Media Catalog

Our Founding Members 

Frank Como – RBB Musical Director (1921-2015)

In his own words: "I started playing guitar at age 11. My brother bought me a guitar for Christmas. I played by ear and accompanied myself singing. I took piano lessons for two years and learned to read music. In high school I formed a quartet of clarinet, guitar, piano and bass. Johnny Costa played with this quartet and his wife Helen also sang. I also was rehearsing with the local bands and played with the Buddy Lee Orchestra. Prior to going on the road with Chuck Foster Orchestra, I played in a sextet with Buddy Lee in local's clubs. I traveled throughout the mid-west with the Chuck Foster Orchestra playing ballrooms and hotels. We played at the famous Blackhawk Restaurant in Chicago. We would broadcast every night on the radio.

I went into the Army while in Chicago with the Chuck Foster Orchestra. While in the Army I was stationed in Camp Crowder, Missouri. I was fortunate enough to get into the Army Band. I was doing a lot of arranging for the Swing Band within the regular Army Band. I led the Swing Band when we did concerts for bond drives and recruiting tours. On being discharged from the service I returned to Arnold, PA and continued playing and arranging for the Buddy Lee Orchestra.

In 1949 went to New York and attended the New York Conservatory of Modern Music on the G.I. Bill. While attending this school I met some fine musicians. Some of the instructors were members of the First Woody Herman Herd: Don Lamond, drums; Billy Bauer, guitar; Chubby Jackson, bass; Tony Aless, piano. The school orchestra was quite unique. It had five guitars as a section - similar to a sax section. It was something new at the time. During my first year at this school I met a fellow guitar student and formed a quintet. I doubled on vibraphone and guitar and the other members also doubled on piano, bass, vibraphone and guitar. It was with this group that I met my wife, Roberta. She played piano, accordion and vibraphone. We also sang five-part harmony.

When this group disbanded, Roberta and I had a trio and traveled for two years. In 1955 during a cold December in upper Michigan, we decided to quit the road and settled in New York City. While in New York I made contact with an Army buddy that was in the Army Band. He was also an arranger and we worked together on Industrial shows, Broadway shows, and radio and television jingles. We also did work with singers and entertainers doing rest, as they say, is history. Recordings with the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Some of the Broadway shows we worked on were "A Chorus Line". 

"They're playing our song", Leonard Bernstein's "1600 Pennsylvania Ave." and numerous others. I also composed "Threnody" played on the Tonight Show and "Pavanne" (Ravel) originally orchestrated for an album by Lawrence Welk entitled Swinging the Classics. I also arranged "Air Mail Special" and "Flyin' Home" for Lionel Hampton. At about this time (1968) Roberta and I met Lionel Hampton and we started writing arrangements for his band. I also orchestrated a symphonic piece for Lionel called "The King David Suite". We traveled with him when he did these symphonic concerts. We continued writing for Lionel for 20 years.

In 1988 we retired to California to a senior development called Rossmoor. Roberta and I continued playing here with our own combo and also became involved with the Bay Area Big Band. I did some writing for a concert show put on by the Bohemian Club called "Big Band with Strings:. It turned out very well and they have repeated it three times. We also played an early service at our church for 10 years. We are kind of winding down a little now. Roberta doesn't play any more. During the 1960's Roberta made an album with another pianist, Jeanie Cheatham. It was called "Academy Awards in Jazz" and it featured 2 pianos, bass and drums. George Duvivier played bass and Jo Jones played drums. It turned out quite well. Roberta and I did a video documentary of our career to be shown here in Rossmoor." 

Vern Brown

Instrument:  Sax

Hometown: Altura, CA

Life: 

• WWII Midshipman, Ensign, Lieut J.g.  Lieut Cmdr., Capt US Naval Res

• Was Commander Officer of 2 mine sweepers, holder of the Bronze Star & Gold Star

• USS Stadegy AM-308 Mine Sweeper

Charles "Charlie" Birt

Instrument:  Sax / Clarinet

Hometown: Parsons, Kansas

Life: 

• Navy (WWII) – Served in South Pacific

Bob Burnett

Instrument:  Sax 

Hometown: Glen Ellyn, IL

Life: 

• US Army 1952 - 1954

• Research chemist at Chevron 

Earle Cunha

Instrument:  Vocalist 

Hometown: Berkeley, CA

Life: 

• Youth vocalist with Jimmiew Howard Orchestra, Buddy Maleville's NBC Orchestra, 

• Received a letter from Bing Crosby "Go to school; the music will always be there. Don't pass up the opportunity to pursue a top-notch education."

• Captain in 1945

• Ran several American car dealerships in the East Bay

C. W. Erickson "Bud" 

Instrument:  Violin

Hometown: Butte, Montana

Life: 

• Army Air Corps

• Pilot for P38, B17, & B29 airplanes

A. J. Groth "Jim" 

Instrument:  Sax / Clarinet

Hometown: Encinitas, CA

Life: 

• Bandmaster- 91st Div Army Reserve

• 39yrs in Army

• Competative swimmer

• Ski Racer

• Army Competative Rifle Team

Herb Sontag

Instrument:  Trumpet

Hometown: Auburn, NY

Life: 

• Commanding Officer of detached platoon supplying gasoline to Army units in Germany (Korean War)

• First started playing at "Club Dickman", a large glass-roofed night club. 

• Played in 18-piece MIT Big Band "The Techtonians" during college