Raymond Connett, Past Director
1890 (?)-1987
1890 (?)-1987
To say that every band member and/or Director of The Adelphi Community Band has his/her own unique story is certainly an understatement.
At various times, the band has had world famous composers, authors, a blind drummer, professional musicians, circus musicians, music teachers, business owners, politicians, certainly a lot of farmers, and people from pretty much every type of vocation either pick up an instrument and play alongside the rest of us, or to pick up the baton and pretend that the rest of us actually cared to follow a Director during a song.
One such person with a unique story is Raymond Connett, past Director and band member.
Could Play Pretty Much Any Instrument:
I think I can safely speak for the other band members who also knew him to say that he was one of the most energetic people to ever step into the responsibility of being a Director for the group. When the band got together, you often had to glance around just to see what instrument he was playing in the band that day. Mr. Connett would often be seen playing anything from the Bb Clarinet, to a Trumpet, to a Tuba not quite as tall as he was.
On parade, he would often act as a Drum Major and proudly lead the band through town, or come back with the rest of us and be seen playing either a Trumpet or Clarinet.
In one interview, he stated that he could play any instrument except the harp. (Source: 10-16-1987 Chillicothe Gazette)
Liked His Music Fast:
One of his many attributes that stood out to most of us was probably that he wanted to play marches at "circus tempo".
If you looked up the term "circus tempo" in the dictionary......first of all you probably wouldn't find it..... but if you did, you would probably also see the reference: See "incredibly fast and spirited"!
One of the band members commented in a newspaper article that Mr. Connett "enjoyed music played in a rousing rendition". (Source: 10-16-1987 Chillicothe Gazette)
What that means in this case is that American marches are generally played at @ 120 beats per minute.....kind of a medium marching/walking speed if you are marching in a parade.
English marches are generally slower, and often played at @ 100 beats per minute. If you see a British Band on parade, you will instantly think of the words "majestic" and "deliberate".
To play a song at a "circus tempo", however, totally opens up the flood gates and you will hear recordings of The Adelphi Community Band, and other circus bands, playing marches at anywhere up to 140-150 beats per minute....or more!
VERY good trumpet players and Euphonium players can handle that kind of adjustment, but that kind of tempo will generally make the Slide Trombone players, Tuba players, and Clarinet players use a vocabulary you didn't know they had.
Certainly, a review of the song tempos from the library of video and audio recordings of The Adelphi Community band during this period (found elsewhere on this web site) has confirmed Mr. Connett's preference for playing songs at a "rousing tempo"!
Mr. Connett would himself state that the more difficult marches he liked to play were those written by the circus musicians who like to play "a very stimulating march". (Source: Ohio's Hertage, Ohio Commission on Aging, Sept/Oct 1980)
I think I can safely speak for the other band members who also knew him to say that he was one of the most energetic people to ever step into the responsibility of being a Director for the group. When the band got together, you often had to glance around just to see what instrument he was playing in the band that day. Mr. Connett would often be seen playing anything from the Bb Clarinet, to a Trumpet, to a Tuba not quite as tall as he was.
On parade, he would often act as a Drum Major and proudly lead the band through town, or come back with the rest of us and be seen playing either a Trumpet or Clarinet.
In one interview, he stated that he could play any instrument except the harp. (Source: 10-16-1987 Chillicothe Gazette)
Liked His Music Fast:
One of his many attributes that stood out to most of us was probably that he wanted to play marches at "circus tempo".
If you looked up the term "circus tempo" in the dictionary......first of all you probably wouldn't find it..... but if you did, you would probably also see the reference: See "incredibly fast and spirited"!
One of the band members commented in a newspaper article that Mr. Connett "enjoyed music played in a rousing rendition". (Source: 10-16-1987 Chillicothe Gazette)
What that means in this case is that American marches are generally played at @ 120 beats per minute.....kind of a medium marching/walking speed if you are marching in a parade.
English marches are generally slower, and often played at @ 100 beats per minute. If you see a British Band on parade, you will instantly think of the words "majestic" and "deliberate".
To play a song at a "circus tempo", however, totally opens up the flood gates and you will hear recordings of The Adelphi Community Band, and other circus bands, playing marches at anywhere up to 140-150 beats per minute....or more!
