Bob Bennett, M.M. Tenor Sax ( 1997) Bob is the undecorated veteran of scores of weddings, Bar Mitzvahs and divorce celebrations. In other days, he backed Tony Bennett, Pearl Bailey and Ella Fitzgerald. He also served twenty distinguished years as a public school band director.

Don Cornutt, M.D. Trombone (1990). Board Certified in Anesthesiology with a Continuing Qualification Certificate. Also, Board Certified in Pain Management and a contributor to the national written qualifying exam in pain management. Don has backed Natalie Cole, Bob Hope, Tony Bennett, David Sanborn, Dr. John, Burt Bachrach, Julius LaRosa and Maureen McGovern, and he is an alumnus of the Alabama Cavalier and Auburn Knights college dance bands.

Stan DeJarnett, Ed.D. Trumpet (1991). Assistant School Superintendent and Director of Curricula. Former band director in high school and then Director of a college jazz program. Stan has performed with Buddy Rich, Bill Watrous, Louis Bellson, and played at the Montreux (Switzerland) Jazz Festival. He is a former music Consultant for Georgia’s Governor’s Honors Program.

L.Y. (Tip) Dyrenforth Trumpet (1960, Charter Member). Retired advertising and promotion products entrepreneur whose customers and clients included major Fortune 500 corporations. Tip was a member of the Emory Aces Orchestra, and he has regularly participated in the Auburn Knights 1940’s Reunion Orchestra. He plays trumpet in his church orchestra and he sings in the choir.

Gordon Gienow, CLU Piano (1973). Career insurance and financial services associate with National Financial Services Group. Past Chairman, Ethics and Field Practices Committee of the Atlanta Association of Life Underwriters. Active member, Atlanta Estate Planning Council. Life member, Million Dollar Round Table. Former corporate pilot. Business Manager of The Atlanta SEVENTEEN.

Buddy Golson, AIA Trumpet (1985). Major international architectural firm Partner in Charge: Criminal Justice Architecture with projects in forty two states, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Germany. Alumnus of Auburn Concert and Marching Bands, and the Auburn Knights. Buddy spent summers during college performing with road bands Jan Garber and Billy Butterfield. He has played in show bands for Holiday on Ice and Barnum & Bailey Ringling Bros. Circus. He was a member of several military bands while in the Army.

Bob Greenhaw, Tenor Sax (2004) Bob recently retired as Head of Jazz Studies and Instructor of Saxophone at Valdosta State University, concluding 31 years as a music teacher in Georgia. An active music educator, he is a past president of the Georgia chapter of the International Association of Jazz Educators, and is the first recipient of the “Outstanding Jazz Educator in Georgia.” He was the first director of the jazz component of the Governor’s Honors Program. Bob has played with notables including Bob Hope, Anita Bryant, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Rosemary Clooney, Nancy Wilson, Larry Elgart, Charlie Spivak, Dianne Schuur, and others.

Walt Mayfield, Ph.D. Bari Sax/Lead Clarinet (1974). Former mathematics teacher and coach. Retired Associate Superintendent and Comptroller, Atlanta Public Schools. He is a former member of the Third Army Band and an alumnus of the Auburn Knights college dance band. Walt ran his first Peachtree Road Race in 1995 at age 61 and he continues to be active in various sports. He is a church Deacon and a member of the choir and orchestra.

Dave Martin Lead Trumpet (1997) Computer programmer/analyst for Worldspan airline reservation systems. Dave spent five years as staff musician at the Sheraton Bal Harbour in Miami Beach. He has worked house bands on Carnival, Norwegian and Sea Escape Cruise Lines. He was once the bugler at Hialeah and Gulfstream Race Tracks. Dave has appeared with Julio Igleseas, Diane Carroll, Dionne Warwick and Smokey Robinson.

Bob Mell Trombone (1974). Retired Southern Regional Sales Manager after 42 years with Potash Company of America. Bob played in Emory University’s Emory Aces dance band while in college. He currently sings bass in his church’s chorus. Bob survived 58 bombing missions over Italy as a B-25 pilot during WWII, and he is the recipient of seven Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Bob is the current Librarian of The Atlanta SEVENTEEN.

Leonardo Palese, Trumpet (2004), Leonardo was born in Italy in 1964. He began playing trumpet at the age of nine under the guidance of his father, a well-known classical piccolo trumpeter. After graduating from a musical conservatory in 1984, he began teaching music to middle school children in Milan. During this period he performed in local night clubs, recorded with various artists and performed on Italian television. Leonardo transferred to Miami in 1990 where he studied with the famous Arturo Sandoval at Florida International University. His musical experience covers a wide genre which includes jazz, Latin and Salsa. He has performed on Haitian television. He married and moved to Atlanta. He has performed throughout the southeast with local groups including Wild Rice, Soul Purpose, Synergy, Uptown Entertainment Band and various Latin ensembles. Leonardo’s recording accomplishments include CDs with Frank Raya, Solutions, Sunny Emory and Maurizio Petrelli.

