LOCAL BAND TO PLAY FOR LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE

The Jerry Ford Orchestra will take its big-band sounds to the 52nd annual Southern Legislative Conference in Charleston, S.C., next week.

The 11-piece orchestra will perform during a reception for legislators from the 16 southern states that make up the conference. Missouri is among those states.

Next year the conference will be held in Kansas City. Missouri is hosting a reception Monday to promote attendance at the 1999 meeting.

"The theme of the reception is `Going to Kansas City,'" said orchestra leader Ford, who plays trumpet.

The Jerry Ford Orchestra has been performing for nearly 40 years in a six-state region. Ford said the group was selected because "we're the best in Missouri."

Ford, who is a lobbyist in Jefferson City and a former state legislator, also knows a lot of people in the capitol. "We've performed in Jefferson City several times," he said.

In South Carolina, the orchestra will perform its 1940s Glenn Miller music.

"The emphasis is on jazz because Kansas City is known for jazz," he said.

In addition, they will play some Dixieland and other songs related to southern states like "The Tennessee Waltz," "The St. Louis Blues" and "The Charleston."

About 1,500 people are anticipated at the reception. The entire conference may bring upwards of 5,000 people. Legislators gather to discuss pending legislation and issues of interest to southern states.

"Big-band music made a resurgence in the past few years," Ford said, "but it never really went away. The orchestra has been playing regularly over the past 40 years."

The group appeared regularly at the Purple Crackle and former Colony Club, both in East Cape Girardeau, Ill. More recently the orchestra plays private events and parties.

With Ford in the group are Narvol Randol, second trumpet; Dr. Dan Cotner, trombone; John Quinn, tenor saxophone; Jim Finn, lead alto saxophone; Pat Schwent, second alto-tenor saxophone; Dick Courtois, baritone saxophone; Richard Eggimann, piano; Joe Blackwell, bass; Steve Williams, drums; and Pat Blackwell, vocals.