ITALIAN COMMUNITY BAND NOTES
Updated June 1, 2026 @ 4:12 PM
What's The Latest?
Director, Craig Todd
Cell (314) 498-9521
Webmaster, Bill Ulkus
Cell (618) 980-3182
Director, Craig Todd
Cell (314) 498-9521
Webmaster, Bill Ulkus
Cell (618) 980-3182
REHEARSALS 7-9 PM @ The Bocci Club
June 8, 7-9
BOOKED GIGS
June 27, 5:45-7:15 / St. Ambrose 100th Anniversary
July 7, 6:30-8:30 / Piazza on The Hill
August 8, 10-Noon / Italian Open @ Eureka
September 12, 10-Noon / Forest Park Golf
November 5, 6:00-7:30 / Lewis & Clark Library
TENTATIVE GIG
DRESS CODE
Khaki Pants or Shorts
White Shirt
Band Hat (Italian colors)
or
Black Pants
Black Shirts
Black Shoes
ROSTER
Saxophones
Craig Todd, Alto
Jeff Hany, Alto
Ben McDavid - Tenor
Bob Banashek - Tenor
Rich Crain – Bari
Trumpets
Doug Gavin
April Silverman
Michael Barton
Trombones
Dennis Shannon
Cornelius Washington
Bob Settle
Larry Goldenberg
Rhythm
Bob Bosch – Guitar
Joe Miller - Bass
Ray Knittig - Drums
Vocals
John Laurenti
PAST BAND MEMBERS
Basta, Nat (Vocals)
Bode, Dale (Trumpet)
Bode, Peggy (Piano)
Butterfield, Jack (Keyboard)
Byrd, Lynda (Keyboard)
Coleman, Trey (Trombone)
Daniels, Bill (Drums)
Ellicott, Ted (Trumpet)
Francois, Don (Accordion, Webmaster) *
Fyr, Melissa (Vocals)
Garcia, Tim (Keyboard)
Garrett, Ray (Saxophone)
Gray, Ryan (Saxophone)
Gregor, Paul (Keyboard)
Hayden, Mel (Trombone)
Hayden, Sterling (Trombone)
Heil, Bill (Saxophone)
Hosler, Clara (Baritone)
Hosler, Don (Trumpet)
Kenyon, Dave (Trombone)
Kohut, George (Baritone, Saxophone)
McCracken, Bob (Drums)
McFarland, Dennis (Trombone)
Meisinger, Carol (Vocals)
Meyer, Wes (Saxophone)
Mitchell, Ron (Leader, Trumpet)
Mueller, (Doc) John (Trumpet)
Owens, Joe (Trumpet)
Rhein, Kip (Trumpet)
Robinson, Tom (Trombone)
Ruland, Dick (Trumpet)
Smith, Bruce (Trombone)
Spranger, Bill (Trumpet)
Strahlem, Jeff (Trumpet)
Sausillo, Gil (Saxophone)
Ulkus, Bill (Trombone)
Wildey, Jack (Trombone)
Winker, Tom (Guitar)
Yung, (Harold) Hap (Trombone)
Yung, Bob (Leader, Saxophone)
BAND PHOTOS & HERITAGE
Italian Band at the Columbia Theater... October 5, 2025
Italian Band at 2024 Forest Park Columbus Day Golf Tournament ... Photo by Bill Ulkus
* Here is some interesting info about the band's heritage and its first webmaster, Don Francois. On April 5, 2017, Don was inducted into the St. Louis Media History Foundation Hall of Fame. Unknown to many, Don literally helped build the television industry in St. Louis. He was first hired here to build KACY, the UHF station licensed to Festus. From there he went to KSD-TV, but when KWK-TV was licensed to go on the air in 1954, he moved there to build the new facility. Then KWK-TV went to color in 1958 and Don was part of the rebuild. In 1967, Channel 4’s station owner CBS set out to construct a state-of-the-art facility with the world’s first computerized master control room, and Don again rose to the challenge. Along with figuring out how to improve TV, he figured out how to use the internet, too, became an expert at that and launched a web site for the Italian Community Band. He retired from Channel 4 in 1997. Don also played accordian and sang with the Italian band and the group Il Quartetto until his retirement from performing. Don maintained the web site after his retirement, but on April 15, 2025 ceded its management to another former player and friend of the band. Don passed away on January 18, 2026.
"Italian Community Band Entertains at LA FESTA 2025"
LA FESTA 2025 "The air was chilly, but the Italian Community Band was HOT!" May 5, 2025
Columbus Day Tournament Forest Park 2019
Legends Golf 2022
Legends Golf 2022
Collinsville Italian Festival
Collinsville Italian Festival
Carol and Nat
Rehearsal at Ozark Theater
Rehearsal at Ozark Theater
Rehearsal at Ozark Theater
RECORDINGS & PHOTOS
Columbus Day 2024 Videos (by Joe Miller)
Early recording by Ron Francois
Ollie Raymand, MC, Lead Trumpet and band director. Great at all. (from Don Francois)
11/22/24 Concert at the Bocce Club (by Bob Banashek)
Big Band Performance Recordings Quartet Con Uno Performance Recordings Band Photo Archive
History of IL Cuartetto Con Uno
IL Cuartetto was formed in 2001 by Ollie Raymand. The original members were: Ollie, Don Francois, Nat Basta, Skip Toretta and Rudy Schuessler. Later, Skip was replaced by Roy Bamber, who was later replaced by John Laurenti. Rudy was replaced by Joe Miller. Ollie left the group in 2011.
The latest group, Nat Basta, Don Francois, Joe Miller, John Laurenti and Gene Fribis played together for ten years or more. In the twenty years that IL Cuartetto was together, they gave over 400 performances and entertained over 8000 people, primarily at independent living and retirement facilities.
IL Cuartetto played its final performance on Sunday Nov. 11, 2018, at Delmar Gardens South. Below is a link to a video recording made by Ron Francois. Click on the link to play the video.
It's been a great run. Thanks, guys.
Nat Basta Ollie Raymand Don Francois
VENUE LOCATIONS
Buder Library
4401 Hampton, St. Louis MO 63109
Collinsville Recreation Club
427 South Mulberry Street, Collinsville, Illinois 62234
DIRECTIONS TO COLLINSVILLE RECREATION CLUB
Columbia Theater
5257 Southwest Ave, St. Louis MO 63139
DIRECTIONS TO THE COLUMBIA THEATER
First Unity Church
4753 Butler Hill Rd.,St. Louis MO 63128
DIRECTIONS TO FIRST UNITY CHURCH
Italia-America Bocce Club
2210 Marconi Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110
DIRECTIONS TO THE ITALIA-AMERICA BOCCE CLUB
Ozark Theater
103 E. Lockwood, Webster Groves MO 63119
Piazza Imo
2109 Marconi, St. Louis MO 63110
(across the street from St. Ambrose Church)
Probstein Golf Course @ Forest Park
6141 Lagoon Dr., St. Louis MO 63112
(11:00 to 1:00) Please arrive by 10:30 am.
DIRECTI0NS TO 6141 LAGOON DRIVE
St. Ambrose Church
5130 Wilson Ave, St. Louis MO 63110
(across the street from Piazzo Imo)
St. Paul Lutheran Church
6969 W Frontage Road, Worden IL 62097
DIRECTIONS TO ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH
The Legends, Italian Open
625 The Legends Parkway Dr., Eureka MO 63025
Please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to play time.
VFW Post 3500
1717 Big Bend Avenue, St. Louis MO 63117