MUSICIANS:

The CRHSO lineup of musicians has remained remarkably consistent over the years. There have only been 13 changes in the lineup in the 14 years since the band was formed in 1993.

The Musicians:

  Mike Henebry (reeds, leader) - Mike taught himself how to play the clarinet at the age of 14. Practicing 4-8 hours a day for the first 6 months, he quickly became the best clarinetist in his Junior High School Band. He formed his first band that same year. A Jr. High School combo that, by anybody's standards, was not the finest of groups! Mike wrote his first arrangement ("Around The World In 80 Days") for the Jr. High School Concert Band (again, not setting the world on fire!). He had written dozens of original songs and several arrangements by the age of 15 (none of which were any good!). In his Freshman year of High School, and after only six months of playing, he won the 1960 National Maytime Review's Solo Contest. The award read: "Most Outstanding High School Musician In Southern California." He won dozens of medals for solo contests during the next few years and earned a spot as 1st chair with the "All-Southern California Honor Band" in his senior year (becoming the first person from his High School to gain a chair with Southern California's most prestigious Honor Band). He was also a member of the Sepulveda Youth Band, under the direction of Claude Lakey (a famous mouthpiece maker and former arranger/musician with the Harry James Orchestra). During his High School years, Mike formed several bands that played rock 'n roll, polka, swing, and Dixieland. Playing very rarely for the next 18 years, Mike picked up the clarinet again in 1980. One of his first moves was to form a Dixieland band. The "Goodtime Dixieland Seven" began as a side attraction for the Long Beach Community Band (a concert band), but soon started doing jazz clubs and other gigs. The GTDL7 is still together, now in its 25th year. Then, in 1982, he formed the Mike Henebry Orchestra (a swing-era Big Band) http://mikehenebryorchestra.com/, a band that is still very popular today. At about this time, Mike studied briefly with clarinetist Abe Most. In 1991 Mike formed the "All- Southern California Concert Band" a high-powered concert band made up of some of the finest first-chair musicians from Southern California concert bands as well as some top local symphony and jazz musicians. This "phenomenal" band played 5AAA music (the most difficult in concert band literature). The band was one of the finest concert bands ever assembled (flawlessly sight-reading things like Shostakovich's 5th Symphony, Armenian Dances, the William Tell Overture, etc!) The band was so good that hearing it would make your hair stand on end! After about three years though, because of the huge amount of work involved, and the emergence of the CRHSO, Mike decided to disband the ASCCB. In 1993, Mike bought some 1920s arrangements and formed the CRHSO. He also writes a lot of the charts for the band (mostly transcribed from the original 1920's recordings). Mike has over 10,000 vintage recordings (78s, LPs, CDs, etc.), 2400 1920s arrangements, 2000 swing arrangements, 900 Dixieland and 300 concert band arrangements. Mike formed the American Society of Twenties Orchestras in 1993, now called the International Society of Twenties Orchestras (ISTO), an organization made up of almost all of the 1920's-style orchestras in the world. More than 90 bands belong to the society. Mike writes a "semi-annually-ish" newsletter for the society. Mike has been transcribing the music for all of his bands for so many years now that he recently started selling copies of his "charts" on the Internet http://bigbandtranscriptions.com/. Mike was an honors graduate in college, maintaining a 3.75 g.p.a. for 4 years, and is a Life Member of the Alpha Gamma Sigma Scholarship Society. Mike owns his own business. He was an Air Force Pararescueman and has been a semi-pro football player, an 18-wheel truck driver, a parachutist, mountain climber, scuba diver, and an aerobatic pilot. He is also a tournament chess player (with an "expert" rating). His main interest these days, other than music and chess, is running. Mike runs marathons and ultramarathons (trail runs of 50-100 miles). His highest acheivement as a runner is being one of about 500 people to have ever finished the world's toughest endurance event, the Badwater Ultramarathon (a 135-mile run in Death Valley... in July!) http://www.badwater.com. He did this when he was 58 years old. He has also recently written a chess book, Chess Words of Wisdom (http://thechesspress.com) Mike and his wife, Arika, have two sons (David, age 30 and Robert, age 24). Arika is a valuable asset to the band (handling CD sales and flights, among other things).

Jim Lathers (reeds) - Jim Lathers  (reeds) - Jim has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin and a Masters of Science degree from USC.  He studied clarinet, sax, and flute with Glenn Bowen and Robert Cole at the U. of Wis.  He plays all the woodwind instruments (saxes, clarinets, flutes, oboe and bassoon) and has performed with various orchestras, wind ensembles, dance bands and chamber music groups in Southern California and the Midwest (including being a regular with the Mike Henebry Orchestra).  He plays in the pit orchestras of Fullerton Civic Light Opera, Downey Civic Light  Opera, Music Theater West, and other theater groups.  Retired now, his day gig was with Hughes Aircraft Company, working on military air traffic control systems in the US, Europe, and Japan.  His fondest memory of the day gig was almost starting WW3 - but that’s another story.  When he is not bending reeds, he enjoys tennis, alpine skiing and driving his red C6 Corvette convertible!

