF HISTORY OF BILL SARGENT BANDSA historical sketch of Bill Sargent Bands since 1982. Includes a list of band personnel.
This page is a work in progress. As memories come back, names and content
will be updated. Please visit again to view new developments! Thanks,
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25 years ago on November 18, 1982 we debuted our band in the Ballroom of the Bavarian Inn. We went from no engagements, to all the very best engagements for the top events and venues in the next two years. For a partial list of WHO we've played for, WHAT we've played for and WHERE we've played, at to: WHO, WHAT, WHERE Over the years, we have had the VERY BEST musicians in Milwaukee, in Wisconsin, and from around the nation, perform with our bands. I believe we have consistently employed more musicians per engagement (on average) and provided more work for musicians in our area over a longer period of time than any other band in existence and probably in the history of the state of Wisconsin. While other band leaders have cut their big band into imitation big bands, our big band has always remained our big band. I could tell you stories of bands going out without a bass player or a rhythm (piano or guitar) and on and on, just to get a gig they shouldn't have done in the first place. Or the band leader doing the vocals (when he's not really a singer) just because he was too greedy to hire one, or once again, just to get a gig they shouldn't have done in the first place. While some have cut their singers, we continue to employ them consistently. We have never cut corners on quality. If someone can't afford us for the gig, we just won't do the gig. I've always felt it was better to let some other band go in and sound bad. Now, that all said, there have been engagements where a small band, such as a trio, quartet or quintet, and on, have been totally appropriate. In those instances, we have provided exactly what the client needed. But, overall, we have provided a lot of work for the musicians in southeastern Wisconsin and helped provide for many, many families. Many rent and mortgage payments have been met because of work provided by our bands as a result of our fantastic clients. We have also been a fertile situation for musicians to network and make connections with other musicians. Many musicians have been able to make connections on our bands that have enabled new career opportunities and take their careers to new levels. This has been because of the high level of musicianship and professionalism that I employ and expect. Some people have met their husband or wife on our band. Here is a partial list of wonderful musicians and support staff who have performed with a Bill Sargent Band. You'll note that it reads like a Who's Who in the Music Industry . . . because it is. This list will keep growing over the next couple of months as I make more recollections . . . with so many, it's hard to keep track and remember them all. Please forgive me if I overlooked anyone. If I'm leaving someone you know out, please email me so I can rectify me error. EMAIL BILL
We have BACKED Aretha Franklin The Ink Sports The Shirelles The Drifters Dick Conte Buddy DeFranco Sam Most Frankie Sabbath Jackson Dordell
ACCORDIAN Tom Kanack Joe Magnino
ACTOR/COMEDIAN Lee Rothman John Grahms Vicki Fisher-Romant Wally Flaherty Jim St. Charles Peggy Peterson
ARRANGERS Warren Wiegratz Jim St. Charles
BANJO Jim Christiansen Erv Dombrowski Al Johnson Dick Eliot Bob DeBlaey
BASS Dave Gannett Tom McGirr Harold Miller Jeff Hamann Jim Kishline Gary Christensen Billy Johnson John Dominguez Duane Stuermer Doug Hayes Sam Kidd Jeff Chase Steve Clay Don Eliot Michael Williams George Welland John Babbitt Kevin Allen Bill Estep Skip Crumby-Bey John Bany Conway Powell Gordy Lofgren Matt Kahovec Doug Turley Dan Shapera Jon Matelski Mike Britz Rich Kremer David Stallsmith Lee Burrows Larry Tresp Tony Collova Clark Otto Brian Baker Terry Grosskopf Tom Burgermeister Jim Friday Larry Kittilstad Bob Rudman
CELLO Dan Lawonn
