MUSICIANS

BOB SCHULZ: Leader, Cornet and Vocals
Bob was born in Wonewoc, WI. He was a band director for 17 years before joining the legendary Turk Murphy Jazz Band of San Francisco in 1979. His eight years with Turk included 300 taped radio shows, many LPs, tours of US and Europe and the Carnegie Hall tribute to Turk. Bob still leads the Turk Murphy band for special engagements. He is the foremost exponent of the Bob Scobey trumpet style and is an outstanding vocalist in the tradition of Clancy Hayes. Bob was chosen to play the part of Bob Scobey with the Scobey Reunion Band engagement at the 1988 Los Angeles Classic Jazz Festival and in 1989 at the Big Horn Jazz Festival in Chicago. He has more than 30 LPs to his credit. For more information on Bob, see: HISTORY

SCOTT ANTHONY: Banjo, Guitar and Vocals
Scott and his wife Susan moved to San Francisco in 1974 with no money, no job, and a 140 lb. Newfoundland Dog. They were very lucky getting fairly good jobs soon after arrival. Scott worked for almost 2 years playing a solo banjo, pedal-bass, drum machine and vocal stint 5 nights a week at a fairly up-scale restaurant chain. After this he accidentally heard of an opening for the intermission spot at Turk Murphy's club, Earthquake McGoon's and held that job for 8 years until McGoon's closed. Since 1984, he has led and played in the Golden Gate Rhythm Machine, as well as Bob Schulz's Frisco Jazz Band, and others. He now makes a living as a computer programmer and consultant, suppliments the family income playing with the band, and dreams of returning to watercolor painting sometime soon.

ROBERT SCOTT (BOB) RINGWALD: Piano and Vocals
Rumors of Bob's virgin birth, being abandoned by wolves, and being raised by parents, chopping down a cherry tree, throwing a half dollar across the Potomac River, and walking 10 miles to and from school (uphill both ways) in the snow are grossly exaggerated.

Bob began playing piano at 8, and guitar at 10. This was tough because he had to go to bed at 7. Eventually, when he could stay up late enough, he earned a reputation as a leading traditional jazz pianist while working in many nightclubs in Sacramento, San Francisco and Los Angeles. From 1970 to 1973 he was the semi-regular intermission pianist for Turk Murphy's famous San Francisco night spot, Earthquake McGoon's. In 1968, he appeared in the Monterey Dixieland Festival. Also on the show was the original Dukes of Dixieland, Firehouse 5+2, Bob Crosby and the Bobcats, Mickie Finn, Turk Murphy's San Francisco Jazz Band, Clancy Hayes and Louis Armstrong and the All-Stars.

He organized and led the Fulton Street Jazz Band of Sacramento, and the Great Pacific Jazz Band of Los Angeles. In 1998, Bob appeared in the movie "Twice Upon a Time," with his daughter, the actress Molly Ringwald. He played a saloon piano player . . . . type casting, eh? Throughout Ringwald's musical career, he has always subscribed to the motto: "If my music does not come up to your standards, lower your standards." Bob has recently recorded with the Bob Schulz Frisco Jazz Band. The recording is scheduled to be released soon (i.e., after Aug. 2011).

RAY SKJELBRED: Piano
Ray moved to the Bay Area in 1969 where he immediately became part of the local music scene and played with all the most noted musicians and bands, among them Dick Oxtot, Bob Helm, Ev Farey, Turk Murphy, Bill Napier, Bob Mielke, Richard Hadlock, Bob Short and many others. He also has led his own groups --- Berkeley Rhythm, The Yeti Chasers, The Monogram Boys and the Ray Skjelbred Quartet, and has worked as chosen accompanist for singers such as Victoria Spivey, Barbara Lashley, Barbara Dane, Pat Yankee, Carol Leigh and Claire Austin. Ray is the composer of many musical compositions and has also published three books of poetry in addition to his recordings. San Francisco Examiner jazz critic Phil Elwood called Ray "The best jazz pianist in the Bay Area".