Dave Parker Trombone (1985). Mortgage broker. Retired Purchasing Specialist with Boise Cascade. Dave performed on the road for ten years with various dance bands, and lead his own quintet in Indiana for fifteen years. Dave is the current Treasurer of The Atlanta SEVENTEEN

Billy Puckett Guitar (1995). Professional truck driver and instructor. Adept performer in a wide musical genre including big band, country, bluegrass, gospel and Western swing. Billy has performed at the Grand Ole Opry and was recently inducted into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame.

George Sibley String Bass ( 2004) George is employed as a Legal Assistant with a prominent Atlanta Law firm. In addition to playing bass, George is an accomplished pianist and arranger. George has worked with many fine music groups in Atlanta and throughout the Southeast, including the Auburn Knights. He has performed as bassist with jazz artists Buddy DeFranco, Kevin Eubanks, and Gary Burton; as well as with the Art Mooney, Larry Elgart and Chris Riddle big bands. He established, wrote for, and played in the Atlanta Jazz Tenet, Atlanta String Bass Quintet and the George Sibley Trio. George has the happy distinction of being married to the "best female vocalist of all time". (see below)

Lani Sibley Vocalist (1974). Office Manager/Administrative Assistant. Employed by Emory University, 1989-1996. (Lani managed the office of trombonist Bob Mell prior to his retirement). Lani is a former Eastern Air Lines Flight Attendant, the mother of twin daughters, and is married to bassist George Sibley.

Fritz Siler Trombone (2003). Fritz is a retired band director and retired 1st Sergeant of the 151st Alabama Army National Guard Band. He was a member of the Auburn Knights Orchestra while attending Auburn University, and will serve the group as President 2005-2007. He is actively involved in the Georgia Association for Jazz Education, serving as the jazz clinic coordinator since 1991 and is also a Past-President of the organization. Now retired fron teaching, Fritz enjoys going fly-fishing whenever possible.

Graham Thomas Lead Alto Sax (1963). Southeastern representative of one of the world’s largest, upscale mens clothing manufacturers headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Graham attended Julliard. At a very young age he was a member of the band that backed Charlie McCarthy and Edgar Bergen. Graham played with the Urbie Green Orchestra in the first Mayport Jazz Festival, and he has worked with noted jazz arranger and alternate leader of the former Tonight Show Band, Tommy Newsome. He has backed Toni Tennille of Captain and Tennille, and he is an alumnus of the Auburn Knights college dance band. Graham dedicated his solo on My Ship to his refurbished 1955 Chris-Craft.

Ray Trant Drums (2001) Currently an educator and free lance musician, drummer Ray Trant has an impeccable background in Big Band Swing. Three years study at Boston's Berklee School of Music (two of which was active participation in the Recording Band) led to a fifteen month stint with the Glenn Miller Band, working under three different leaders; Ray McKinley, Bobby Hacket, and Buddy DeFranco. Ray has extensive experience playing shows and dance music too. One year at Tammiment Resort in Catskills, Three seasons at Griswold Resort in Groton Conn. and nine years playing at Pleasant Valley C.C.

Chuck Wiechard, M.E. Tenor Sax (1981). Retired injection molding Research Engineer with AT&T. Chuck started playing the clarinet at age four, the saxophone at age nine, and added the oboe, flute and trumpet in his teens. He began performing with big bands at age thirteen: Woody Herman, Elliot Lawrence, Artie Shaw, Billy Eckstine, Clark Terry and Benny Goodman, to name a few. He has accompanied Nat "King" Cole, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Johnny Mathis, Patti Page, Frankie Lane, and Sammy Davis, Jr. Chuck has won championships in archery, tennis and golf. In bicycle racing, he has won over fifty competitions worldwide and retained world class ranking for a period of twelve years.

Cecil Wilder Trombone ( 1997) Executive Director of Georgia Music Educators Association. retired after thirty years as a high school band director in Columbus, GA and Jonesboro, GA. Adjunct assistant professor of applied brass at Auburn University and Columbus (GA) College. Cecil is a graduate of Auburn University and an alumnus of the Auburn Knights Orchestra. He has done post graduate work at Columbus College, Georgia State University and Northwestern University. He has also worked as a performer with various jazz and show orchestras including principal trombonist with the Columbus (GA) Symphony Orchestra. Cecil was conductor, music director and arranger for the Miss Georgia Scholarship Pageant from 1969-1985.