Tuxedo Junction: Front L-R Les Jack, Burr Eckstrand, Jack Passick, George Foy, Steve Reints
Back L-R Mark Rechkemmer, Fred Steele, Rick Connor, Kurt Schuchmann, Bill Ramsey, Bob Wharram, Dan Malloy, Mike Blair
George Foy
Tuxedo Junction was formed in the summer of 1980 when several Oelwein Jay Cee’s, who were former students of the Oelwein High School band director George Foy, approached the director about putting together a dance band. The original intent was to perform at a JC event they were hosting in Oelwein. The music was borrowed from the high school band’s music library.
The first name of the band was “The JC Band”, which was a bit misleading. So after a few months the name of the band was officially changed to Tuxedo Junction which was more fitting since everyone wore tuxedos.
The majority of the band’s first jobs did not result in any actual profit. They barely covered the expenses for PA equipment, music stands and transportation costs. During the first few months of the bands history they traveled in an old school bus. It was a rough ride so when the bus broke down on the way to a job they replaced it with a trailer for the equipment and everyone went by car. On one occasion the band’s bar bill was larger than the amount being paid to the band for the job. Everyone paid their own bar bill after that.
Member of Tuxedo Junction over the years included: George Foy, Dan Malloy, Burr Ekstrand, Les Jack, Mark Reckhemmer, Rick Connor, Fred Steele, Bill Ramsey, Mike Blair, Steve Reints, Jack and Clay Passick, Curt Schuchman, Tom Kammer, Tim Jack, Terry James, Kurt Schuchmann, and Bob Wharram.
During the next several years they were invited to play at many different locations and events, including Luigi’s in Oelwein, the Gayla Ballroom in Independence, and the Col Ballroom in Davenport. A highlight of their early career was the Jefferson Hotel in Cedar Rapids where they played the New Year’s Eve celebration for several years. Those performances included a live feed to the local radio station that enabled thousands of listeners to remotely enjoy their show.
Hear actual live performance of Tuxedo Junction at the Gayla Ballroom below:
Tuxedo Junction was a huge hit with high school graduates of the 1940’s at their reunions. They also played for many wedding dances. The band is still active today.
Contributed by George Foy.
What do you do when the bar is at your elbow? Thanks to George for putting up with us. And thanks to all the people that came to dance. One Sunday morning after the Sacred Heart all school reunion, the late band leader Leo Greco., told his radio audience “I heard a band last night, if you can’t dance to them, you can’t dance.” I’m wondering if he forgot his hearing aids. And who can forget Les Jacks rendition of the Stripper. So lucky to have been a part of it all.
Had a blast playing with this group, many great musicians were in this group. Les Jack and I were the main reason for the large bar bill!