Fun Video Clip of Reg Kehoe and The Marimba Queens

Here's a great video clip of Reg Kehoe and His Marimba Queens, performing sometime in the early 1940's: big MP4 file | small MP4 file (click to download files). Here's the page on archive.org that this came from. There's more versions of it and info over there. Thanks to Carrie from Stay Free for alerting me to this little wonder.

This band apparently performed at the start and end of the vacation season in Hershey, Pennsylvania every year. The clip here came from a PBS show Matinee At The Bijou. A fuller version of this segment was made available to the public originally as a "soundie," a film reel that played inside a video jukebox of the day called a Panoram, a precursor to the Scopitone.

The bass player is a guy named Frank Denunzio, and he gets my nomination for the upright bass player hall of fame, for his visual antics alone. And then there are the wonderful Marimba Queens. Sigh.

All in all, a real delight of a clip. Maybe I'll rip and post a batch of tracks from other marimba bands.

Thanks Carrie!

Comments

[fatty jubbo]

god bless archive.org

[Quinn]

that really made me happy. beware of the blog does it again!

[Harry Rose]

This is just too good!

Ken, thank you and the entire staff at WFMU for what you do.

[Nick Name]

Even if I weren't a bass player myself, I think I'd still notice that there seems to be little correlation between what that crazy bass player is doing with his hands and the notes that are coming out - I think these guys are faking it!

It's fun to watch though....

[b0b]

I'd never seen a left-handed marimba before! Did the film get reversed or something?

[Cyndy Yoder]

I am the daughter of one of the Marimba Queens. Yes, the film was reversed. My mother, Madee Yoder is the one who rolls her eyes and smiles. She truly did love being in the band. I am so delighted to see this clip being available for those of us who love marimba music.

[graham answerth]

I'm a retired teacher in Victoria ,Australia. My employed colleague and I run an all girls group[ ages 9 to 13] who play marimbas etc. rather brilliantly. My computer does not have a sound card, so I could not listen to the marimba queens. Our group is called " the marimba belles" and they perform widely in our state. One eleven year old plays the violin line of allegro to Spring by Vivaldi brilliantly, including those triplets. we have yet to record this but we do have a CD. Are you interested in a copy.?We could send it by snail mail.

[graham answerth]

Hang onto your hats everyone. The ensemble known as "the marimba belles" is; if our searches on the net are comprehensive; is unique. Most kids around the planet play African and Orff/Schulwerk music, which although inclusive of many players, and designed for classroom work,and is an excellent approach in introducing children to music, does not challenge them in learning complex classical music or intricate arrangements of non-classical music." the belles" are absolutetly driven in the manic sense, to tackle very difficult pieces, not only as soloists, but as integral parts of a five, six or seven member ensemble. As far as soloists go, listen to track 27 of our album, now available for sale . Maryann, now an adult, was merely nine years old when she recorded this piece, and became more accomplished as she became older. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik on the CD was recorded in one take by girls aged about 12 or 13. A cello part was added to deepen the bass line. This year's senior group; 10,11 and 12 year old girls can eat Vivaldi's Spring for breakfast, and sail through Eine Kleine Nachtmusik with their eyes shut. Also, check out our sites .Thanks, Graham Answerth and Adrian Batt.Just follow the links.

[graham answerth]

Oh, by the way, "the marimba belles" will soon have some video clips. Adrian and I will keep you posted. Thanks.. Graham Answerth.

[lory miles]

wow! this makes me really happy well done i heard the marimba belles stuff and thats great too. you should really check it out

[graaham answerth]

Well folks, On the site "the marimba belles" have two video clips. Each are interesting, but for sheer perfection, have a look at the 2006 ensemble. While we don't have an idiosyncratic bass player, the girls play impeccably. The music doesn't lend itself to much visual movement by the girls[ i.e. they play rather focussed on the piece] but you can see they are the real deal. And they are only twelve years old. Graham Answerth

[Walter H. Pogue, Jr.]

My Mother, Florence Pogue, played with Reg in the early 1930's. They rehearsed in the ballroom of the J. H. Troup Music House at 38 West King Street, Lancaster, PA. Reg had a studio above the store. He taught marimba, accordian and drums. I took marimba lesons from him when I was three and a half years old and played a soloduring one of his appearances in Lancaster.

Troup mujsic House was owned by Robert Troup, Sr., Father of Bobby Troup who wrote Daddy and Route 66 and had a careen in Hollywood.

My Father managed the Band Instrument Department of Troup's and gave saxaphone and clarinet lessons in the store.

[John chambers]

Took drum lessons from reg. What a card. Who would think an elementary school kid would dig keeping that crazy beat with a marimba. Thanks reg.