Brian Atkinson (trumpet) -  Brian is a consummate professional musician. He has near-perfect technique. His day job is as a regular musician at Disneyland. His bio is short because he is very modest and we can't seem to get much out of him.

Jostein Aarflot (trumpet) - Jostein was born in Norway. As a 2^nd lieutenant, from 1982-87, Jostein served in His Majesty the King’s Guard’s Band in Oslo, Norway. After coming to the United States, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from California State University at Long Beach, and California Teaching Credential from California Polytechnic University at Pomona. He worked as a musician at Disneyland from 1991-96, playing mostly in parades and special events where fanfare trumpets were needed. He worked as a music teacher from 1996-2004 in the Fontana Unified School District, both as high school band director, as well as elementary school general music teacher. Jostein has been an active freelance musician in the Los Angeles and Palm Springs areas for the past 17 years, and has performed with artists such as Barry Manilow, Lorna Luft, Suzanne Somers, Eric Benet, Nancy Wilson, Joe Mantegna, Frankie Randall, Jack Jones, Keely Smith, and many more. He has performed in more than 50 musicals, both as music director and musician. Jostein currently resides in Walnut, where he owns and operates a fitness center called "Cuts Fitness For Men." Jostein was the CRHSO's lead trumpet for many years, but had to quit the band during his stint as a band director, due to his irrational desire to make a living. He has only recently rejoined the band after about five year's absence. Jostein also plays in many other bands concurrent with the CRHSO, including being a regular with the Mike Henebry Orchestra.

Dan Seager (trombone) Dan has been playing trombone for 25 years. He has studyied with local trombonists such as John Ward, Roy Main, Bob Sanders & Bill Tole; as well as with Dr. Royce Lumpkin while a student at North Texas State University . After attending NTSU, Dan played trombone for Princess Cruises ("The Love Boat" cruise line) from 1990-92, and again from '95-'98. While aboard the Sky Princess in 1995, he met a co-worker from the Philippines , Vivian, who he married in 1997. They now live in Norwalk , have three children, and are active as a family in their church. During the daytime, Dan works for the corporate office of Isuzu Motors America, Inc., in Cerritos as a Vehicle Supply Administrator. During weeknights & weekends, he can be found playing in various big bands (including being a regular with the Mike Henebry Orchestra) or with pit orchestras for local Civil Light Opera musical productions.  In his "spare" time, Dan usually does activities with his family, reads ( U.S. history is a favorite choice), and/or listens to orchestral music and any Tommy Dorsey recording he can grab. 

Paul Kosmala (piano) - Paul's father was a violinist and played some piano. He showed Paul how to play a few songs when he was about 5 years old. Paul started taking formal lessons when he was 11 years old. He started playing in bars in Buffalo, New York when he was 16. Paul took some music courses in college, but decided that a life as a classical pianist is not what he wanted. He continued his education, however, and got a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Paul started teaching piano privately at the age of 20. He also taught High School mathematics from 1969-1979 and played piano in nightclubs in the evenings. He played with the Morgan Street Stompers (a Dixieland band) from 1971 to 1979. Paul moved to California in 1979 and played for the Sitmar Cruise ships, as a lounge pianist, for 5 years (1982-1987). Onboard the ships he learned Yoga and how to play Blackjack, profitably (Paul has placed in the top three in about ten Las Vegas Blackjack tournaments). Paul was the Lounge Pianist at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles from 1987 to 1992. He was also a featured  pianist at the famous Hollywood celebrity Nightclub, Chasin's. Paul heard the CRHSO at a concert in 1995. He introduced himself afterwards, and coincidentally, the CRHSO was in need of a replacement on piano shortly thereafter. Paul ended up being the CRHSO's choice. Paul's piano style is perfect for the CRHSO, he reads impeccably, improvises, plays all styles, and his "Rhapsody In Blue" brings audiences to their feet every time, without fail! Paul is a full-time musician. In addition to the CRHSO, Paul also is the regular pianist with the Mike Henebry Orchestra and the GTDL7. He also gives private piano lessons. Paul is a single parent and is raising two teenage children, Paul age 13 and Kathy, age 16. Paul's website is: www.paulkosmala.com.

