Independent Silver Band
Echoes of Yesteryear
William L. Reynolds- Band Master
| "Bill" is a native of Mt. Vernon, and the son of musicians/music teachers |
Mike Launay- Vocalist
| Big Mike Launay is a native of Mt. Vernon, a graduate of Mt. Vernon Christian School where he studied music, and played trumpet under Bill Reynolds. He attended Pensacola Christian College, in Pensacola Florida, where he began his studies in vocal music. He has sung with the St. Louis Symphony Chorus under Hans Vonk, and continues his studies in vocal music and repertoire. His"day job " is car salesman at Ford Square in Mt. Vernon . |
Norman (Buddy) Frerguson- E flat Cornet
| The man with the iron lip, lives in Trenton Illinois, and is now the proud father of a baby girl. Buddy graduated from Wesclin High School, and has been busy as the "first call' trumpet player in the Metro East area of Illinois. He is the lead trumpet with Kaskaskia Jazz Band, and first trumpet with The Kaskaskia Concert Band. he also is a regular with the Highland Muny Band, and the Greenville Muny Band, as well as other groups in the area. |
John Upcraft- E flat Cornet
| John is the man noted for his sweet sound on the E flat cornet. Although he claims permanent psychological damage, he studied with Bill Reynolds as a fifth grader, and went on to graduate from Mt. Vernon Twp. High School. He was solo and lead trumpet with the Rend Lake College Jazz Band, principal trumpet with the Rend Lake Symphony, and was chosen to sit in with the St. Louis Symphony as a high school student. John has his own geological company, and is active as a soloist, and a member of the Trumpets of Praise group touring churches across the tri state area. |
Tom Baker-B flat Cornet
 | Tom resides in Salem where he was born and raised. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelors in Music Education. Following graduation, he taught in Indiana public schools for five years , and played trumpet and guitar professionally in the Indianapolis area for fifteen years. In 1988, Tom accepted the position of Band Director at the Franklin Park Middle School in Salem and continues to enjoy teaching music. Although he is kept very busy with his school activities, he finds time to play music with many groups. In addition to playing with the Independent Silver Band, he plays and/or sings with the Kaskaskia College Concert and Jazz Bands, Kaskaskia College Concert Choir, Trumpets In Praise!, Centralia Philharmonic Orchestra, Homecoming Gospel Choir, Mt. Vernon Central Christian Church, The Evangelaires, and Heirmen of Victory. |
Len Campbell- B flat Cornet
 | Len, of Nashville, Illinois, is a retired law enforcement officer and a veteran of the U.S. Army. He had notperformed for about thirty years, but now is busy playing in a variety of groups. He has played, with several community bands and ensembles including the Kaskaskia College Concert and Jazz Bands, Southern Illinois Concert Band, Fairfield City Band, Highland Municipal Band Municipal Band, Homecoming Gospel Choir Brass, various ensembles and in pit orchestras. He regularly plays in his home church in Nashville, and also performs with a group he organized named Trumpets In Praise!, They play for churches in the area. Registered with Bugles Across America, and an active member of The American Legion, he plays Taps at military funeral services in the Southern Illinois area. In the Independent Silver Band, Len usually plays B flat cornet, but doubles on flugelhorn, and occasionally plays E flat alto horn. |
Dean Mount- B flat Cornet
| After a career as music composer, and arranger of music advertising in the Detroit area, Dean retired to Fairfield Illinois, where he is now busier than when he was working. Dean has been playing professionally since the age of fourteen, and continues to play with many jazz groups, and the ISB. Although we tease him about being the last of the original band, he is somewhat younger than 125 years, although he is reluctant to tell us how close he is. |
Henry (Hank) Villani- B flat Cornet
| Hank hails from Carbondale Illinois, where he graduated from Carbondale Community High School, and attended Southern Illinois University as a trumpet major, playing in the Southern Illinois University Marching band, concert band, wind symphony, and jazz band. He switched to to the study of law, and now is one half of Villani and Villani law Office, although we don't know which Villani he is. |
John Odle- B flat Cornet
| John Odle has operated Gandy's Body Shop in West Frankfort since 1980. John came up through the West Frankfort school system, and obtained a Bachelor of Music degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, where he studied under Larry Franklin, and performed with many of the S.I.U. organizations. After graduation in 1974, John taught music for four years in Cobden Illinois, followed by two years at the Logan School in West Frankfort. John has remained active in music by performing with, and conducting the Southern Illinois Concert band, as well as the Pyramid Players Orchestra. John currently the minister of music in the Immanual Baptist Church in Benton Illinois, a position he has held for twenty- nine years. |
Steve Loomis-E flat Alto Horn
