The Grand Band

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This is Glenn Normand's show band & booking agency.

The below was extracted from a pictoral history of The Grand Band, and is need of reformatting.

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Although Glenn had assembled groups for events in the past, getting steady musicians was always difficult. The regular band became more viable when Janette came into the picture, because that provided the band with a full time singer. Glenn played on Jack’s small Wurlitzer electric piano like Ray Charles used (still have it)- if a piano was not furnished.

Occasionally, Janette’s spinet was borrowed from the house, carried down the steps and moved in a U Haul trailer; a borrowed Sears microphone and Fender guitar amp to play everything through. Normally, all the band equipment fit in the back seat of a Chevy sedan.

We didn’t know how good we had it, as we now use a 10’ trailer to carry only part of the sound and lighting equipment we own. Kevin, the drummer, was 15 and had already played in Robertsdale night clubs with his father’s band. Sister Jeanine played bass until she moved up the East Coast. Our “fast” songs were Kansas City and Another Saturday Night. We would play those, thinking we’d knock the crowd down, but then a few people would yell out….”play something fast now”.

What a sinking feeling……!! I think this pic was taken at one of the first jobs...maybe at the Fairhope Elks Lodge on Mobile Avenue for a Woodmen of the World party. The picture was taken by Haygood, one of Fairhope’s longtime commercial photographers.

1977: I was busy! Five other bands retired, quit, dissolved or moved and my band got most of all their bookings. The first year, my band did about 100 events plus all the nights I played solo piano at the Grand Hotel and other places. For about 6 months, I played the Birdcage Lounge at the Grand, (pictured) from 5 to 7 pm, then raced to Mobile to play the downtown Sheraton-now Lafayette Plaza. They had a fabulous restaurant on the top floor, a dressy area on the left and the casual bar on the right….and fed me steaks whenever I wanted. Tips were good both places.. I think I got $40/night at the Grand and $50/night at the Sheraton and averaged about $60/night in tips . Back then that was nice money for tinkling the ivories. Then, of course, I had the band jobs on weekends. I was well off and just didn’t realize it.

Boy, what a difference it makes when you put some professionals in your band. Jim Allen (left rear) came in as lead , backup/harmony, singer, guitarist, harmonica, and secondary bass player. Ron Malinoski, (center rear) fresh off the road with a touring group, added more lead/backup/harmony vocals and tasty precise drumming. Robert Normand (right rear) added trumpet, bass, keyboards, drums and dry humor to the mix. My biggest problem (besides trying to keep up with these real musicians) was to keep Jimmy and Ron straight. When the bookings piled up, it was clear that we had to go “professional”. Jim Andrews at Andy’s Music was happy to accept $4,850 from me for all new equipment-a keyboard of my own, amplifiers, speakers, etc. I recently discovered a couple of microphone cables still in use from this initial purchase, and took it to the music store to brag how long I had used it. Mike berated me for being so cheap as to keep the cords that long and made me buy some new ones. I just can’t win.

Ron took off to play with a club band, Robert probably got aggravated with my 10 thumbs, and we made changes. Jimmy Allen brought in drummer Bobby Watson who used to play with him in “Southern Branch” touring around the country. Bobby just got back from playing in Canada, and was playing at The Showboat Club, one of the many clubs on the causeway with a band called Wheels. This was before hurricane Frederick changed the landscape on the road across the bay, and there were a dozen bars-restaurants all with live bands. Bobby was a creature of habit...you could set your watch by what he was doing every day. He probably went crazy trying to deal with my spontaneous behavior. Bobby eventually left and went with the Versatiles for many years, and now is with The Outriders. He also owns a store in Mobile- Music and Sound, which keeps lots of musicians in business with band and sound equipment. He still drums with us when we can’t find a good drummer to fill in for Ron.

1978 –we play our first of many KOR Easter Ball, in the Mobile Civic Center big room. I was really stressed about having the sound and equipment to do the job right. On the tape we recorded that night, you can hear me fussing at the the sound man.