VERY good trumpet players and Euphonium players can handle that kind of adjustment, but that kind of tempo will generally make the Slide Trombone players, Tuba players, and Clarinet players use a vocabulary you didn't know they had.
Certainly, a review of the song tempos from the library of video and audio recordings of The Adelphi Community band during this period (found elsewhere on this web site) has confirmed Mr. Connett's preference for playing songs at a "rousing tempo"!
Mr. Connett would himself state that the more difficult marches he liked to play were those written by the circus musicians who like to play "a very stimulating march". (Source: Ohio's Hertage, Ohio Commission on Aging, Sept/Oct 1980)
First Director of the Ohio University (Athens, Ohio)
Marching Band:
Yes.....really!
Raymond Connett helped start the Ohio University Marching Band from Athens, Ohio, and was its first Director from 1923-1925.
This part of Mr. Connett's story started when an OU student felt that OU needed a marching band of its own. In 1923, he organized a meeting where 40 musicians showed up, and Raymond Connett, as a local music teacher, was persuaded to direct the band for free.
(Source: http://www.marching110.com/history/ )
In a 1986 interview, Mr. Connett stated that he had attended every OU Homecoming ceremony since 1931. Mr. Connett was also honored at the 1986 OU Homecoming parade. (Source: 10-16-1987 Chillicothe Gazette)
Marching Band:
Yes.....really!
Raymond Connett helped start the Ohio University Marching Band from Athens, Ohio, and was its first Director from 1923-1925.
This part of Mr. Connett's story started when an OU student felt that OU needed a marching band of its own. In 1923, he organized a meeting where 40 musicians showed up, and Raymond Connett, as a local music teacher, was persuaded to direct the band for free.
(Source: http://www.marching110.com/history/ )
In a 1986 interview, Mr. Connett stated that he had attended every OU Homecoming ceremony since 1931. Mr. Connett was also honored at the 1986 OU Homecoming parade. (Source: 10-16-1987 Chillicothe Gazette)
A Circus Musician:
Mr. Connett sat in with the Ringling Brothers Circus Band on cornet at age 8. (Source: 10-16-1987 Chillicothe Gazette)
Every time a circus would come to town, he would go to volunteer to play in the band. He estimated in 1986 that he had played in probably a half a dozen circus bands. (Source: 11-12-1986, Athens Post)
One afternoon he had taken his 6 children to the Cole Brothers Circus. Once there, he wound up with the opportunity to play in the band and fill in as Director. Apparently the circus Band Director had become injured on the circus grounds. (Source: Ohio Heritage, Ohio Commission on Aging Sept/Oct 1980),
Mr. Connett sat in with the Ringling Brothers Circus Band on cornet at age 8. (Source: 10-16-1987 Chillicothe Gazette)
Every time a circus would come to town, he would go to volunteer to play in the band. He estimated in 1986 that he had played in probably a half a dozen circus bands. (Source: 11-12-1986, Athens Post)
One afternoon he had taken his 6 children to the Cole Brothers Circus. Once there, he wound up with the opportunity to play in the band and fill in as Director. Apparently the circus Band Director had become injured on the circus grounds. (Source: Ohio Heritage, Ohio Commission on Aging Sept/Oct 1980),
Always Active:
It has been stated that he directed The Adelphi Community Band for about 17 years, "retiring" in 1984. (Source: Country Living magazine, August 1986)
He had been in the US Army Band during World War I, then went to OU to study music. He subsequently became the Band Director for public schools in Topeka, Kansas and later in several Ohio counties. Mr. Connett finally retired from public schools in 1970, and then opened a piano repair and rebuilding shop in his home town of Piketon, Ohio. (Source: Country Living magazine, August 1986)
He directed The Adelphi Community Band in its 1980 centennial celebration on the steps of the US Capital Building, and was found directing the band at the Piketon Dogwood Festival in April 1986 at the age of 96. (Source: Country Living magazine, August 1986)
He has been featured in several newspaper articles and magazines, like Ohio Heritage (Ohio Commission on Aging Sept/Oct 1980, AND Jan/Feb 1978), He would also often be found leading other Senior Citizens in exercises, even at the age of 87.
