The Advocate Brass BandAfter wrapping up four recordings of newspaper marches, the Advocate Brass Band will take its musical endeavors to a new level with a kazoo special. Kazoos will be for sale for $1 at the festival and the band plans to give people a chance to use them when it plays the ``Kazoo Band March,'' a piece from 1894. ``We'll invite the audience to kazoo band along with us,'' said George Foreman, band director, festival chairman and managing director of the Norton Center for the Arts at Centre College. Advocate band members come from near and far. The band, which has about 35 members, draws from not only Danville, but Lexington, Lancaster, Richmond, Berea, Somerset, Lebanon, Morehead, Louisville, Paint Lick and Jeffersonville, Ind. The Centre College students involved are from a variety of places as well. The group ranges in age from 14 to 78. Furthering the close-knit atmosphere is the fact that several members are in the same family. Vince DiMartino, a nationally known trumpet player, is joined by his son, Gabriel. Larry Woolums is joined by his son, Chris, and daughter-in-law, Kim. Don Johnson of Lebanon plays along with his son, Don. The Advocate band gives six town concerts a year. After completing its newspaper marches, its most recent accomplishment is a recording of pieces related in some way or another to Kentucky. ``The pieces range all the way from the 1830s to the 1990s,'' Foreman said. The Advocate Brass Band debuted in 1987 at a political rally sponsored by The Advocate-Messenger. Though the band was formed only for that occasion, it proved to be such a hit that the newspaper decided to sponsor a permanent band. It has played at special events, including a Kentucky Press Association meeting, a state Chamber of Commerce meeting and at Governor's Scholars gatherings. |