In this pic from Summer 1978, Don Benson (left) is the Drummer, and Rick Quimby (right) showed everyone what an incredible rock guitarist he was. He really shined on “My Angel Baby”.

I think we did 115 band dates this year and about 140 the next year. I’m content to send other acts to do that now.

1979 John “Jabbo” Starks showed up to drum for us. He had just retired from 3 world tours with James Brown, and a stint with Bobby Blue Bland and wanted to take things easy. Having a player of that stature in the band was unnerving to me… but he taught me a lot and we had fun!! Here we are at The Country Club of Mobile on the old piano in the old ballroom, both of which have been renewed. August brought hurricane Frederick, which put me almost out of business for many months, since I was doing almost all my bookings at the Grand Hotel, and it was closed for 9 months. We did the grand opening of the Hilton-now Mobile Marriott on Airport Blvd. and they insisted we play the Sunday bruch (3+ years). By this time, the biggest agency in Alabama, Southeastern Attractions was sending us to Tuscaloosa regularly, and I recall driving up to the Hilton about 6 am, using a wind up alarm clock to wake me at 9amgo in the hotel bathroom to shave and get ready to play the brunch. We were much younger then. 1980 upstairs main lobby of the Grand Hotel in Point Clear. We played lots of events in the smaller rooms as well as big conventions in the Ballrooms.

Julep Point, outside dance pavilion, was tricky due to the weather. It was a rare night that the weather was perfect-normally it was hot & humid, or so windy that the tablecloths and plates would blow off the tables. Two nights in a row, and for 2 different conventions, we set up and got rained out before we could play through the first songs. We got lots of exercise moving equipment.