| Steve is a former elementary school teacher and coach. He is currently a researcher at the Centralia Area Historical Society Museum. He is a graduate of SIU Carbondale where he was a member of the Wind Ensemble and Marching Salukis. Steve plays the E flat alto horn with the ISB. Today he is an active member of the Kaskaskia College Community Band and the 33rd Illinois Regiment Civil War Band. His leisure pursuits include running and biking. Steve also enjoys feature writing for magazines and newspapers, and is conducting a research project on historic brass bands of Southern Illinois. |
Mat Webster-E flat Alto Horn
| Mat grew up in
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Kendrick Vaughn- B flat Trombone
| In high school, Kendrick was principle trombone of the Centralia Marching Showcase, Centralia Illinois, when they won the state marching competition. he has played in the Kaskaskia band, the Centralia Cultural Society Symphony, and many other groups around the Southern Illinois area. Kendrick is currently an administrator et Crossroads Hospital in Mt. Vernon. |
Richard Davis- B flat Trombone
| Richard comes from the city of Fairfield. and his been active in music since fourth grade, although his occupation is in the insurance industry. Richard plays in the Roasted Chestnuts brass quintet, the Olney Municipal Band, and the Fairfield Municipal Band. Richard is passing the torch to the next generation as his son Blake occasionally plays with the ISB, and is pictured in the group shot at the top of this page. |
Randy Atkinson - B flat Trombone
 | Randy hails from the state of Ohio, and now makes his home in Mt. Vernon where he has his own accounting business. Randy played in the Marine band, and dropped out of music after his enlistment ended. After twenty years, Randy bought another trombone, and is now active with jazz groups, Central Christian Church Praise Group, the Kaskaskia Bands, and of course, th ISB |
Andy Messerli- B flat Tenor Horn
| Andy graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelors in Music. While there, he performed with many ensembles, including the Panther Marching Band, the Jazz Lab Band, the Wind Ensemble, and the Eastern Symphony Orchestra. He holds alumni memberships in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Kappa Kappa Psi. Andy was the band director at Casey Middle School in Mt. Vernon, until he was offered an assistantship at Bowling Green State University, at Bowling Green Ohio. |
Rob Dycus- B flat Baritone Horn
| Rob was born in Mount Vernon, but grew up on the farm in rural Waltonville. He and his four siblings all were talented musicians. He and one sister have remained active with music and are music teachers. Rob attended Rend Lake College then graduated from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, with a Bachelors Degree in Music Education. While in college, he was the principal baritone player with the Wind Ensemble. Following his graduation in 1978, he taught for 16 years in the Sandoval school system. Rob is currently teaching Instrumental Music and Band at Centralia Junior High School. Over the years, he has played with many local groups and has served as guest conductor, judge, and clinician throughout Southern Illinois. In the Independent Silver Band, Rob is performing with an 1888 Missenharter Baritone horn. Rob and his wife, Nina Kay, reside in Mount Vernon with their four very active daughters, Kaylee, Kaycee, Kaydee, and Kenzee Kay. ("Kay" appears to be his favorite name!) Rob enjoys coaching his daughters’ softball teams and watching them participate in their various activities which include playing musical instruments and singing.
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Dan Reynolds- B flat Bass Horn
| Dan Proclaims the title as the world's sexiest tuba player, and although this may be disputed, his ability to hold the low end of the ISB is not. Dan is the minister of music at the First Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, where the ISB holds it's rehearsals. Dan attended Mt. Vernon Twp. High School, Rend Lake College, Northern Illinois University as a voice major. He has toured with circuses, and singing groups, and now owns and operates his tire recycling business. |
Don Kragness- Snare Drum
| Don has recently retired from the Johnston City Junior High School, and schedules the ISB performances around his travels. Don graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in music education. His applied major was percussion, and he studied with Sam Floyd. Don was the show drummer on Circus Kirk, and now plays with the Southern Illinois Concert Band. On some occasions, Don is joined in the percussion section by his son, Tobey. |
Frank Winchester- Bass Drum, Cymbals
| Although Frank prefers to be referred to as a "Percussionist" he holds the tempo on bass drum, and cymbals with the ISB, and does so most expertly.Frank is a native of Murphysboro, but now resides in |
In Addition To Our Members Above, We Depend On Our Qualified Substitute Musicians
Connor Burge Colton Burge Jim Achenbach Kevin Martin Blake Davis Gary Showalter Chuck Hake Ted Hartley William Biby Troy Kirkpatrick Robert Reynolds John Reynolds Bruce Groll Jory Kees | B Flat Cornet E Flat Alto Horn E Flat Alto Horn B Flat Trombone B Flat Trombone B Flat Tenor Horn/Baritone B Flat Baritone/Trombone BB Flat Tuba C Tuba BB Flat Tuba Bass Drum Percussion Percussion Percussion | Mt Vernon, Illinois Mt. Vernon, Illinois Collinsville Illinois Carbondale, Illinois Fairfield, Illinois Carlyle, Illinois Nashville, Illinois Johnston City, Illinois Christopher, Illinois Mt. Vernon, Illinois Mt. Vernon, Illinois St. Louis, Missouri Carterville, Illinois Johnston City, Illinois |