Works of Fred Jewell on agenda for Brazil Band Sunday night

Friday, July 24, 2015

BRAZIL -- The Brazil Concert Band, under the direction of Matthew S. Huber, will present "The Jewell of the Wabash" Sunday, July 26 at Forest Park in Brazil.

The 8 p.m. concert, to be held rain or shine, is free and open to the public.

Fred Jewell, Indiana's "March King," was born in Worthington in 1875 to a musical family. He left home for the circus while still in high school and played euphonium and conducted with Gentry Brothers Dog and Pony Show, Ringling Bros., Otto-Floto (later known as Sells-Floto), Wallace Circus, Barnum and Bailey and finally Hagenbeck-Wallace.

Jewell was a prolific composer with more than 130 works to his name. He also published for many band composers, including J. Gus Davis of Brazil.

Jewell performed in and conducted many Indiana community bands, including a stint with the Brazil Concert Band in the early 1900s.

Jewell passed away in Worthington in 1936.

The Brazil Concert Band and the Jackson Township Community Band co-sponsored the Fred Jewell State Historic Marker in downtown Worthington in 1998.

The BCB recorded two CDs of Jewell's music, "The Jewell of the Wabash" and "The Brazil Special," which have sold worldwide.

Fred Jewell Jr., an attorney and retired Marine officer, was an active member of both the JTCB and the BCB in his later years and willed the entire Jewell stock music to Huber and his bands. It is preserved and housed at the JTCB's band cabin.

This week's playlist is all Jewell with marches, rags, overtures and serenades, including "The Scarlet King," "The Pumpkin Center Cornet Band," "Revelry," "A Passing Fancy," "Trombone Blues," "Sahara Grotto Band," "The Westerner," "Spick and Span," "At Break of Dawn" and "Murat Temple Band."

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