The Willis Band

              1914

Figure

THE WILLIS BAND
PERMANENT ADDRESS
ELKHART   INDIANA


PUBLIC OPINION OF WILLIS AND HIS BAND

ALVIN WILLIS, Director



From American Musicians Monthly Journal
March 1913

Alvin Willis is a musician and music publisher who is well known in every state in the union, and for a number of years was associated with prominent bands and orchestras touring this country and Canada.  Mr. Willis first gained renown as a music writer when his famous Whispering Smith (characteristic march) was played by all the leading bands, especially in the East.  Later his Shannon (Irish Novelty) and his Proboscidian marches became very popular, Pryor's Band making a record of Shannon for the Victor Talking Machine Company.

Mr. Willis is an exceptionally clever baritone and trombone player, also a proficient performer on the viola.  After a number of years on the road he started a music publishing business in Berrien Springs, Mich., where he is meeting with success.  He knows every angle of the work of publishing, from composing and arranging to engraving the music plates and printing.  His band and orchestra numbers are exceedingly well arranged and numerous vaudeville acts are using his arrangements.

The Willis' Band of Elkhart, Ind., under the direction of Mr. Willis is rapidly forging to the front as a first-class musical organization and has filled some very creditable engagements, especially in Chautauqua work.  Recently Mr. Willis organized a large orchestra in Elkhart, composed of members of his band, together with a saxophone quartette, which makes this organization a strong musical attraction.



From Rev. C. G. Langdon
Former Manager of Lakeside Assembly, Findley Lake Chautauqua Co., N. Y.
October 1914

To whom it might be of interest, I take great pleasure in writing this letter, introducing Mr. Alvin Willis, of Berrien Springs, Mich.

I know Professor Willis personally and know of the great success he has achieved as a band leader.  For seven years I had full control of Lakeside Assembly, a large Chautauqua of Fincley Lake, N. Y.  We had a program of four weeks' duration each year, hence I had to employ many musical combinations and I do not hesitate in recommending to any party, especially to managers of Chautauquas, wishing band music, Professor Willis.  I am sure he will give the very best of satisfaction as to the high grade of music and his own personal work.  Not only is Mr. Willis a band leader of the first rank, but he is a most delightful person to associate with and to compose a part of the talent of any Chautauqua.

Having had so much experience with recommends that were given to get rid of those seeking them I will recommend no person whom I do not know to be just what I recommend them to be, so this means more than a mere matter of form, I know there can be no mistake made in securing the help of Prof. Willis on any program.



Willis' Band Wins Many Admirers at Elkhart Chautauqua
It was an extremely friendly and cordial greeting that the Willis Band received at the hands of the Friday evening crowd.  The band was in excellent fettle, and every section—the reeds, the cornets, the saxophones, the basses and other divisions—all displayed their special training and proficiency during the program of some ten or twelve numbers, which included all classes of music except the downright rag.

Director Willis' organization won many new admirers by the excellence of rendition of the more than well arranged program.  The concert lasted forty minutes.  The band differs from most bands in that it has a large and complete reed section.  The Wedding of the Winds was rendered exceptionally well on account of this addition.  The oboe and bassoon brought out the tone coloring to perfection.  Although the band is composed of local musicians it is at home in chautauqua work, having filled like engagements in Ohio and other states.  Mr. Willis as a director, is perfect.  At no time did he lose control of his men for a moment.  In addition to his being a director, he is also a composer.  The Ladies' Orchestra of the Redpath Circuit, also the Metropolitan Ladies' Orchestra of the Century Lyceum Bureau play some of his best compositions.  The whole concert was as finished as any ever given here by Chautauqua bands.—Elkhart Review.



Two Seasons at Miami Valley Chautauqua
The Willis Band which will be at the Miami Valley Chautauqua until the close of the season gives daily concerts as well as several entire programs.  This organization is a talented collection of artists, whose conscientious training has made them one perfect harmonious whole.  A band truly a pleasure to hear and one of the best the chautauqua has ever brought to the valley.

Franklin, O. Chronicle.


Besides their two concerts in the afternoon the Willis band gave another of its excellent concerts in the evening.  This aggregation of the best professional talent in the country is proving a star attraction at chautauqua this season.—
Dayton News.

Saturday evening the Willis band will furnish the programme.  Their engagement at the chautauqua is one of the most enjoyable of any musical organization ever here.—Cincinnatti Enquirer.


Tonight the Willis band will give a concert.  This band has done good work during the week, Mr. Willis is an able and enthusiastic director.  His band seems to feel the interpretation which he desires and to meet the requirements as one man.—
Dayton Herald.


Friday afternoon the Willis band will render another of their delightful concerts.
The band is pleasing immensely.  Large crowds are coming to the grounds to hear their perfect scores, and the popularity of these musicians is readily understood when one has heard them play and caught unconsciously the thrill and swing that comes from listening to a great band.—

Dayton News.


The last number on the Chautauqua program this year will be a concert by the Willis Band on Monday evening.  This organization has taught Chautauquans the pleasure of a good band as no other has done.  This band is between the large and small size and just the right number to do the best work at a place of this character.
The attendance on the last days has been larger than usual and the entertainment greatly appreciated.—

Dayton Herald.



Marshall (Mich.) Chronicle
Aug. 29, 1913

The Willis Concert Band under the direction of Alvin Willis gave another of its fine concerts at the fair yesterday.  The band is considered, by the people, to be the best musical organization which has ever played here.



Marshall (Mich.) Chronicle
Aug. 28, 1913

The work of Mr. Arnold Herb, who is featured as a tenor solist with the Willis band, was greatly appreciated by the large crowd which attended the fair.  Shadows,  one of Mr. Willis' compositions and sung by Mr. Herb, made a decided hit, of which he responded to several encores.





The Instrumentation of the Willis Band
Is especially adapted for Concert Work, inasmuch as the reed section is so complete—consisting of Oboe, Bassoon, and a quartette of Saxophones, in addition to the other reed and brass instruments.



SPECIAL FEATURES.

Vocalist,
Saxophone,
Trombone Soloist
Octette or Quartette

All communications should be addressed to
ALVIN WILLIS,
ELKHART,   INDIANA
Director and Manager of Willis Band.

ALLIED PRINTING
UNION LABEL 44
ELKMART IMO