By Jeremy Couso
96-year old, retired three-star Army General, and all-around fantastic drummer Dick Bendix will be featured at this year’s Susanville Swing Band performance Saturday afternoon at the Veterans’ Memorial Hall on Main Street.
Bendix has played drums for the Swing Band since its first performance in October of 2006.
“At 96, Bendix appears to be the oldest living drummer performing with a big band or jazz band in the entire world,” says Ben Wade, the symphony’s Artistic Director and Conductor.
“The concert will feature all of Dick’s favorite music from the big band era.”
Songs on Saturday’s program include big band takes on Girl from Ipanema, Take the A Train, It Had to be You and I Left My Heart in San Francisco.
Wade talked a little about what inspired this performance.
“Dick asked me if I would play a concert in his honor whenever he passed away. I thought we could do one better and honor him while he is still alive and include him as an integral part of our band.”
And Bendix is a darn good drummer. Not ‘good for his age’ or used-to-be good. Bendix is the real deal and more than capable of leading the Susanville Swing Band, and the audience, down memory lane.
Typically Wade, in his role as Artistic Director, will select music for the concert and tell the musicians what they are going to play, with insight from the players themselves on their favorite songs. This time however, he allowed Bendix to pick the entire concert, from start to finish.
The Susanville Swing Band concert will follow the Veterans Day Parade and lunch at the hall, and to honor veterans the concert will be free to those who have served our country.
Tickets for the 2:30p.m. show are $30 each and on sale at Margies Book Nook and the Lassen County Chamber of Commerce office. For more information head on over to the Susanville Symphony’s website.
