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Diane Saumer and Friends and Jack Franzen and Boys will come together for a concert at 3 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Franklin Arts Center Auditorium.
The two groups coming together have traveled many roads, but the lakes area is home as some have attended school at Franklin.
The concert will feature many music venues including 50’s, country, soft rock, jazz and swing. Master of ceremonies will be John Collins, who will bring his personality into the mix.
Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children age 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased at the Lakes Area Senior Activity Center, located at 803 Kingwood St., Brainerd. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If not sold out, tickets will be available at the door for $10 each.
Common characteristics among band members are growing up with many generations performing music and beginning to play music at a young age. The musicians have played in various bands over the years and at local hot spots such as the Club LaGuyle, Channel Inn, Little Pine and Pauline’s.
Diane Saumer, sings the vocals for her band. She began performing onstage with her dad at age 3. She performed in the Twin Cities for many years and moved up the road to the lakes area. Diane Saumer and Friends was formed in 1990; drawing on the talented musicians who live right here. Her husband, Bob Guidi, plays tenor sax in the band. He came to the lakes area in 1982 from Indiana. He has performed with local musicians Kenny Jake, Jay Brutsman and Don Merritt. In 1991, he joined Diane Saumer & Friends.
Dawn Hill, on piano, first performed in her dad’s band at the age of 13. You may remember the Howie Hill Orchestra, which played at the Club LaGuyle for more than 18 years. She has been an active musician in the Twin Cities since 1970 as well as a teacher in the Robbinsdale school system. She has since retired from the school.
Dick Wilt on lead guitar, moved to Brainerd after performing nationwide from 1959 to 1971 with The Tornadoes, a rock group inducted into the Minnesota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Wilt continues to play a variety of music and is gifted on steel and bass guitar as well as banjo.
Ted Alvard on percussion began performing in 1966 with his musical family and for many years with the local band Virg and the Eldoradoes.
Jack Franzen and Sons, a family tradition band, performed together for the first time last year at Harpo’s in Merrifield. Franzen, the dad, plays guitar, vocals and is a songwriter. He has been playing in bands since the 1950’s including; The Orbits, Vagabonds, Shamrocks, One Eyed Jacks and C & R Express. Franzen was inducted into the Minnesota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. He currently has the Muddy Water Band with local musicians Tim Richardson, Terry Thorson and Don Blonigon.
Chris, the oldest son, is left handed, but Franzen taught him to play guitar right handed. He plays and sings with King’s Ransom, the Beetkeepers, Lip Service and performed with Silent Partner for more than 20 years.
John, middle son, plays drums and vocals in the band. He started playing drums in a high school band with brother Chris called Brittney Rose. He also played with Silent Partner and his dad’s band Muddy Water for a few years.
Jason, the youngest, plays guitar and does vocals. He started out as a drummer, but switched to guitar when he was 16. He played with some local bands and his dad’s Muddy Water Band for 10 years. Currently, he plays with October Son Band in the lakes area.