Timmy Cowart (left) on bass and lead vocals, was a real trip! I had played with his dad in Sammy Zivitz’s Stardusters Band, and Tim played exactly like his dad, so we clicked right away-just had to get used to him chewing gum while singing. However, Don Benson (2d from right in back) was too busy talking to his drumsticks to hear the bass beat, so we yelled at each other a lot. Don has the dubious distinction of being the only person in the world who couldn’t find Thomasville, Alabama, for the Christmas dance at Pine Needles Golf Club. He had assured me that recreational drugs did not impair his sense of direction. On the back right is some nerd just out of the Air Force band and having a music degree, Eric Marrero. I first used him on bass, but didn’t like his feel, and then he told me he played guitar, trumpet, sax, flute and keyboards-in addition to singing….so I did my best to make things gel. Eric is still playing with me today, and I consider him to be one of my best friends. About 1980…..Janette in front; in back (L-R) Eric Marrero, Glenn, Don Benson, Kim Dragota. Kim was a great bassist/singer and made us practice-he wanted it right! Look at the customers we had in just 4 years...lots of musicians wanted to play in The Grand Band….but it wasn’t a good fit for everyone...sometimes the best musicians didn’t want to play cover tunes and wear uniforms. One guy quit fist night-he said would not, under any circumstances, wear black shoes with the tuxedo I furnished. He and his white tennis shoes walked off. He called me about 15 years later and said he would be happy to wear black shoes-he just wanted to work. Another really good musician, called me, desperately wanting work-but declared he would never play in a band that played “Proud Mary”. 1980-81 As the Glenn-Janette relationship crumbled, Rachel Stevens came in as female vocalist with her boyfriend (soon to be husband) Guitarist Bart Jennings (left). We were thrilled to have the world’s greatest bassist, Butch Wagoner (rear), play with us before he moved to Florida, and drummer Mike Fore (front) added some jazzy licks to our sound. Fall of ‘81 added a real heavyweight, Daryl Phillips, on saxes and vocals. His extensive show experience helped us to be more professional. Notice the ruffled shirts-we had 6 pastel colors plus white, and matching ties for most of them. Didn’t everyone? By now, I had established a relationship with MMI Music Store in Mobile. Leroy Clark, formerly of Rosie Simon and Easy Chair and later Hickory Wind Band sold me all new equipment-several times. The owner, John Mathern, an easy going Cajun, loves to see me walk in the store, and he and Tommy “Flash” Jordan advise me on the newest music gear for me to spend money on. Photo by the late Richard Scardamalia, quite a creative photographer and a friend since junior high. Location: the lagoon at the Grand Hotel. Daryl Phillips, sax; Bart Jennings , guitar; Mike Garlo, Drums, and Rachel Stevens vocalist. This was an eclectic group. Daryl and Mike the Yankees who were seasoned traveling lounge musicans. Bart and Rachelnew to the music scene and locals from Baldwin County….and Glenn ..trying to figure out why there are black and white keys on the keyboard, while trying to book dates, handling the business of the band and trying to keep personal strife out of the band. I moved to Mobile after Labor Day 1981, lived with Mike Garlo while awaiting new apartment. Chris Grissom’s sister in law, Rosemary Steiner (now Mack) joined, (she’s on the piano) and I found Renee Howard in a talent contest at the same time. I thought one would prevail with more talent and force the other out-but they worked very well together and gave the group more visual and vocal presentation. Rosemary was probably the best vocalist ever to sing in the band. Renee was a terrific pianist and wanted to do her own thing, so it worked out. We later found out Rosemary was just a teenager...and never acted like it. Mike wasn’t but he acted like it with her, and it eventually caused us to split up the group. Somewhere between Mid 82 and June 84… L-R: Bud Kersey-drums; Bart Jennings, Guitar; Glenn; Jim Allen -bass… holding Renee. 1983 or 84 Renee settled into playing solo piano at the Riverview and the Days Inn, so Rosemary covered us with her exceptional voice. Shown is(L) Mitchell Till on Guitar, Hollis Davis on vocals , Wendell Vincent on drums. Phyllis Vincent replaced Rosemary Shortly after this photo. This was a Mobile Chamber of Commerce skit. Somewhere, we have a pic of us in Mexican outfits and sombreros for another of their campaigns. John Goodroe in membership was famous for thinking up weird things for us to do. Who’s old enough to remember paper clip art? Before computers, the print shop people and artists would draw, glue and piece my ads together. About 1983: Back Left-Robin Visel, guitar & bass..former leader of Sidetracked; -Robin was mixing Sound for us in early 1979, when Rick Quimby quit, Robin played guitar and sang so he was an instant fill in. When hurricane Frederick put me out of business temporarily, Robin and Jimmy Allen (page two) started Sidetracked. This is the only picture he is in although he dates back a while. (back right) Mitchell Till on guitar & bass; (Right front)- Wendell Vincent-Drums, an engineer: and Rosemary Steiner. Do I have enough hair? 1985: Glenn & Robin marry and she starts singing in band and getting the booking agency organized from years of neglect. 