Today is Friday
Nov 21, 2008
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Big band sounds at Highland Springs |
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 02, 2008 | | | By Anita Curtis
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE
The big band tradition is alive and well at Highland Springs, thanks to resident Jack Melick, a leader in the entertainment industry for more than 50 years. “As long as I live, I will do all I can to keep
the golden era of music from ever dying,” Melick vows.
Recently his ten-piece band entertained in high style with the sounds of Glenn Miller and many others in the Hillcrest Clubhouse at Highland Springs. The most common response from fellow residents was “I feel like dancing” as the band played a little boogie woogie as well as some mariachi music, sombreros and all.
During the show Melick also shared stories from the early days of traveling with the band and meeting famous people like Frank
Sinatra.
A star is born
After realizing his dream of being a big band leader— which he declared at age seven—Melick played for such luminaries as Milton
Berle, Betty Grable, Rowan & Martin, Sammy Davis, and Mickey Rooney. He even did a stint as one of the Twin Pianos in the Guy
Lombardo orchestra.
For many years, Melick’s orchestra played the famous Chaparral Club in Dallas, the Warwick Club in Houston, and the Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas. The group settled in “Big D” in 1968.
And the band played on
Dallas is still home to the Jack Melick Orchestra, where he is semi-retired, living at Highland Springs and playing the music that he
loves best.
Since 1986, his musicians have hosted a yearly “Jack Melick Dance Cruise” on many of the world’s great cruise ships, including the QE2 in 2002. is year, nearly 40 Highland Springs residents
plan to join him and dance the night away to the sounds of the Jack Melick Orchestra. | |
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