CLARINET Chuck Hedges Kim Cusak Heinie Beau Don Chesebro Sammy Armato Harold Smith Joe Aaron Dave MacGregor Richard Regent Doug Gmoser Orv Johnson
DRUMS Barrett Deems Paul Wertico Mike Murphy Mike “Ding” Lorenz Andy LoDuca Bob Budney Rand Moore Tom Utchig Mike Johnson Randy Maio Michael Bettine Randy Kuehn Don Neitzel Ron Barron Roy Schneider Dave Hughlett Leo Tato Tom Sorenson Timothy McHatten Jeremiah Webb, Jr. Harold Madding III Genesis Maceda Jennifer Sargent
GUITAR Pat Methaney Jack Grassel Dick Eliot Steve Lewandowski Bill Martin Dave Bany Steve Peplin Dave Sullivan Bob DeBlaey Jon Parrott Mike Sullivan Jay Mollerskov Kirk Tatnall Tom Sorce Keith Watling Ross Ingram Gary Williams Tom Zietlow Mike Heinrich Vince Megna
PERCUSSION Mike “Ding” Lorenz Romail Bhatti Jeff Pietrangelo Jennifer Sargent
PIANO Steve Allen Frank Puzullo Rich Crabtree Sam Steffke David Hazeltine Dan Nimmer Dan Dance Mark Davis Brad Pregeant Larry Moore Dean Lea Frank Vlasis Jeff Stoll David Stoler Grant Krueger Neal Bardele Stan Richards Michael Butkus-Bomier Ed Doemland Dan Schneck Lou Cucunato Jon Weber Larry Drake Scott Senn Don Vandenhouten John Cooper Mark Thierfelder David Bonofiglio Larry Drake Carmen Lane Carl Hoon Matthew Ward John Zabrowski
Preachers John Davis Jerome Spencer
SAXES Richie Cole Roger Pemberton Kaolyn Kafer Warren Wiegratz Tim Bell Curt Hanrahan Joe Lulloff Orv Johnson Nick Contorno Scott VanDomelin John Kirchberger Don Chesebro Tom Newburg Jason Gillette Jim Kazmerak Jack Snavely Tom Washatka Keith Sarnow Tim Urness Allen Johnson Mike Pauers Ray Rideout Steve Soller Mike Miller Jeff Santaga John Nelson Don Orlaska Ken Hoffman Mike Witte Lynn Lewandowski Ken Kilian Keith Sarnow Mark Piasecki Blair Bielawski Bennett Olson Larry Lange Dan Kinzelman Corey Clunk Dion Mills Pat Odell Sammy Armato Janet Lulloff Pat Crawford Steve Jacobs Rex Rukavina Jay Manning Ron Foster Ron Carr Bill Nelson Bill Voltz Dan Zaffrann Karen Engelmann Matt Olson Eric Morones Aaron Santee Larry Mueller Bill Nelson Gene Morrissette Mark Melnick Duane Gandre Jeff Genovese Vince Petta
STEEL GUITAR John Kemmett
SUPPORT CREW Darlene Sargent Kimberly Sargent Jennifer Sargent John Sargent George Green
TROMBONE Bob Havens Bill Porter Tom Bartlett Herb Draeger Al Anderson Jay Allison Ralph Hutchinson Steve Blonion Chuck Barnes Steve Clarey Jack Plovannich Paul Brozowski John Knurr Bruce Yeo Dale Deeds Glen Lunde Pete Runde Bob Kammerman John Dorsch Mike Franceski Don Deal Bill Rose Dave Lussier Chuck Dahlkert John Klokow Kyle Samuelson Richard Kimball John Steinke Jim Gagne Bill Hill Bob Halseth Ray Adamczyk
TRUMPET Bob Schulz Jeff Pietrangelo Steve Jensen Bob Neighbor Gary Church Merv Harding Kaye Berigan Frank Reda, Jr. Tom Schlueter Michael Drake Mike Plog Dale Elenich Allen Johnson Mike Betz Jim St. Charles Kevin Carberry Howard Schneider Bob Sutherland Tom Meredith Randy Skowronski Tim Fox Dave Kapralian Dan Marbes Matt Antoniewicz Jim Kelly Marty Krebs Pete Wood John Rose Tom Meredith Justin Olson Pete Roth Scott Baker Gordie Johlke Ken Accardi Mark Olen Jack Granatella Bill Berlyn Doug Owens Mark Wanenmaker Art Zens John Ahern Kevin Stalheim Bill Davidson Ben Denison
TUBA Dave Gannett John Knurr Jim Brusky
VIOLIN Tommy Greywolf Kayla Luty
VOCALISTS Jesse Hauck Chelsea Krombach Joan Seele Jill Jensen Ellen Winters Ann Denison Anita Stemper Peggy Peterson The Rodo Sisters Josie Treinen Diane McCarthy John Davis Angela Babler Lenny Szwiec Duane Mathes Stephanie Lewin Janine Rozina Evie Dietert Kathy Meitner Chris Henkel Rachel Brost Ginny Hintz Jennee Hillbrick Kristin Sponcia Nicki Nevermann Julie Soddy-Gamlin Pam Schroeder Diana Carl Leah Kowalewski Rachel Krumenauer Rebekah Moore Ed Trudeau Becky Spice Margaret Fisher Lucy Parks Linda Kolpek Cheryl Vanden Burgt Krista Mallman Terre Cohen Joaquin Hernandez Christine Krause Lisa LeMahieu Maribeth Sacho Wayne Zeleski Michael Cook Barb Frost David Seitz Andrea Gail Connie Hanner The Sound Express
Technical Support Skip Wagner - Artwork John W. Hansen - Sound Dennis Wilkers - Formalwear
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