AFTER SIX BAND (BIO)

The After Six Band made it official debut in 1991. However the Band's actual beginning predates this time frame, as this short view of the band's history will show:

In 1983 two ex-teachers from the Midwest, Gerry Marquee and Bill Swick decided to put together a Glenn Miller style Big Band. Both were long time friends and both played Swing Trumpet.

Gerry Marquee put together a musical library, and Bill Swick put together sixteen musicians. They called themselves the Young At Heart Band. They rehearsed at the Senior Center one night each week and soon had a fine sounding band made up of seasoned musicians, most who were 60 years or older. In coordination with the Anchorage Senior Center the group initiated the Friday Night Swing Dances.

In addition to the weekly rehearsal schedule The band played at the ASC every Friday evening. Of note is that some of the Band members had full or part time jobs, or kept busy in other ways. This strenuous schedule (of working, rehearsing and playing ) began to take a toll on some of the more elderly band members.

Around 1985 or '86, a trumpet player named Darien O'Brien became acquainted with Gerry Marquee, and agreed to put together a band with a format similar to the Young At Heart and that could be used as a substitute band when Young At Heart had other commitments or needed time off. This band was named the Darien O'Brien Orchestra.

This arrangement worked well and soon the Darien O'Brien Orchestra's popularity increased, getting more outside bookings and acquiring a following of its own. Over time Darien also agreed to play at the Senior Center on a regular basis, every fourth Friday of the month, giving the Young at Heart band members a needed break from their monthly Center schedule.

In 1991 Darien no longer worked for the same employer and made a decision to leave Alaska. In doing so he took with him all the music Sheets and equipment of the Darien O'Brien Orchestra. He also cancelled all of the Group's music commitments, or bookings, including the once monthly playing dates at the Senior Center.

After this event several members of the Darien O'Brien Orchestra met and formed The After Six Orchestra.

Gerry Marquee donated the initial music library to the group and the ladies at the Center furnished Stand Covers. The Center agreed to continue the fourth Friday commitment, made by the now disbanded Darien O'Brien Orchestra. Accordingly the ASC furnished the band with a rehearsal time and place.

After Six is now rated as the foremost Swing Band in the Anchorage area and performs at a host of parties, weddings, banquets, and Swing Dance functions throughout the area.

The current board of Directors of this corporation are Gerry Wilson, Band Leader and President, Faye Sullivan, Secretary and Treasurer, Vince Palma, Interim Musical Director and Vice President, and Greg Weeks, Board Member at Large. Many of the original band members still perform regularly with After Six Orchestra.