Bass: Art Kennedy, Jim Townsend, and Charlie Silva. Trumpet: Scott Weiss and Charlie Armiter. Guitar/banjo: Peter Madlem.
Influences
Spike Jones, Al Jolson, Ray Noble, Fred Astaire, The Muppet Show, Django Reinhardt, Betty Boop, Bugs Bunny, flash powder & flash paper, various torch singers
Sounds Like
A swing band colliding with a train load of cartoons.
Tomfoolery was a theatrical musical review based in Santa Barbara 1976-1979.
Promo Shots
..
The "Fools" consisted of:
Gary Gerdes ("Raggy Reeds"): Founder, arranger, compositions, piano,
alto and baritone sax, clarinet, Flutophone, vocals, graphic and set design,
rubber chicken and explosions.
Fred Lehto ("Fred A. Stahr"): Lead vocals and characters,
percussion, little bit of harmonica, meatballs & chutzpah.
Arlene Butterman ("Butter"): Lead vocals and characters, percussion,
boas and pathos.
David Collert ("Swingin' Dave"): Acoustic and electric guitars,
banjo-uke, vocals, arrangements, compositions and Style.
Chris "Kit" Bailey ("Tim Panic Exq."): Drums, percussion,
vocals, and manner of things struck, rattled or blown.
Tom Lee ("Louden Lowe"): Acoustic bass, vocals, extemporaneous
emcee extraordinaire and wild ravings.
Robert Brounstein ("Chateau Robaire 1936"): Trumpet, plunger,
shoeshines and attitude (oh yeah... and sandblocks).
Anne Gerdes ("Iris N. Kandessant"): Lighting and sound; logo, graphic
and set design; official namer of the band; vocals (on "Love For Sale"), and
Raggy's keeper.
And, for a brief time...
John "JK" Kelly: Lead vocals, guitar, banjo, skits, unselfish support and advocacy.
Cloe Mayes: Lead vocals and characters, percussion.
We Could Not Have Done it Without...
Marlina Matero: Manager and promoter, photographer, featured swing dancer,
and pantomime trumpet.
Alan Hughes: Our silent, yet ever-present benefactor. Our rehearsal and get-together
host. Our biggest fan. Our taped narrator. Our pantomime trumpet player for
our first photo shoot.
Other Alumni:
Bass: Art Kennedy, Jim Townsend, and Charlie Silva. Trumpet: Scott Weiss and
Charlie Armiter. Guitar/banjo: Peter Madlem.
Other Folks to Remember:
Tom Moore (our other photographer) - Lyle Scheiss (our buddy, barkeep and owner
of The Bluebird Cafe/SB) - Ted Waterhouse - Frank & Jeri Wascoe (landlords
for 3/8 of TF) - Rick Moody (for assistance with speaker and bandstand construction)
- Yellowstone Clothing Company (Isla Vista) - 'Pure Gold' clothing - David Ossman
- Jon O'Brien & John McNally (director & producer of TF video) - Jacklyn
O'Hanlon Meek Potter (Cacaphone funding) - Milt Larsen (Variety Arts Theater,
Los Angeles) - Bill Griffin (and the other Drifters) - And all those fans......
Online Now!
