With an album by Maralyn Fink
I headed to Fowler one night last week to meet with the Mello Tone’s Band. An all time old favorite for me and many others. This 6 piece band is a terrific group of men with big hearts and a great sense of humor. Many thanks to Gerard Becker who had 3 pages of notes written out for me when I arrived as the band played at least 10 songs for me and I was lost in the music.
The band formed in 1960 with 4 members: John Klein, Eugene Thelen and Ed Schmitz, Gerard Becker all from Fowler and 1 from Westphalia. In 1961, Max Feldpausch joined and played Alto and Tenor Sax. In 1964, Don Schmitt joined and played Tenor Sax. Don was formerly with The Harmonaires which I also remember, then in 1999 Jerome Schafer joined and played keyboard. He had been with Little Louie’s and Thelen’s Orchestra before The Mello Tones.
John Klein retired and is now deceased. In 2004 Gerared Becker moved to AZ but returned for spring/summer in 2011.
The Mello Tones have played in 65 cities in MI and 220 halls etc. The music mostly consists of swing, foxtrot, country, waltz, polka, square dance, slow numbers dating back to the 1940’s to the 2000’s. They have played many weddings, anniversaries, barn dances and street dances, retirement parties, and many charity events, St. Patty’s Halloween and July 4th. They also do 5 parades, Fowler, St. Johns, Dewitt, Westphalia and Pewamo.
I would like to add a memorable moment for them:
“We played for a wedding in Portland. During a square dance, the Bride and Groom were swinging around right in front of the band stand. The Brides dress caught the slide of the Trombone that Gerard Becker was playing and pulled the slide off of the horn. The slide went flying across the dance floor. The horn has never been the same even though I had it repaired.”
I want to thank the boys for allowing me to do this interview and taking me back to the good days. I attended weddings with my parents and can remember dancing with my dad. We are so lucky to have a band that is so giving and so much fun. That’s you, Max, and all of you.
When asked, what was their favorite time, they all answered, “Just having fun!”
Thanks for the food too.
If anyone would like to purchase a CD from the Mello Tones, please contact Ed Schmitz at 989-587-6625 or Max Feldpausch at 224-3629. You won’t be sorry!
Jerome Schafer on Keyboard, Gerard Becker on Trombone, Max Feldpaush on Alto Sax, Don Schmitt on Tenor Sax, Eugene Thelen and Ed Schmitz on Drums
