ICBand

ITALIAN COMMUNITY BAND NOTES

Updated June 1, 2026 @ 4:12 PM

What's The Latest?

Director, Craig Todd

cstodd5@msn.com

Cell (314) 498-9521

Webmaster, Bill Ulkus

ok@bannerbracket.com

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

Collinsville Italian Festival

Carol and Nat

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.

Delmar Gardens Last Show

It's been a great run. Thanks, guys.