The year 2005 marked the 100th anniversary of the Al Koran Shrine Band!
The second oldest unit in Al Koran, the band is second to none in serving
Al Koran Temple and Shrinedom.
The band was formed in 1905, with the first performance in 1906.
The sight of Al Koran Band performing today is quite different
from the first performance in 1906. In 1905, the burden or carrying
out of the Ceremonials fell on the shoulders of the Patrol -
then the only organization of workers in Al Koran Temple.
Noble Robert L. White, who owned a music store, and Noble Carl Cuqua,
a composer-arranger who used the name Carl Carlton,
approached Potentate Moses G. Carrel with the idea of forming the Al Koran Band.
They received permission to go ahead, and the Al Koran band was in the process of being born.
The band room wall in the Cleveland Masonic Center has a photo of the band taken in front of the
Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Cleveland’s Public Square in 1907.
The bands of 1987 and 1997 had their photo taken in the same place, as will the band in 2007.
Carl Carlton served as the first conductor. He wrote the march “Al Koran’s Band” that has been
played at all of the CENTENIAL CELEBRATION concerts this year.
He was succeeded by Noble Floyd St. Clair, who served as conductor until 1923.
Noble Brasford Gilliland came next, a band conductor described by John Philip Sousa
as “the best military band director in the United States”.
After the untimely death of Gilliland in 1925, the band was conducted by Noble Fred Dixon.
Dixon retired in 1946, and Noble Harvey Ernest Manning was appointed conductor in 1947,
and he continued until illness forced his retirement in 1959.
When the Koran Club at East 36th Street and Chester burned,
the Band lost much of its equipment and the music library.
For a time, rehearsals were held in the boiler room of the Masonic Temple,
where the band now has space for many file cabinets of music and a regular
place to rehearse.
In 1960, Francis Hammond was appointed conductor. At his death in 1975,
Richard Denner was appointed conductor.
When Denner had to give up the duties, they were assumed on an interim basic
by musicians in the band: Sherland Reiter, James Huml and Ben Waddington.
Paul Lawrence had been invited many times to visit the Al Koran Band by
Noble Paul McCormick, a tuba player and past President of the Band.
Finally, on Wednesday, February 22, 1976, Paul attended a rehearsal -
and was invited to guest conduct the band. Before the evening was over,
Paul was asked to become the Conductor of the band on a permanent basis.
It seemed that Cleveland was scheduled to be the host for the Imperial Convention,
and the band was without a leader.
Paul agreed to conduct the band long enough to get them through the convention crisis.
That was more than a quarter of a century ago, and he’s hardly
missed a rehearsal or performance since then !
Here are a few pictures, taken during our Centenial year.
Sandusky Vets Hospital
Springfield Trip
Band Picnic
MtVernon Trip
Lake Farm Park
For more information about the Band - Call
Paul Lawrence, Conductor
216-765-1064
musiclawrence@att.net
OR
Dick Howard, Secretary.
440-543-3731
dhf@nowonline.net