It has been stated that he directed The Adelphi Community Band for about 17 years, "retiring" in 1984. (Source: Country Living magazine, August 1986)
He had been in the US Army Band during World War I, then went to OU to study music. He subsequently became the Band Director for public schools in Topeka, Kansas and later in several Ohio counties. Mr. Connett finally retired from public schools in 1970, and then opened a piano repair and rebuilding shop in his home town of Piketon, Ohio. (Source: Country Living magazine, August 1986)
He directed The Adelphi Community Band in its 1980 centennial celebration on the steps of the US Capital Building, and was found directing the band at the Piketon Dogwood Festival in April 1986 at the age of 96. (Source: Country Living magazine, August 1986)
He has been featured in several newspaper articles and magazines, like Ohio Heritage (Ohio Commission on Aging Sept/Oct 1980, AND Jan/Feb 1978), He would also often be found leading other Senior Citizens in exercises, even at the age of 87.
A Tragic End:
Unfortunately. for a man who had been so active in all facets of his life, Raymond Connett met a tragic end.
The shocking details read almost like a horror story from any Hollywood script writer,
At the age of 97, in the early morning hours on October 16, 1987, Mr. Connett was asleep in his bed in Piketon, Ohio. Piketon is a small town of @ 2,100 in Pike County, Ohio
During the night, Mr. Connett's ex son-in-law took a shot gun and shot off the front door lock, and then shot and killed Mr. Connett while he slept. The ex-son-in-law was then found waiving the gun on Mr. Connett's porch, and was subsequently arrested after a 45 minute stand-off with local SWAT. Mr. Connett's daughter, the ex-wife of the ex-son-in-law, was in the house at the time, but was not hurt.
The (then) OU Band Director was interviewed for the accompanying newspaper article, and stated that he was scheduled to call Mr. Connett that same day to check on Mr. Connett being able to direct the OU Band in The Star Spangled Banner at the OU Homecoming Game the next week-end.
(Source: 10-16-1987 Chillicothe Gazette)
Unfortunately. for a man who had been so active in all facets of his life, Raymond Connett met a tragic end.
The shocking details read almost like a horror story from any Hollywood script writer,
At the age of 97, in the early morning hours on October 16, 1987, Mr. Connett was asleep in his bed in Piketon, Ohio. Piketon is a small town of @ 2,100 in Pike County, Ohio
During the night, Mr. Connett's ex son-in-law took a shot gun and shot off the front door lock, and then shot and killed Mr. Connett while he slept. The ex-son-in-law was then found waiving the gun on Mr. Connett's porch, and was subsequently arrested after a 45 minute stand-off with local SWAT. Mr. Connett's daughter, the ex-wife of the ex-son-in-law, was in the house at the time, but was not hurt.
The (then) OU Band Director was interviewed for the accompanying newspaper article, and stated that he was scheduled to call Mr. Connett that same day to check on Mr. Connett being able to direct the OU Band in The Star Spangled Banner at the OU Homecoming Game the next week-end.
(Source: 10-16-1987 Chillicothe Gazette)
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The following are some scanned copies of articles on the life and times of this remarkable man, Father, Musician, Teacher, and Business Owner. You will find some other pictures, and probably some more articles about him, elsewhere on this web site:
The following are some scanned copies of articles on the life and times of this remarkable man, Father, Musician, Teacher, and Business Owner. You will find some other pictures, and probably some more articles about him, elsewhere on this web site:
5-26-1973_chillicothe_gazette_band_going_strong_at_93.pdf |
jan_feb_1978_ohio_commission_on_aging_on_mr._connett.pdf |
1979_article_about_director_connett.pdf |
4-30-79_chillicothe_gazette_connett_and_piketon_dogwood_festival.jpg |
2-17-1980_columbus_citizen_journal_100_years.pdf |
septoct_1980_ohios_heritage_on_mr._connett.pdf |
4-1980_piketon_dogwood_festival__2_.pdf |
6-1980_logan_daily_news_on_washington_trip.pdf |
8-1986_country_living_magazine.pdf |
8-1-86_chillicothe_gazette_clarksburg_field_day.bmp |
11-12-1986_ohio_university_post_on_mr._connett.pdf |
10-16-1987_director_connett_killed_in_bed.pdf |
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