Towpath Radio Jazz Coming to Grand Rapids Town Hall
Written by Towpath Radio on April 10, 2024
The Grand Rapids Town Hall Committee and the Historical Society of Grand Rapids are excited to present the Honey Creek Preservation Jazz Band in concert at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 20 in the historic Grand Rapids Town Hall. The band’s music is traditional classic jazz (commonly referred to as Dixieland) with music from the teens and 20s, sometimes a little later.
A few years ago, Bill Genson was asked to play in the Opera House in Melmore, Ohio, and he and others played for the 100th anniversary of the Opera House. Bill gathered some of his favorite musicians for the gig. He didn’t have a name for the band, so they became the Honey Creek Preservation Jazz Band. This unique name was first used back in the nineteen twenties in Melmore. Members are Genson on cornet, Jeff Kopmanis on clarinet, Mark Stewart on trombone, Wes Linenkugel on bass, Morgan Humecky on banjo, and Sherry Humecky on dulcimer. A free will offering will be taken with all proceeds being used for further improvements in the Town Hall.
The Town Hall Committee is a group of concerned and hard-working citizens who want to bring back programs and theatre productions to this historic building. Built in 1898, many events from vaudeville shows to high school graduations were held in the auditorium. Since September of last year, the Town Hall Committee has presented a Comedy Night, a Christmas Sing-Along, a Shakespeare play, a silent movie, and two productions by Horizon Youth Theatre. Upcoming events are: Poetry Renaissance in April, “Matilda” by the Horizon Youth Theatre on June 7 – 9, and “The Sound of Music” on July 12 – 14.