Randy Woltz (drums). Randy is originally from the Hollywood area. His mother sang in movies and nightclubs in the forties and his father played the drums in amateur bands in the thirties. Now living in  Orange County he has been an active professional musician for thirty five years. Starting with a Dixieland band in high school. His brother Paul (who plays with the Uptown Lowdown Band in Seattle), Larry Wright, Dan Barrett, and Bryan Shaw all went to the same high school in Newport Beach. Randy was a featured drummer with the Happy Jazz Band at Knott's Berry Farm in 1969. During that time he also received Superior medals for his rudimental drum solos in competition. After high school he joined the Union and worked in top-40 casual bands throughout the '70's including disco (he wore platform shoes and a cowboy fringe suit!). In the '80's he played timpani and percussion with symphony orchestras and composed his Fantasy Allegro for Timpani and Orchestra and the Concerto for Orchestra and Piano. Since the late '80's he played almost continuously for musical theatre as a pianist or drummer and has a home recording studio to provide sound tracks for theatre or films. In 1994, he joined the Johnny Crawford Orchestra and with them he has played for a long list of celebrities including Red Buttons, Rich Little, Mel Torme, a surprise party for Steven Spielburg and the Playboy Mansion for New Year's 2000. For six years Randy was the drummer for the Hollywood Film Awards Show which honored or presented nearly every major Hollywood star. He has briefly appeared in films as an actor (Young Warriors -1983; Rocky and Bullwinkle -2000) and as a drummer (TV movie "Winchell, feature "The 13th Floor" for which he wrote the arrangement for Caravan). Randy also plays with Janet Klein and her Parlor Boys, Ian Whitcomb and his Bungalow Boys, and other swing bands (including being a regular with the Mike Henebry Orchestra). He is also a Registered Technician with the Piano Technicians Guild and regularly tunes, restrings and rebuilds pianos of every description. In addition to that he is a church organist (Associate of the American Guild of Organists and just received his Master's Degree in Organ Performance from Azusa Pacific University .

Jim Jones (banjo/guitar). Jim was the original banjo/guitar player with CRHSO. He was on hiatus for a few years, and is now back with us regularly again. Jim says, "There are no unhappy banjo players." Music has been an  important part of his life. Interest in historic American popular music led Jim to form an enterprise called YesterTunes in 1996 under which he conducts many musical activities as displayed on his Yestertunes.com website, the main one being archivist of the 8000 orchestrations of the Charles Anderson Chart Collection. "Piano lessons from ages three to thirteen gave him a formative musical background. Jim took up ukulele, tenor banjo and guitar in his early teen years ("they’re easier to take to parties" he says). In Oak Park (IL) H.S. and Purdue University, he sang in choirs and small groups and led an eighty-voice chorus for two years. "While earning a mechanical engineering degree from Purdue, Jim played banjo and recorded with the Salty Dogs Jazz band, then a decade old. In 1997, he says he was honored to be coordinator and grand marshal of that still-existing band’s 50th Anniversary Reunion and Concerts. As a Salty Dog, he played alongside several illustrious artists including Darnell Howard, Lizzie Miles and the legendary Baby Dodds. More recently, he played for three years with the late Rosy McHargue, born in 1902, who had played steadily in nine decades and was Jim's great personal friend and influence. Seven years as a naval engineering duty officer followed college, then 33 years as a sales engineer, the last 24 with his own manufacturers’ representative corporation. Jim retired at 62 to pursue musical activities fulltime. These days, he plays and MCs with several bands and enjoys membership in the National Sheet Music Society, the International Association of Jazz Record Collectors and Banjos Unlimited. Jim is currently the president of the American Federation of Jazz Societies. Jim married his wife "Janey" in 1977.  Between the two of them, they have five kids and eleven grandchildren. Their volunteer activities are with their city, library district and church. Jim says "travel takes its share of our leisure time and budget, often to visit jazz fans around the world whom we’ve discovered through e-mail as sharing a love of music."

CJ Sams (tuba) - Tuba player/vocalist CJ Sams is an avid barbershop quartet singer. One of his past quartets, named "Variety," has performed at the Sacramento Jazz Festival for the past 5 years. Variety has also performed at the Hollywood Bowl (50 lanes, automatic pin-setting, 24-hr coffee shop). He also is a member of the barbershop quartet, "Stage Hogs." Their website is: http://mysite.verizon.net/mcjsams/. CJ has appeared in three Southern Calif. productions of The Music Man, playing 3 different members of the school board. CJ played for three years with the late legend, Rosy McHargue. CJ is a former student of the great tubist EricVon Schteric and plays Bb slide-kazoo with Curley's SHRUG (Signal Hill Ragtime Under Ground) band. Relatively recently, CJ has teamed up with the cute and very talented banjoist/guitarist/singer Katie Cavera. This unique duo performs locally and at jazz festivals. For more information about them, see their site at: http://home.earthlink.net/~woodini/cjandkatie.html . CJ plays cornet with the Long Beach Community Band and helicon with the Boardwalk Brass Quintet. In real life CJ is a "dinosaur" (COBOL mainframe computer programmer). CJ's wife, Marlys, is also a performer. She signs with the Sweet Adelines. Ocassionally, Marlys, Katie and CJ team up to do a magnificent Boswell Sisters routine.