JIM MAIHACK: Tuba
Jim Maihack (1935-) is a multi-instrumentalist who began playing Dixieland and swing with Clyde McCoy, trumpeter Smokey Stover and his own Tappers (aka San Francisco Brass). But he proved himself to be a first-rate San Francisco tubaist during his stay with the Turk Murphy Jazz Band (1969-72). Maihack, though aware of the traditions of Lammi, Girsback, Short and others, did not imitate any of them. His original style fit perfectly with the Murphy band and he made some excellent recordings with the band. After leaving Murphy, Maihack worked with Rosy O'Grady's Good Time Jazz Band in Florida, then returned to the West Coast where he has played several different instruments with Bob Schulz's Frisco Jazz Band, the Hot Frogs, Golden Gate Rhythm Machine, and others.

DOUG FINKE: Trombone
He discovered jazz in the 1950's as a young band student at York Community High School in Elmhurst, Illinois. By the early 1960's he was playing and touring with the Original Salty Dogs Jazz Band, the Smokey Stover Firehouse Band, Bob Scobey's Frisco Jazz Band, Art Hodes and Wild Bill Davison. These early years took him to clubs and festivals in and out of the United States. In 1964 he made a difficult decision, and left the music business to focus on raising a family and pursuing a corporate career. In1996, at the urging of drummer and longtime friend Wayne Jones, he began studying anew. With the guidance of fellow trombonists Dan Barrett and Glenn Dodson, he immersed himself into the rigors of daily practice, and the search for opportunities to play traditional jazz. In early 1997 he started the Independence Hall Jazz Band, in honor of his adopted home. In addition, he often played with the Bob Schulz Frisco Jazz Band and Jim Beebe's Chicago Jazz. He worked alongside the likes of Warren Vache, Delfeayo Marsalis, Kenny Davern, Jim Cullum, Bob Barnard, Butch Thompson, Evan Christopher, Richard Wyands and James Chirillo. He appears regularly at jazz clubs in Louisville (KY), Chicago, New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. He also performs regularly as a guest and sideman throughout the country at jazz festivals, and parties, clubs and jazz societies.

KIM CUSACK: Clarinet
Probably best known for his long association with James Dapogny's Chicago Jazz Band, and his more than thirty-five year tenure with the Salty Dogs Jazz Band, Kim has also played and recorded with Gene Mayl's Dixieland Rhythm Kings, Ernie Carson, Turk Murphy, Georg Brunis, Wild Bill Davison, the Happy Bottom Riding Academy Jazz Band of Dan Williams, and the Jan Garber Orchestra, with whom he was featured tenor saxophonist. Kim lives in the Chicago area, and can be heard regularly at Andy's Jazz Club with Russ Phillips' Windy City All-Stars, and often at the Village Tavern in Long Grove. He occasionally appears with the Chicago Cubs Quintet, the official dixieland band of that baseball team. He was a charter member of that group and played with it regularly for many years. He is also currently appearing at many festivals as a member of Bob Schulz's Frisco Jazz Band.

MIKE WALBRIDGE: Tuba
He has been influenced by brass bassists of the '20s and '30s-such as Bill Oldham, Country Washburne, Lawson Buford, Bert Cobb and Quinn Wilson, as well as the San Francisco pioneers. Walbridge joined the Original Salty Dogs in the '60s and immediately gained a reputation as a world-class brass bassist. He had two stints with Turk Murphy's Jazz Band (once on cornet), but for the most part he has remained in Chicago, working with many different traditional groups there, leading the Chicago Footwarmers and occasionally leaving town for a tour, festival or recording session. Walbridge's many recordings with the Salty Dogs illustrate a variety of influences, but his recordings with the Down Home Jazz Band demonstrate a full, mellow tone, a dancing beat, impeccable choice of notes and inventive solos.

HAL SMITH: Drums
He became interested in jazz after hearing the Firehouse Five Plus Two at Disneyland in the early '60s. He took up drums in 1963, and was greatly influenced by live performances by Ben Pollack, Nick Fatool, Fred Higuera, Smokey Stover, Wayne Jones and others. He is self-taught except for study with Jake Hanna in 1983. He has been a full-time musician since 1978. His resume includes work with the Dukes of Dixieland, Jim Cullum's Jazz Band, New Black Eagle Jazz Band, South Frisco Jazz Band, Climax Jazz Band, Grand Dominion Jazz Band, Bobby Gordon, Rebecca Kilgore, Marty Grosz and his own groups, including the Down Home Jazz Band, Frisco Syncopators and the Roadrunners. Currently, Hal works with the Butch Thompson Trio, Bob Schulz's Frisco Jazz Band, the Carl Sonny Leyland Trio, Alan Adams' New Orleans Wanderers, Chris Tyle and the Pacific Players, the Yerba Buena Stompers and the Chicago Six. He also leads Hal's Angels and plays rockabilly music with the Cash Kings and Big Rig Deluxe and blues with James Harman, Johnny Rover, Blue Largo and others. Besides working as a musician, he is the President of America's Finest City Dixieland Jazz Society in San Diego, and is the faculty drum instructor at the AFCDJS Adult Traditional Jazz Camp. He serves on the board of governors of the George H. Buck Jr. Jazz Foundation, and is a noted writer whose articles appear in the Mississippi Rag, American Rag, Jazz Rambler, Just Jazz (U.K.) and the Bulletin of the Hot Club of France.