1985-1986?? L-R: Chris Grissom; Ron Malinoski comes back for a time: Robin; Dave Sandy 1986:Chris Grissom (back left) adds tasty guitar to the sounds. He moves in with the newlyweds and begins work to convert half of the garage to an office overlooking the pool. Ron tries to keep up with Glenn’s marriages and weds Joanne. Dave fools everyone by not getting married again. Glenn grows beard back. Chris works on the office by day and rides his bike all night. Now that the business end of band is more stable, dependable musicians are easier to find. “Old coot” Ron Tait, (left rear) former bandleader “The Tait Brothers” and “The Good Life Band” and nightclub owner (The Jolly Roger Club), comes in on drums. After playing in Hawaii with “The Unusuals” , the only thing more unusual was playing with Glenn. Dave Sandy,(L front) world famous front man and pictured in the movie “Standing in the Shadows of Motown” , shows what a great sax player he is in addition to his vocals. World class trumpeter, Larry Carter (rear center) drops in to teach everyone how to really play music. Glenn surprises Robin by shaving beard for first time since 1974. She surprises him by not recognizing him and telling him to grow it back. Can you see her retainer? This shows us, in 1986 or so, wearing the old Jack Normand Band coats that we used to wear when I played in Dad’s band in the early 1960’s when I started playing with his band. I felt like I was someone important when I wore this coat-almost like a real entertainer. Yes, we were skinnier then. Robin is wearing her “Imelda Marcos” outfit. Silk, I think, no elastic, lots of beads...she had to just stand still while I lowered the dress down over her. I don’t think she could bend over in it so it wasn’t very practical on stage. Same folks, different clothes. Ron shaved his beard to see if he was still good looking. Dave started growing a pony tail. Chris Grissom in back, a gentle man and a great musician, recently succumbed to Lou Gehrig’s Disease. 1987 1987: Some of our customers are in politics. L-R Ron Tait, drums; Laurie Normand-Bass; Glenn; VP Bush. Robin still has braces, but George doesn’t notice– he’s too busy talking about country music. Glenn reached in his coat for a business card to give Mr. Bush, and the secret service guy reached for his weapon. In the Grand Ballroom-this is another pic by Richard Scardamalia. The props behind us are for some convention we played for. Why do I have 3 keyboards and only 2 hands? Eric Marrero has returned to the band-he couldn’t take the late night club routine anymore. Ron still has black hair. 1988? This place doesn’t exist anymore- The oak tree terrace at the Country Club of Mobile. L-R: Terry Youngblood, vocals, trumpet, trombone and humor. Dave Sandy, sax & vocal; Eric Marrero, playing guitar, trumpet and sax; Glenn the Parrothead; Ron Tait, drums, vocals and commentator. Robin’s braces are finally gone. What a beautiful couple-about 1988 1988 flyer. A surprising number of these acts still exist. I count 10. 1989:Eric left again and we took on Henry Jones on guitar. He brought his trumpeter wife, Susan with him. Daryl Phillips is back on Sax. Same group at the Country Club on top of Signal Mountain, TN for a wedding of the Granddaughter of one of my mother’s best friends. 1989- I think 13 of these acts are still entertaining Photo by Dennis Palmer 1991: Dave started wearing flag after Desert Storm to honor his son. We now always play our patriotic medley even at weddings. Ron grew his beard back; Terry Youngblood didn’t; Robin has a new hairstyle, I don’t. Eric took his glasses off and Dave trimmed his mustache. Here we are in Montgomery Civic Center playing for Southern Debutante Cotillion...I think we are on our 11th year for them. About 1992-93...looking for a new name and logo for the booking agency...these are the rough drafts from the artist. We selected the 2d one down and it looked great! Unfortunately, I sold that company and the name. About 1995: I don’t know where Eric is, But Bart Jennings came back on guitar & horns. In the back is Brad Breeding, who started as singer, then booking agent, then bought the agency in 1996. He was a great front manbut moved back to Arkansas. Robin decided she wasn’t getting any younger, and it was time to start her litter. Elliott came along July 1997 and Robin forgot all about the band. Paula Broadwater, diva devine, graced us with her presence while Robin attended to motherly duties. Eric comes back again. Now we have six regulars in the band, and since several play multiple instruments, we have combinations of 2 trumpets, 2 saxes, 2 trombones, 2 guitars, 2 keyboards, flute, drums, bass. And everyone sings lead and backup. WOW! Paula cracks the whip and makes us play real music. We become famous in Grand Bay and Opelika. 1997-2000 One was not enough...Robin wanted a clone, so along came Meredith in 1999. One day, she may be the band singer. By this time, Paula was tied up in shows, so she sent us a vocalist we had originally met in 1990, and blossomed! Michelle Broadus set the stage on fire when she performed. What a Treat! 1999-2003 She is now a regular at the Perdido Beach Resort lounge. 2003: We’re all back together for a Christmas party at the Nix Center in Fairhope. There sure is a lot of grey hair going on here. That’s why I shaved my beard again. 2003-2005 One of the sweetest and most photogenic singers was Jacque Nguyen. She just got married Sept. 06. Summer 2006—a wedding at the Nix Center in Fairhope again. Bart is doing a beachside wedding today. IF you have pics of the band, and wouldn’t mind sharing them, please either email or contact me. Glenn Normand.