(left) Larry Kohorn (violin) - After graduating from Yale University in 1978, Larry joined the New Haven (Connecticut) Symphony and continued his violin studies in New York. Taking an indirect route back to the Los Angeles area, Larry remained in Venezuela long enough to play for a season with the Caracas Philharmonic Orchestra before matriculating at UCLA Law School, where he graduated in 1984. In addition to being a member of the CRHSO since 1997, Larry also currently performs with the Santa Monica Symphony, the Mozart Classical Orchestra of Newport Beach, the Chamber Orchestra of St. Matthews in Pacific Palisades, and in as many string quartets and chamber ensembles as he can find. During regular business hours, Larry is the Senior Vice President of Music Business Affairs at Sony Pictures in Culver City, responsible for soundtrack albums from such films as "Jerry Maguire" and "My Best Friend's Wedding" and television programs such as "The Young and the Restless" and "Dawson's Creek." Larry considers his greatest accomplishment to be finishing the 6th Los Angeles Marathon in under 4 hours, and surviving to play a concert that night. Larry, and his wife Lisa, currently live in Manhattan Beach.

Ginger Pauley (vocals). Ginger is the newest addition to the CRHSO. Ginger has been performing on stage since the age of five when her pastor unexpectedly put her on stage to sing during a Sunday service. Singing seemed to come naturally to her, as did being on stage. She has been pursuing the stage ever since. Ginger has a background in theater, including leading roles in "Oklahoma," "Bye Bye Birdie," "Pirates of Penzance," "Anything Goes," "1940's Radio Hour," "Snow White," "It's A Wonderful Life," and "A Tale Of Two Cities." She was awarded "Best Leading Actress In A Musical" by the Valley Theater League Los Angeles two years in a row for her lead in "Gigi" and "Calamity Jane." Ginger is a character look-alike singer and dancer at Universal Studios. Her characters include: Betty Boop, Gabrielle (from Xena), Betty Rubble (from the Flintstones), and Ginger Rogers (dancing with a Fred Astaire look-alike). In her spare time, Ginger is a very active in the fitness field. She is involved in dancing, boxing, stage combat, running, skiing, weight training, and is working on her health and fitness certification.

Jeff Gilbert (vocals). Jeff Gilbert was born in San Francisco and raised on the San Francisco Peninsula. At the age of 13, Jeff met Vaudeville great, Vivian Duncan, of the Duncan Sisters. Vivian, who was in her late 70s, shared her knowledge and love of popular music with Jeff.

At age 24, Jeff enjoyed performing with Rex Allen's Orchestra and started to freelance around the Bay Area. In 1986, he left California to sing with the Tony Barron Orchestra on a tour of the mid-west. Returning to California, Jeff began a two and a half year stint at the Hotel La Rose in Santa Rosa. In 1988, he attended the Rudy Vallee safe opening at Rudy's house in the Hollywood hills. At the event, Jeff sang a medley of Vallee's hits and the L.A. times wrote, "Rudy Vallee was the first crooner and Jeff Gilbert is the last crooner."

Jeff won the Crosby Croon-alike contest in San Francisco in 1989 and 1990. In 1988, Jeff began appearing with the Royal Society Jazz Orchestra. These days, when not performing with the RSJO or CRHSO, Jeff can often be heard singing on Friday and Saturday nights at the beautiful Sebastiani Theatre in his home town of Sonoma, California, before the curtain goes up for feature films. Jeff is also a regular with the Mike Henebry Orchestra.

Jeff sings the songs made famous by Bing Crosby, Russ Columbo, Al Jolson, Rudy Vallee, Al Bowlly, Dick Powell, Buddy Clark, and many others

Jeff's talents are numerous. He not only sings, but impersonates singers as well as personalities. His striking good looks, sense of humor and charm, make him a favorite of all audiences. But vocally, he is unequalled (past or present). He truly is the "Last Crooner," but he is also arguably the "Best Crooner!"

The Band - Everyone in the band has a very keen sense of humor. As a result, the CRHSO's rehearsals are often a "show" in itself. But, probably the most important aspect of the personality of the band is that everybody really cares about the music. They all love this kind of music, which is why they make the sacrifices that are necessary to get it to the public. For example, we will often play gigs without asking that a limo be provided. Sometimes, we will even play without caviar and champagne (especially on very short gigs).

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