RAY TEMPLIN: Piano
Ray hails from Chicago where he played in many jazz, comedy and show bands, including The Riverboat Ramblers of Milwaukee, which also featured Bob Schulz on trumpet. In 1979, he moved to Los Angeles, and became a favorite at local jazz clubs playing both piano and drums. He joined the Great Pacific Jazz Band, shortly after its formation, in 1980. He is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and may be seen often in reruns of NBC's long-running TV series "Matlock". His voice can also be heard on many "Married...With Children" episodes. Ray appears regularly at Disneyland, playing piano in New Orleans Square and alternating between piano and drums with the park's various show bands. In 1986, he formed his own group, Ray Templin's Chicagoans. He also plays with several other bands, including Bob Schulz's Frisco Jazz Band.

BILL MAGINNIS: Drums
By the age of 12 he started playing drums in the Junior High band. In high school he joind the "Dance Band", in addition to the concert and marching bands. Bill attended Chico State College, but transferred to San Francisco State to study composition and percussion. Bill and Ruth May live in San Francisco, and have one daughter. Bill has a wide and varied musical background, ranging from classical music with the Oakland Symphony to broadway type musicals (e.g., Carousel), and jazz. Bill is now playing with several jazz bands, such as as the Golden Gate Rhythm Machine, and continues his involvement with modern experimental music. In addition to playing drums, Bill is a singer. However, according to Bill, "so are a lot of forklift drivers, and they're much better."

MIKE STARR: Trombone
Mike was born in 1933 in Redwood Falls, Minnesota into a musical family. His father ("Twink") played (and still occasionally plays) piano, trombone, and sings. His mother played the church organ and taught piano. His first instrument was piano, taught to him by his mother, of course. Then in grammer school, on one cold day in the middle of a long Minnesota winter, he discovered his dad's trombone in the closet, took it out, and started making "noise" with it, and has been playing trombone ever since. During high school he was introduced to Dixieland when his dad took him to a minstrel show backed by a Dixieland band. He was instantly hooked on the music. Mike has played with many local groups, including a long regular stint with Jimmy Diamond's band at the Hyatt Regency. He has played with the Golden Gate Rhythm Machine for 10 years. His wonderful fluid melodic trombone, and his great sense of humor are a real asset to the band.

CHRIS TYLE: Drums
Chris is a second-generation jazz musician, playing cornet, clarinet, saxophone and drums. Tyle's knowledge of early jazz music, and its styles translates into a unique ability to eerily capture the sounds of the pioneers of jazz. Tyle's father, Axel, hailed from Copenhagen, Denmark, moving to Portland, Oregon as a child. As a student he studied cornet and drums and played with early jazz groups on the West Coast. He was a founding member of the Castle Jazz Band. As a teenager, Chris Tyle became interested in early jazz music, and was able to study the playing of early jazz greats from the vintage recordings in his father's extensive collection. By 21 he was playing cornet professionally with his father in a group led by trumpeter and bassist Don Kinch.

TOM BARTLETT: Trombone
Tom Bartlett led his own dixieland pep band in high school in Geneseo, Illinois. He joined the Salty Dogs at Purdue University in 1959, and except for several years in the 60's when he was in the Peace Corps in Chile and the Army in Panama, has been their principal trombonist. He has also performed and recorded with the Yerba Buena Stompers, Red Rose JB, Down Home JB, West End JB, Ernie Carson, and the Frisco JB. He often gigged with Bob Schulz during the years when Bob was based in the Midwest. Tom's main influences have been the early gut-bucket trombonists and, of course, Turk Murphy. Tom is a full-time bilingual elementary school teacher, but spends his summers playing at Wrigley Field in the Cubs' Dixieland Quintet.